VW’s Revamped, Upgraded and Redesigned Entry-Degree Compact Crossover
The Taos has been part of the Volkswagen lineup for simply three years, but that point was ample for it to bear a refresh to remain related within the extremely aggressive compact SUV market. For the 2025 mannequin yr, Volkswagen has up to date the Taos to boost its enchantment to households with young children and {couples} who take pleasure in street journeys after folding down the rear seat. In Canada and Mexico, the Taos ranks because the best-selling Volkswagen SUV, whereas within the U.S., it’s the fourth hottest mannequin after the Tiguan, Atlas, and Jetta.
Volkswagen invited automotive journalists to San Antonio, Texas, to expertise the 2025 Taos, coinciding with the corporate’s seventy fifth anniversary in America. Our time behind the wheel was restricted, so this overview touches on key highlights, with a extra detailed evaluation to comply with when now we have the automobile for an prolonged interval.
Getting There
The 2025 Volkswagen Taos is accessible in 4 trim ranges: S, SE, SE Black, and SEL, with choices for both front-wheel drive (FWD) or Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel drive. All trims are powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that produces 174 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, reflecting a slight horsepower improve from the earlier yr. The outgoing 7-speed dual-clutch transmission has been changed with an 8-speed computerized throughout all fashions. Volkswagen claims that the FWD Taos achieves gas financial system rankings of 28 mpg within the metropolis, 36 mpg on the freeway, and 31 mpg mixed, whereas the 4Motion model is rated at 25/33/28 mpg.
A full week with the 2025 Taos will enable us to evaluate its real-world gas financial system and delve deeper into the powertrain’s efficiency.
Driving Expertise: On the Street
Throughout our temporary take a look at drive of each the FWD and 4Motion variations, we famous that acceleration has improved since our final expertise in 2022, doubtless because of the transition to the 8-speed computerized transmission together with the modest horsepower enhance. The 0-60 mph instances within the mid-8-second vary are well-suited for on a regular basis driving situations, together with freeway merging and mountainous travels.
The Taos 4Motion options three driver-selectable modes: Eco, Sport, and Particular person. Moreover, there are settings beneath Lively Management for On Street, Snow, Off Street, and Off Street Customized. The On Street mode permits additional customization, providing decisions like Regular, Sport, Consolation, and Particular person, though our sunny day drive restricted our exploration of those choices.
The SUV’s design minimizes physique roll and side-to-side sway throughout sharp turns, offering a steady experience. Whereas steering is exact, it’s finest to not deal with the Taos as a sport SUV, as it’s not marketed for aggressive cornering.
Braking efficiency is delivered by way of entrance vented and rear stable disc brakes, that includes digital brake stress distribution and hydraulic brake help for straight stops with out fade.
The Taos comes geared up with Volkswagen’s IQ.Drive system, providing superior driver help applied sciences that embrace semi-automated driving capabilities.
Exterior Design Facelift
The Taos has undergone a facelift, sustaining a clear, basic Volkswagen aesthetic with European influences. The entrance options rounded edges, alongside new LED projector headlights throughout all trims. The SE Plus provides a particular LED mild bar to the entrance grille, harking back to the ID.4 and ID.Buzz EVs. The automobile additionally boasts a flat roof with an non-obligatory dual-pane energy sunroof (customary on SEL, $1,200 for SE) and built-in roof rails.
Volkswagen deserves credit score for avoiding outsized black brush guards on the fender arches, choosing a minimalist design that eschews extreme chrome and cladding. The rear options twin fake exhaust ports and putting machined aluminum-alloy wheels in sizes of 17, 18, and 19 inches.
Obtainable exterior colours embrace Deep Black Pearl, Platinum Grey Metallic, Pyrite Silver Metallic, Monument Grey, Pure White, Monterey Blue Pearl, Cornflower Blue, and Vivid Moss Inexperienced Metallic.
Inside Design
Inside, the design continues the theme of German simplicity with a clutter-free, neat aesthetic. The S trim options material seats, whereas artificial CloudTex is discovered within the S Plus and SE Black trims, and leather-based seating is customary within the SEL. The driving force’s seat within the S trim is guide, whereas the S Plus and SE Black trims provide heated seats with 8-way energy changes. Within the SEL, the entrance seats additionally embrace air flow.
The cabin contains a middle console with cup holders and storage, together with a heated, leatherette-wrapped steering wheel adorned with white stitching and brushed chrome particulars. Volkswagen has skillfully balanced the usage of delicate and laborious plastics, making certain a high quality really feel even in an entry-level SUV.
Entry to the rear seat is made straightforward by a flat roof and wide-opening doorways. The rear seat comfortably accommodates taller passengers, offering ample head and legroom, whereas the seating association can match three baby seats. Facilities for rear seat passengers embrace console-mounted air vents, a USB-C cost port, and a fold-down armrest with cup holders.
The 60:40 break up rear seat folds practically flat, providing 65.9 cubic ft of cargo house (27.9 cubic ft with the seats upright), whereas the 4Motion mannequin affords barely much less at 60.2 and 24.9 cubic ft, respectively.
The 8-inch digital cockpit data display screen comes with two giant gauges, and the infotainment choices embrace both a 4-speaker 8.0-inch colour touchscreen (in S, SE, and SE Black trims) or a 6-speaker 10.25-inch unit within the SEL for radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MP3 playback.
Comfort options—customary and non-obligatory—embrace Bluetooth, USB-C charging ports, wi-fi telephone charging, rain-sensing wipers, energy home windows, distant engine begin, heated steering wheel with audio controls, power-adjustable heated exterior mirrors, entrance and rear studying lights, and 10-color ambient lighting within the SEL trim.
Security and Comfort
The 2025 Taos is supplied with a variety of ordinary security methods, together with:
- Clever Crash Response System: This function prompts throughout sure sorts of collisions to close off the gas pump, unlock doorways, and activate hazard lights.
- Computerized Submit-Collision Braking System: In sure crash situations, this method applies brakes to cut back the danger of additional collisions.
Different security options embrace six airbags, a tire stress monitoring system, a rearview digital camera, rear parking distance management, hill descent management, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, rear site visitors alert, ahead collision warning, and computerized emergency braking.
Pricing and Warranties
The 2025 Taos has a beginning worth that features a $1,495 vacation spot payment, with availability anticipated within the first quarter of 2025.
-
S:
- FWD: $26,420
- AWD: $28,120
-
SE:
- FWD: $29,320
- AWD: $31,420
-
SE Black:
- FWD: $31,570
- AWD: $33,270
- SEL:
The 2025 Taos comes with the next warranties:
- New Car: 4 years/50,000 miles
- 24-Hour Roadside Help: Three years/36,000 miles
- Scheduled Upkeep: Two years/20,000 miles
Observations: 2025 Volkswagen Taos
The Taos was launched in 2022 as Volkswagen’s entry within the compact SUV phase, becoming a member of the Tiguan, Atlas, and Atlas Cross Sport. The addition of the totally electrical ID.4 has additional diversified Volkswagen’s SUV choices.
The 2025 Taos stays a spacious five-passenger SUV with aggressive mid-30s gas financial system, a quiet cabin, satisfactory energy, and a stable collection of security and comfort options. Its timeless European design is predicted to endure, and with a base worth round $26,000 for the S mannequin with FWD, the Taos represents a pretty possibility in its class.
Volkswagen’s SVP of product advertising & technique, Petar Danilovic, emphasised the importance of the Taos for the model, citing gross sales of over 209,000 items since its debut.
Whereas Clear Fleet Report has but to conduct an off-road analysis of the Taos with 4Motion, our experiences with this all-wheel drive system in different Volkswagen fashions have been optimistic. For many who want dependable dealing with in inclement climate, choosing 4Motion could also be a clever alternative, because it solely provides roughly $2,500 to the value.
Rivals within the subcompact SUV phase embrace fashions just like the Buick Encore GX, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, Mazda CX-30, and Toyota Corolla Cross.
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Story and images by John Faulkner.
