VW Upgrades 2025 Taos to Compete in Hot Segment

Faced with declining sales in the hot subcompact CUV category, Volkswagen announces several upgrades to the 2025 Taos.

Answering a chorus of criticisms about the Taos’s power and interior, VW has added punch to the engine, better materials and an overall improved aesthetic inside the cabin.

Volkswagen sold 27,167 units of the Taos model in the U.S. in 2023. This represents a significant decrease of about 46% compared to the 50,371 units sold in 2022, the year it was introduced to the U.S. Taos competes in a growing segment of sub-$30,000 CUVs that includes the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-30, Hyundai Kona, Toyota Corolla Cross, Nissan Kicks and Kia Seltos.

The Taos’s revised exterior features a more expressive front-end look, changes to the bumper design, a new grille with an available light bar and standard LED projector headlights with available adaptive front lighting. Connected taillights and an illuminated Volkswagen badge at the rear help make the CUV look a bit more premium.

New wheel offerings include new 17-in. aluminum alloy wheels for front-wheel-drive S models and 18-in. alloys for the front. There are 19-in. wheels for SEL. The SE Black trim, introduced for 2024, continues with a black roof, trim and unique wheels: 18 in. for front-wheel-drive models and 19-in. for 4Motion all-wheel-drive models.

VW has upgraded the dashboard design with new materials and colors, and an 8-in. (20-cm) floating infotainment display now standard on all models.  

Under the hood is an updated version of the 1.5L turbocharged TSI 4-cyl. The powerplant’s output is improved to 174 hp, up from 158 hp for the outgoing model. An 8-speed automatic transmission replaces the 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic on 4Motion models.

The 2025 Taos also features VW’s IQ.Drive driver-assistance features across all trims, including travel assist (semi-automated driving assistance); front assist (forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian monitoring); active blindspot monitor; rear traffic alert; adaptive cruise control, lane assist (lane- keeping system); and emergency assist (semi-automated vehicle assistance in a medical emergency). Front and rear park distance control are also available.

Volkswagen does sell the Taos globally, although it is known by different names in some markets. For example, in Mexico and other parts of Latin America, it is marketed as the Taos, just like in the U.S. However, in other regions, such as China, the vehicle is known as the Volkswagen Tharu.

The 2025 Taos, built in Puebla, Mexico, will reach U.S. dealerships by the end of this year.