VW's New Small SUV, Possibly Called Tarek, Coming to U.S.

• Volkswagen is adding a small SUV to its U.S. lineup to slot in under the Tiguan compact crossover.
• The new SUV, which will likely be called the Tarek, is about 10 inches shorter than the Tiguan.
• Expect it to be on sale in the U.S. by the end of next year starting at around $22,000.

Volkswagen is adding a small SUV, currently sold as the Tarek or Tharu elsewhere in the world, to slot in under the Tiguan in its U.S. lineup, and it'll be revealed next month. VW filed a trademark applicaiton earlier this year for the Tarek name, which means "path" or "way," but a new name altogether, such as Tiguan Sport, is also possible. The new vehicle will start production next year and should be on sale as a 2021 or 2022 model.

In other markets, the Tarek/Tharu is about 10 inches shorter than the Tiguan, and it looks similar to its larger sibling as well—and the same is true for the interior. In the teaser, however, we do get a glimpse at some thin LED lights that branch off the headlights. It is similar in size to the Jeep Compass and Subaru Crosstrek, welcoming it to the subcompact-crossover segment.

Volkswagen's new U.S.-bound SUV will be based on Volkswagen's MQB architecture and is likely to have standard front-wheel drive and available 4Motion all-wheel drive. The turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four found in the Tiguan will likely power the new SUV, but a smaller turbo four is just as likely. We'll know more about the powertrain details next month.

The new small VW SUV is set to make its official debut on October 13, and it should start production next year. It'll likely go on sale in the U.S. toward the end of next year as a 2021 or 2022 model starting at around $22,000.