Volkswagen's smallest SUV is a big deal. The Taos packs plenty of modern tech and safety features into a tidy package. It also has excellent passenger and cargo space. The transmission makes lazy or awkward gear shifts at times, but that's pretty much the vehicle's only weakness. Overall this is one of the most well-rounded and family-friendly offerings in the class.
2023 Volkswagen Taos Review
Pros
- Sharp handling and smooth driving character
- Comfortable interior that's easy to get in and out of
- Big cargo area for a little SUV
- Impressive technology features
Cons
- Transmission can be frustratingly slow to downshift
- Noticeable road and engine noise at highway speeds
What's new
- Forward collision mitigation and blind-spot warning now come standard
- Full IQ.Drive suite now standard on SE and above
- SEL comes standard with panoramic sunroof
- Part of the first Taos generation introduced for 2022
Overview
Though it was a few years late to the party, Volkswagen finally entered the extra-small SUV game when it launched the Volkswagen Taos in 2022. Slotting below VW's Tiguan in size and price, the subcompact Taos offers attractive styling, handy available tech features and a surprisingly spacious interior.
Because it only launched last year, the Taos enters 2023 with minimal changes. Two previously optional driver assist features for the base S trim — automatic emergency braking and blind-spot warning — have been made standard across the board. Other changes include the addition of a panoramic sunroof on the SEL and the SE gaining adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance as standard.
A 158-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine motivates the Taos and helps it stand out as one of the quicker options in the class. That's surprising as it's also one of the biggest, offering an impressive amount of space for passengers and cargo. Overall, the Taos is a well-rounded SUV with a compelling blend of convenience, utility and value. Check out our Expert Rating below to see how the small VW compares to competitors such as the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Mazda CX-30 and Hyundai Kona.
Edmunds Expert Rating
Volkswagen's smallest SUV is a big deal. The Taos packs plenty of modern tech and safety features into a tidy package. It also has excellent passenger and cargo space. The transmission makes lazy or awkward gear shifts at times, but that's pretty much the vehicle's only weakness. Overall this is one of the most well-rounded and family-friendly offerings in the class.
Performance
7.5/10
How does the Taos drive? We were surprised to find the Taos, one of the larger SUVs in this diminutive class, is also one of the quickest. Credit goes to a fairly high-strung turbocharged four-cylinder engine that whooshes and hisses its way to 60 mph in a respectable 7.8 seconds. That speed, however, is only really achievable if you use the Taos' launch control, which we imagine few owners will. Launch control is a feature typically reserved for sports cars, so naturally it's a bit out of place here. We were equally surprised by how stable and confident the Taos felt under hard panic braking, yet it cruises easily to a smooth stop in less hectic situations.
The Taos handles around corners quite impressively as well, with well-controlled body roll and accurate steering. In fact, the Taos scores high marks in every driving aspect except what's possibly the most important for this class: drivability. The combination of that high-strung engine and moderately unresponsive seven-speed transmission makes for a jerky affair. Power surges and gear shifts can often feel delayed or clunky, making it difficult to enjoy driving at slow stop-and-go speeds.
Comfort
8.0/10
How comfortable is the Taos? When it comes to cabin comfort, the Taos does it pretty well. The front seats have a sporty shape and offer surprisingly good support despite not having all the range of adjustments we would've liked. The climate control is easy to use and effective at distributing air flow to the entire cabin. We especially love the powerful ventilated front seats, which worked wonders on some warmer days.
The Taos suspension leans a little firm and doesn't isolate bumps in the road as well as some other cars we tested, but it's also not so harsh that we'd have second thoughts recommending it for that reason. We also experienced a fair amount of ambient noise, which isn't uncommon for this class.
Interior
8.5/10
How’s the interior? The interior is one of the best in the class, from the ease in which you can step in and out of the large door openings to the generous passenger space. The Taos almost feels like a class size up compared to its competition. Outward visibility is excellent thanks to square windows and good mirror coverage, and we had no issue reaching any of the controls from the driver's seat.
Some of Volkswagen's newest infotainment systems have been flops. Thankfully the Taos keeps things a bit simpler, limiting the touch-sensitive buttons. This approach makes a huge difference in usability. Touch controls can be great when they work, but most can't compare to good ole physical buttons and knobs when you want to minimize distraction.
Technology
8.5/10
How’s the tech? Thankfully, some of the latest VW touch-sensitive controls did not make it to the Taos. What did make it is a punchy Beats sound system that delivers more bass than what we found comfortable for daily use (in a good way). Our higher trim model also had an onboard nav system that was a tad laggy but had a nice user interface. We really like that you can display the map in the center of the driver's gauge cluster as well.
Our vehicle had a total of three USB-C ports to plug devices in, plus a wireless charger and a 12-volt outlet. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration via USB is standard and steps up to wireless connectivity on the midtier SE model and above. Most of the Taos' advanced driver aids work well, though in our testing we found that the adaptive cruise control system got tripped up at lower speeds by the clunky-shifting transmission.
Storage
8.5/10
How’s the storage? The shape and size of the Taos mean it's able to maximize interior space. With 27.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, the Taos is class-leading. The rear seats have a center pass-through and the usual 60/40 split, and they fold down mostly flat, leaving about a 2-inch level change from the cargo floor. The release levers are on the seats but are close enough to reach if you're standing at the rear hatch.
Storage options in the passenger section of the cabin are pretty good. The front door pockets are generously sized, cupholders have an anti-tip design to keep your drinks upright, and the squarish cubby under the center armrest has some depth to it to make up for its shorter length.
Because the Taos is on the larger side of the segment, there's more space for car seats. But it's the small touches we noticed too, including sleeker-looking car seat anchor covers and well-positioned top tether anchors for easy access. This is definitely one of the more family-friendly options in the class.
Fuel Economy
7.5/10
How’s the fuel economy? The Taos equipped with all-wheel drive gets an EPA-estimated 28 mpg combined (25 city/32 highway), essentially matching its biggest competitors. We averaged 29.6 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation loop, which is a great result and proof that the estimate is achievable. Our only concern is that if you're prone to asking for a lot of acceleration, fuel efficiency won't be nearly as good with such a high-strung engine.
Value
7.5/10
Is the Taos a good value? Value is ultimately in the eye of the beholder, but as far as we're concerned, the Taos seems fairly priced for what you get. Its entry-level price is quite competitive, but there are a lot of attractive features we'd want in the upper trim levels. Our top-trim SEL test car came in at just under $35K, which is definitely on the pricier end of this SUV class, but it also provides one of the most well-rounded packages. If you look closely, you'll definitely find some cheap-feeling aspects to the Taos interior, but Volkswagen spent money in the areas that are touched more frequently.
VW's warranties are typical for this segment, with four years/50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage and seven years/100,000 miles of rust-through coverage. On the plus side, VW offers free scheduled maintenance for two years/20,000 miles and roadside assistance for three years/36,000 miles.
Wildcard
8.0/10
When it came to styling the Taos, VW didn't bother reinventing the wheel. It looks very much like a scaled-down Atlas, which is to say clean and kind of rugged. There are bolder designs out there that some may find more attractive, but we bet the Taos' looks will be more appealing to the masses.
The same holds true for the driving experience. Some SUVs in this class are more fun to drive on curvy roads and less finicky at slower speeds, but the Taos offers a decent experience overall. And you simply can't argue with the interior accommodations. In a segment in which passenger and cargo space is in short supply, the Taos seems to have an abundance.
Which Taos does Edmunds recommend?
We think the midgrade SE trim offers the most value. You get all the driver aids from the S trim's IQ.Drive package as standard, plus useful extras such as hands-free keyless entry, heated front seats, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Volkswagen Taos models
Volkswagen offers the 2023 Taos in S, SE and SEL trim levels, and each uses a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (158 horsepower, 184 lb-ft of torque). Versions with front-wheel drive feature an eight-speed automatic transmission. The all-wheel-drive Taos employs a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic as well as a more sophisticated rear suspension for more refined handling around turns. Feature highlights include: