Professionals: Massive again seat and load house for the section; robust gasoline economic system; high quality inside; useful roof rails

Cons: Bland to force with numb guidance and smooth throttle reaction; so-so protection rankings

“Compact” SUVs have got awfully large. They’ve additionally gotten awfully pricey, with the Honda CR-Vs and Toyota RAV4s of the arena briefly drawing near $40,000. For households or the ones merely in search of an plentiful quantity of area and application, that would possibly imply going the used direction, however ahead of you do, there’s a good choice: the 2024 Volkswagen Taos. Technically, it’s a subcompact SUV, but it surely has a in fact family-friendly again seat and a shipment house that may are compatible extra inside of it than quite a lot of SUVs one worth class above.

That measurement by myself equates to robust price for the VW Taos, with maximum trim ranges costing simply over $30,000. It doesn’t quit there. Function content material is plentiful, inside high quality is definitely above-average and also you will have to have the ability to get 30 mpg. We additionally assume the Taos seems beautiful cool, too, with its of-the-moment frame cladding, black wheels and to be had distinction roof.

All of this provides as much as considered one of our top-recommended small SUVs at the side of the Buick Envista, Chevy Trax and Kia’s Seltos and Niro hybrid. The Ford Bronco Game and Subaru Crosstrek will have to even be regarded as by means of the ones drawn to the Taos’ additional application and quasi-rugged vibe.

Inner & Era   |   Passenger & Shipment Area   |   Efficiency & Gasoline Economic system

What it is love to force   |   Pricing & Trim Ranges   |   Crash Rankings & Protection Options

What is new for 2024?

The IQ.Force motive force help bundle is now same old on each and every Taos, bringing adaptive cruise keep watch over and lane-keeping help to even the bottom Taos S. That trim stage additionally selections up a typical heated leatherette guidance wheel and rain-sensing wipers. The SE trim stage selections up dual-zone automated local weather keep watch over. A brand new SE Black bundle provides a black distinction roof, black wheels and different black external styling parts. Costs additionally went down a little bit for 2024.

What are the Taos inside and in-car era like?

The Taos pulls closely from the Volkswagen portions bin, which is simply nice. The similar top quality switchgear and user-friendly touchscreen interfaces you’ll be able to to find within the Tiguan  also are discovered within the lower-priced Taos. VW’s Virtual Cockpit device panel may be same old apparatus (8 inches for S and SE, 10 inches for SEL), permitting drivers a big selection of customization choices to supply as little or as a lot knowledge immediately in entrance of you as you want. Fabrics high quality is analogous to the entirety within the section save the Mazda CX-30 and Honda HR-V – be expecting quite a lot of exhausting plastics however with a couple of strategically positioned items of painted trim and padded leatherette to spruce up the joint. We additionally like that each and every trim has some variation of a two-tone colour scheme.

There are two infotainment techniques to be had. The bottom S has a 6.5-inch touchscreen with a extra fundamental interface, but it surely does come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SE and SEL acquire an 8-inch touchscreen (see above), with enhanced capability plus wi-fi charging and connectivity for Apple/Android. Each techniques are simple to peer and succeed in, and in contrast to VW’s more moderen machine within the ID.4, GTI and 2024 Atlas, are if truth be told user-friendly. On this forged, older is certainly higher. 

How large is the Taos?

The Taos is a couple of inches longer than different subcompact SUVs just like the Kia Seltos and Mazda CX-30, however continues to be nearer to these than compact fashions like the Toyota RAV4. You do not in reality understand this additional measurement whilst using, however along with some good inside packaging, you completely understand it when looking to are compatible other folks into the again seat or load up the shipment house.

The again seat is especially spectacular. We have been ready to suit an enormous rear-facing Britax Street automobile seat and also have quite a lot of area for a 6-foot-3 passenger up entrance. That is uncommon for any compact SUV, let by myself this smaller section. It additionally interprets into authentic adult-friendly area irrespective of who is up entrance. The again doorways also are slightly massive.

Shipment area differs somewhat relying on whether or not you get all-wheel force: it is 27.9 cubic-feet with out it and 24.9 with it because of the next load flooring. With front-wheel force, the Taos controlled to carry extra stuff in our baggage take a look at than the rest within the section save for the Bronco Game. Actually, it used to be extra voluminous than a number of compact SUVs. We additionally like that the Taos has raised roof rails, making it more uncomplicated to switch aftermarket roof racks between vehicles.

What are the Taos gasoline economic system and function specifications?

Entrance-wheel force is same old and is paired with a conventional eight-speed automated transmission. All-wheel force is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch computerized guide (aka DSG). Although you might understand some slight variations of their habits, they are principally simply automatics that shift easily as anticipated. Gasoline economic system with FWD is 28 mpg town, 36 mpg freeway and 31 mpg mixed. With AWD the ones drop to 24/32/27, however the Taos is nonetheless some of the environment friendly midcompact SUVs. It is usually price noting that its overall vary is round 400 miles. 

What is the Taos love to force?

In spite of the front- and all-wheel force Taos fashions having other transmissions and rear suspensions, we’ve discovered their dealing with, experience high quality and powertrain reaction to be an identical from in the back of the wheel. Each variations of the Taos we drove erred at the aspect of convenience over efficiency, demonstrating well-controlled responses to greater bumps and sopping up smaller pavement imperfections with a sophistication anticipated of a German emblem. Its chassis is greater than in a position to holding its poise when hustling alongside a winding street, however Volkswagen’s guidance — in particular within the FWD fashion — prevents you from if truth be told feeling the enjoy, let by myself experience it. It is Novocaine-numb on middle, then feels such as you’re turning elastic bands thereafter. Choosing the AWD fashion provides force modes, considered one of which incorporates a Game mode for significantly higher guidance. That mentioned, in case you are in search of a extra involving force, virtually the rest is a better option, particularly the Chevy Trax and Mazda CX-30.

Additionally like different Volkswagens, the Taos does not have the sharpest reaction to throttle inputs. Whether or not it’s throttle tuning or turbo lag from the small-displacement engine, the result’s a automobile that loves to remember to in reality imply it. In a similar fashion, neither transmission is especially fast about downshifting as wanted. Just like the guidance, this is not in reality a deal breaker, but it surely does discuss to VW’s subcompact SUV being extra just like the Jetta than a GTI.

What different VW Taos critiques can I learn?

2022 Volkswagen Taos First Force Assessment

Learn this extra in-depth comparisons between the FWD and AWD Taos variations, in addition to the SE and SEL trim ranges. We additionally come with extra information about its design and engineering. 

Volkswagen Taos Baggage Take a look at

We take a detailed glance into the Taos shipment house, which if truth be told differs in measurement relying on whether or not you get FWD or AWD. We had the FWD one and located that it is moment to just the Bronco Game in its section. 

What’s the 2024 Taos worth?

Purchasing a Taos could not be more practical. There are most effective 3 trim ranges, two of which can be to be had with front- or all-wheel force. The SEL is all-wheel-drive most effective. Pricing may be very aggressive regardless of its measurement, and the truth many think German vehicles are pricier than the ones from different manufacturers. Its beginning worth of $25,420, together with the $1,425 vacation spot fee, is principally the similar as a Kia Seltos, Hyundai Kona and Honda HR-V. Choosing the SE jumps the associated fee past the mid-grade trims of the ones competition, but it surely additionally has extra same old energy and area. The variety-topping SEL is going way past them and the Taos’ robust price proposition very a lot evaporates.  

In contrast to some competition, there aren’t any particular sporty or extra off-road-oriented trim ranges to be had. The trim ranges in reality simply constitute a gentle building up in apparatus.

All costs under come with the $1,425 vacation spot fee.

S FWD: $25,420
S AWD: $27,760

SE FWD: $29,590
SE AWD: $31,040

SEL AWD: $34,940

What are the Taos protection scores and motive force help options?

NHTSA gave the Taos 4 out of 5 stars for total crash coverage, together with a four-star frontal ranking and five-star aspect ranking. The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Protection gave it combined effects. It gained the best-possible ranking of “Just right” in maximum crash assessments, however a second-best “Reasonable” within the “small overlap entrance: passenger aspect” take a look at and for its head restraints and seats. Its ahead collision prevention machine were given peak marks for vehicle-to-vehicle efficiency, however vehicle-to-pedestrian efficiency used to be deemed simply “fundamental” (a ranking of one on a 0-3 scale). The bottom headlights have been additionally given a “Marginal” ranking (Reasonable or Just right is had to be regarded as for an IIHS Most sensible Protection Select award), despite the fact that the SEL’s upgraded lighting fixtures were given a “Just right.”