Overview
VW’s Taos mini-SUV blends the best of the Golf and Tiguan into one delightful package. All Taos models come with a 158-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder. Predictably, acceleration isn’t groundbreaking, but its road manners are refined, and its fuel efficiency is admirable. A handsome exterior design wraps around a practical, businesslike cabin that features two spacious rows of seats and an upright seating position SUV shoppers will appreciate. The Taos’s low starting price makes it an attractive option among small crossovers, but while rivals such as the Chevrolet Trailblazer and the Kia Seltos top out at just over $30,000, the Taos can stretch your budget up past the $35,000 mark. Its higher trims do add a lot of features, but that puts the Taos in contention with larger SUVs, including its bigger brother, the Tiguan.
What’s New for 2024?
A new SE Black trim joins the lineup and wears a darkened exterior appearance, including a black roof, black wheels, and black trim accents. The interior of the SE Black, however, receives blue stitching on its upholstery. The rest of the lineup sees a few minor changes. The base S trim now includes VW’s IQ.Drive adaptive cruise control system with lane centering, the SE gains dual-zone automatic climate control, and the SEL sees a few cosmetic tweaks.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
We recommend the mid-level SE model because it provides the best value. It comes standard with 18-inch wheels, blind-spot monitoring, heated front seats, remote start, and wireless charging. We’d add all-wheel drive for an extra $1450, largely because it replaces the front-drive model’s rear suspension with a more sophisticated independent unit.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Taos is powered by VW’s new turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. It makes 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Front-drive versions feature an eight-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel-drive models have a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The front-drive and all-wheel-drive Taos also have different rear suspensions, with the former using a torsion-beam setup and the latter using a more sophisticated multilink design. During our testing, the acceleration difference between the two different drivetrains was negligible, with the front-wheel-drive Taos beating the 4Motion to 60 mph by only a tenth of a second. A set of 17-inch wheels are standard, but 18- and 19-inchers are also available. We appreciated the engine’s low-speed thrust, the eight-speed automatic’s unobtrusive operation, and the suspension’s composure on even roads during our time with one.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The front-drive Taos is rated at 28 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, and the all-wheel-drive model is rated at 25 mpg city and 32 highway. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, the front-wheel-drive Taos earned an impressive 40 mpg, while the 4Motion all-wheel-drive Taos achieved 33 mpg. For more information about the Taos’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Inside, there’s nothing overtly special about the Taos. The design and materials mimic the modern aesthetic found on other VW models. A fully digital gauge cluster is fitted to every dashboard and the standard two-tone seats are covered in cloth. However, leatherette and leather upholstery are both available, too. There’s no shortage of popular options, either. The Taos cabin can be equipped with customizable ambient lighting, an eight-way power driver’s seat, dual-zone climate control, a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof. The Taos boasts 37.9 inches of rear-seat legroom, which is only 0.8 inches less than the two-row Tiguan. The Taos also has 28 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seatbacks and 66 cubes with them folded flat.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Every Taos features a slick-looking infotainment system with a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot. A 6.5-inch touchscreen is standard, and an 8.0-inch version is optional. The system can also be equipped with built-in navigation, an eight-speaker BeatsAudio stereo, SiriusXM satellite radio, and wireless smartphone charging.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The smallest VW crossover is available with a variety of driver-assistance technology, too, including forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking. For more information about the Taos’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert
- Standard forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking
- Standard adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Volkswagen provides an above-average limited warranty and below-average powertrain coverage. However, the company does include complimentary scheduled maintenance that aligns with Toyota.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for two years or 20,000 miles
Specifications
Specifications
2022 Volkswagen Taos SEL
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $33,385/$33,385
ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 91 in3, 1498 cm3
Power: 158 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque: 184 lb-ft @ 1750 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/torsion beam
Brakes, F/R: 12.3-in vented disc/10.7-in disc
Tires: Bridgestone Turanza LS100
215/50R-18 92H M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 105.9 in
Length: 175.8 in
Width: 72.5 in
Height: 64.4 in
Passenger Volume: 99 ft3
Cargo Volume: 28 ft3
Curb Weight: 3244 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 7.4 sec
1/4-Mile: 15.8 sec @ 87 mph
100 mph: 21.5 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 8.4 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.5 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 6.1 sec
Top Speed (C/D est): 125 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 176 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.83 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 30 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 40 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 520 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 31/28/36 mpg
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2022 Volkswagen Taos SEL 4Motion
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $34,940/$36,535
Options: panoramic sunroof, $1200; Kings Red Metallic paint, $395
ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 91 in3, 1498 cm3
Power: 158 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque: 184 lb-ft @ 1750 rpm
TRANSMISSION
7-speed dual-clutch automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 12.3-in vented disc/10.7-in disc
Tires: Pirelli Scorpion Zero All Season
225/45R-19 92H M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 105.6 in
Length: 175.8 in
Width: 72.5 in
Height: 64.6 in
Passenger Volume: 99 ft3
Cargo Volume: 25 ft3
Curb Weight: 3557 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 7.5 sec
1/4-Mile: 15.8 sec @ 85 mph
100 mph: 24.2 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 8.5 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.6 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 5.9 sec
Top Speed (C/D est): 125 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 185 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.85 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 29 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 33 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 470 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 28/25/32 mpg
