The Taos is the tiniest SUV from Volkswagen. It was designed for the U.S. market, where subcompact SUVs are becoming more popular. The Taos ss practical, surprisingly roomy and comes well-equipped. Drawbacks are that it’s not as fun to drive as some rivals and the price can climb to Tiguan levels with options.
Base Price: $31,845
As Tested: $33,725
Horsepower: 174
Mileage: 25 mpg city/33 mpg highway/28 mpg combined
The Taos debuted for the 2022 model year. The major drawback was a clunky dual-clutch automatic transmission on the AWD models. For 2025, the Taos gets a mid-cycle refresh which includes swapping the dual-clutch transmission for an eight-speed automatic. The Taos also gets new front and rear fascias, a bit more power, and a now standard eight-inch touchscreen which replaces the 6.5-inch screen.
The five-passenger 2025 Taos comes in four trims: S, SE, SE Black, and SEL. Starting prices range from $24,995 to $34,695. Front-wheel drive is standard on the S, SE, and SE Black trims and all-wheel drive is available on those trims. AWD is standard on the SEL trim.
The 2025 Taos is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 174 horsepower (a boost of 16 hp over the 2024 model) and 184 pound-feet of torque (same as the 2024 model).
The Taos isn’t exciting to drive, like its rival the Mazda CX-30, but it has enough oomph for daily driving. The eight-speed transmission shifts smoothly and is a huge improvement over the old herky-jerky dual-clutch transmission. Acceleration is decent from a stop and when speeding up to merge and pass at highway speeds – the transmission will downshift a few gears to get the job done. Steering is accurate and brakes are responsive. The Taos corners pretty well with minimal body lean. The suspension does a good job of soaking up most bumps, making the ride one of the smoothest in the class. All in all, it’s pleasant to get behind the wheel of the Taos.
Fuel efficiency is good for a subcompact SUV. EPA ratings for my AWD tester are 25 mpg city and 33 mpg highway with a combined rating of 28. I got 27 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving. Front-wheel drive models do a bit better at 28 mpg city/36 mpg highway/31 mpg combined.
The cabin is improved over the outgoing model and it’s one of the nicest in the segment. It’s very spacious for a subcompact SUV. Front-row passengers have good leg- and headroom. The backseat is roomy as well. Although three adults in the second row would be tight, two average-size adults will be comfortable there. There are soft-touch materials, but also hard plastics, which is to be expected at the price point.
Standard features include keyless entry, remote start, push-button start, rearview camera, cloth upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, heated front seats, eight-inch digital instrument display, infotainment system with eight-inch touchscreen, four-speaker audio system, HD Radio, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, voice controls, two USB ports, Wi-Fi hot spot, heated side mirrors, automatic high-beam headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and black roof rails.
Available features include proximity keyless entry, auto-dimming rearview mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control, synthetic or real leather upholstery, leatherette multifunction steering wheel, eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support, ventilated front seats, 10.25-inch digital instrument display, navigation, satellite radio, eight-speaker audio system, an additional USB port, wireless device charging, ambient interior lighting, universal garage door opener, silver roof rails, and a panoramic sunroof.
Standard driver assistance technologies include forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian detection, and Emergency Assist (semi-automated vehicle assistance in a medical emergency).
Available driver assistance technologies include traffic-sign recognition and rear parking sensors
The infotainment system now comes standard with an eight-inch touchscreen. It’s user-friendly with logically arranged menus and snappy response times. The screen is easy to see and reach. Handy physical controls are there for audio and climate settings.
The Taos has plentiful cargo space for a subcompact SUV. Front-wheel drive models have 27.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.9 cubes with the second row folded. AWD models have 24.9 cubes and 60.2 cubes, respectively. The rear seats split-fold 60/40 and have a center pass-through to accommodate long items.
The good:
Pleasant driving dynamics
Good fuel economy
Surprisingly roomy in both rows
Lots of cargo space
User-friendly infotainment system
Standard wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
The not-so-good:
Price can quickly climb with options
Not as fun to drive as some rivals
Fewer standard driver assistance technologies than some rivals
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $31,845. The destination charge is $1,425, bringing the grand total to $33,725.
Bottom line:
The 2025 Volkswagen Taos is practical and pleasant to drive, albeit not the sportiest, gets good gas mileage, and the cabin is roomy and comfortable. While the lower trims are affordable, the price can climb with options and the upper trims can cost as much as the larger Tiguan. Still, the Taos is a worthy entry in the growing subcompact SUV category.
