Pros: Huge back seat and cargo area for the segment; strong fuel economy; quality interior; functional roof rails
Cons: Bland to drive with numb steering and mushy throttle response; so-so safety scores
“Compact” SUVs have gotten awfully big. They’ve also gotten awfully expensive, with the Honda CR-Vs and Toyota RAV4s of the world quickly approaching $40,000. For families or those simply searching for an ample amount of space and utility, that may mean going the used route, but before you do, there is a great alternative: the 2024 Volkswagen Taos. Technically, it’s a subcompact SUV, but it surely has a genuinely family-friendly back seat and a cargo area that may fit more inside it than loads of SUVs one price category above.
That size alone equates to strong value for the VW Taos, with most trim levels costing just over $30,000. It doesn’t stop there. Feature content is ample, interior quality is well above-average and you must have the option to get 30 mpg. We also think the Taos looks pretty cool, too, with its of-the-moment body cladding, black wheels and available contrast roof.
All of this adds as much as certainly one of our top-recommended small SUVs together with the Buick Envista, Chevy Trax and Kia’s Seltos and Niro hybrid. The Ford Bronco Sport and Subaru Crosstrek must also be considered by those interested in the Taos’ extra utility and quasi-rugged vibe.
Interior & Technology | Passenger & Cargo Space | Performance & Fuel Economy
What it’s prefer to drive | Pricing & Trim Levels | Crash Rankings & Safety Features
What’s recent for 2024?
The IQ.Drive driver assistance package is now standard on every Taos, bringing adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist to even the bottom Taos S. That trim level also picks up a regular heated leatherette steering wheel and rain-sensing wipers. The SE trim level picks up dual-zone automatic climate control. A brand new SE Black package adds a black contrast roof, black wheels and other black exterior styling elements. Prices also went down a bit for 2024.
What are the Taos interior and in-car technology like?
The Taos pulls heavily from the Volkswagen parts bin, which is just positive. The identical high-quality switchgear and user-friendly touchscreen interfaces you will find within the Tiguan are also present in the lower-priced Taos. VW’s Digital Cockpit instrument panel can also be standard equipment (8 inches for S and SE, 10 inches for SEL), allowing drivers a wide selection of customization options to offer as little or as much information directly in front of you as you desire. Materials quality is comparable to all the pieces within the segment save the Mazda CX-30 and Honda HR-V – expect loads of hard plastics but with just a few strategically placed pieces of painted trim and padded leatherette to spruce up the joint. We also like that each trim has some variation of a two-tone color scheme.
There are two infotainment systems available. The bottom S has a 6.5-inch touchscreen with a more basic interface, but it surely does include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SE and SEL gain an 8-inch touchscreen (see above), with enhanced functionality plus wireless charging and connectivity for Apple/Android. Each systems are easy to see and reach, and in contrast to VW’s newer system within the ID.4, GTI and 2024 Atlas, are literally user-friendly. On this forged, older is certainly higher.
How big is the Taos?
The Taos is just a few inches longer than other subcompact SUVs just like the Kia Seltos and Mazda CX-30, but remains to be closer to those than compact models like the Toyota RAV4. You do not really notice this extra size while driving, but along with some smart interior packaging, you absolutely notice it when attempting to fit people into the back seat or load up the cargo area.
The back seat is especially impressive. We were in a position to fit an enormous rear-facing Britax Boulevard automobile seat and still have loads of space for a 6-foot-3 passenger up front. That is rare for any compact SUV, let alone this smaller segment. It also translates into real adult-friendly space no matter who’s up front. The back doors are also quite large.
Cargo space differs barely depending on whether you get all-wheel drive: it’s 27.9 cubic-feet without it and 24.9 with it as a result of a better load floor. With front-wheel drive, the Taos managed to carry more stuff in our luggage test than anything within the segment save for the Bronco Sport. In truth, it was more voluminous than several compact SUVs. We also like that the Taos has raised roof rails, making it easier to swap aftermarket roof racks between cars.
What are the Taos fuel economy and performance specs?
Unlike many competitors, the Taos offers just one engine, but it surely effectively splits the performance difference between those rivals’ respective selections. Its 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four produces 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque.
Front-wheel drive is standard and is paired with a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual (aka DSG). Though it’s possible you’ll notice some slight differences of their behavior, they’re mainly just automatics that shift easily as expected. Fuel economy with FWD is 28 mpg city, 36 mpg highway and 31 mpg combined. With AWD those drop to 24/32/27, however the Taos is nevertheless one of the crucial efficient midcompact SUVs. It is also price noting that its total range is around 400 miles.
What is the Taos prefer to drive?
Despite the front- and all-wheel drive Taos models having different transmissions and rear suspensions, we’ve found their handling, ride quality and powertrain response to be similar from behind the wheel. Each versions of the Taos we drove erred on the side of comfort over performance, demonstrating well-controlled responses to larger bumps and sopping up smaller pavement imperfections with a sophistication expected of a German brand. Its chassis is greater than able to keeping its poise when hustling along a winding road, but Volkswagen’s steering — particularly within the FWD model — prevents you from actually feeling the experience, let alone enjoy it. It’s Novocaine-numb on center, then appears like you’re turning elastic bands thereafter. Choosing the AWD model adds drive modes, certainly one of which incorporates a Sport mode for notably higher steering. That said, in case you’re searching for a more involving drive, almost anything is a better option, especially the Chevy Trax and Mazda CX-30.
Also like other Volkswagens, the Taos doesn’t have the sharpest response to throttle inputs. Whether it’s throttle tuning or turbo lag from the small-displacement engine, the result’s a automobile that likes to be certain that you actually mean it. Similarly, neither transmission is especially quick about downshifting as needed. Just like the steering, this isn’t a deal breaker, but it surely does speak to VW’s subcompact SUV being more just like the Jetta than a GTI.
What other VW Taos reviews can I read?
2022 Volkswagen Taos First Drive Review
Read this more in-depth comparisons between the FWD and AWD Taos versions, in addition to the SE and SEL trim levels. We also include more info about its design and engineering.
Volkswagen Taos Luggage Test
We take a detailed look into the Taos cargo area, which actually differs in size depending on whether you get FWD or AWD. We had the FWD one and located that it’s second to only the Bronco Sport in its segment.
What’s the 2024 Taos price?
Buying a Taos couldn’t be simpler. There are only three trim levels, two of which can be found with front- or all-wheel drive. The SEL is all-wheel-drive only. Pricing could be very competitive despite its size, and the very fact many assume German cars are pricier than those from other brands. Its starting price of $25,420, including the $1,425 destination charge, is essentially the identical as a Kia Seltos, Hyundai Kona and Honda HR-V. Choosing the SE jumps the worth beyond the mid-grade trims of those competitors, but it surely also has more standard power and space. The range-topping SEL goes well beyond them and the Taos’ strong value proposition very much evaporates.
Unlike some competitors, there aren’t any special sporty or more off-road-oriented trim levels available. The trim levels really just represent a gradual increase in equipment.
All prices below include the $1,425 destination charge.
S FWD: $25,420
S AWD: $27,760
SE FWD: $29,590
SE AWD: $31,040
SEL AWD: $34,940
What are the Taos safety rankings and driver assistance features?
Every Taos now comes standard with forward collision warning (with pedestrian detection), automatic emergency braking, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The performance of those systems is average for the industry.
NHTSA gave the Taos 4 out of 5 stars for overall crash protection, including a four-star frontal rating and five-star side rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it mixed results. It received the best-possible rating of “Good” in most crash tests, but a second-best “Average” within the “small overlap front: passenger side” test and for its head restraints and seats. Its forward collision prevention system got top marks for vehicle-to-vehicle performance, but vehicle-to-pedestrian performance was deemed merely “basic” (a rating of 1 on a 0-3 scale). The bottom headlights were also given a “Marginal” rating (Average or Good is required to be considered for an IIHS Top Safety Pick award), though the SEL’s upgraded lights got a “Good.”
This Article First Appeared At www.autoblog.com
