2025 VW Taos Gets More Power, Polish
The Volkswagen Taos is the German automaker’s entry-priced CUV, and gets more power and enhancements aimed at solidifying its position in a growing segment.
SAN ANTONIO, TX – The Volkswagen Taos continues to hold its ground in the growing compact CUV segment and is a key model in VW’s growing CUV/SUV lineup. For 2025, the Taos gets a midcycle upgrade offering more power and some interior and exterior enhancements while largely holding the line on price.
The carryover 1.5L turbocharged 4-cyl. has been boosted from 158 hp to 174 hp. Despite not having a hybrid in the lineup, fuel economy is a respectable 36 mpg (6.5L/100km) on the highway. Combined fuel economy for the FWD is 31mpg (7.6L/100km) while the AWD’s is 28 mpg (8.4L/100km).
As VW’s entry-level CUV, the Taos is positioned against tough competitors including the Mazda CX-30, Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross and Hyundai Kona. While Taos excels in some areas, it has room for improvement in others.
Driving on the highway and rural roads here, Taos is a pleasant, competent commuter and grocery-getter. The trims with VW’s 4Motion AWD mean it will be sure-footed in snow and slush.
This powerplant offers responsive acceleration and sufficient pep for city driving and highway merging. Turbo lag is minimal, and the engine feels smooth under most conditions. The 8-speed transmission offered on both the FWD and AWD models provides smooth shifting and a more engaging driving experience than the outgoing 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The Taos delivers predictable and precise steering expected from a German automaker, with a light yet responsive feel that makes it easy to maneuver in urban settings. On winding roads, the Taos performs competently, with controlled body roll and a planted stance. While it doesn’t offer the athleticism of rivals like the Mazda CX-30, the Taos strikes a balance between comfort and control that should suit most drivers.
FWD trims have a torsion-beam rear suspension, which can feel slightly stiff over uneven surfaces. AWD trims are upgraded with a multi-link rear suspension, which provides better handling and a smoother ride over rough roads.
The entry-priced S trim starts at $24,995 and includes a list of standard equipment that includes 17-in. wheels, rain-sensing wipers and a heated steering wheel. The mid-priced SE starts at $27,895 and includes 18-in. wheels, heated side mirrors and washer fluid nozzles, remote start, heated front seats, wireless charging and a new front and rear park distance control. The up-market SEL trim ($34,695 starting price) gets 19-in. wheels, panoramic sunroof, and leather ventilated and heated front seats. The SE Black starts at $30,145 and includes such add-ons as a light bar in the grille, black roof and spoiler and the panoramic sunroof.
Interior materials and finishes have been upgraded. Soft-touch surfaces are not that soft, and the top of the dash is hard plastic. But at prices that largely stay under $30,000 for the basic and midlevel trims, it’s no big deal.
The 8-in. (20-cm) center screen is a floating tablet design. We did have a glitchy navigation experience, both with Google Maps and the CUV’s native nav system. Once we switched over to the Waze app, though, all was right with the journey.
The Taos offers one of the most spacious cabins in its class. Rear-seat legroom and cargo capacity of 27.9 cu.-ft. (790 L) behind the rear seats are standout features, making it a practical choice for small families or individuals requiring extra storage. Our only beef was with a hump in the floor when the second-row seating is folded flat.
VW’s IQ. DRIVE suite is standard across carlines for 2024, featuring Travel Assist (adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, traffic-jam assist, predictive speed control, emergency assist, active blindspot monitor and rear traffic alert).
Taos sales are up 9% in the U.S. in 2024 through November. Because fewer models are priced below $30,000 today, the Taos has upside with improvements, though the CUV’s brisk sales in Canada and Mexico are helping drive production out of the Puebla, Mexico, plant, so it’s hard to say what the ceiling is in the U.S. beyond the 60,000-plus sales VW will see this year.
Taos is bit overshadowed by the Tiguan in VW’s lineup, but the improvements should garner more eyeballs from buyers for the rest of the product cycle.
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