2025 volkswagen taos consumer review Three years ago, we nearly bought a Volkswagen Taos. It was a finalist during our vehicle shopping process, but ultimately lost out as my wife couldn't get use to the performance/behaviour of the dual-clutch transmission. Fast forward to today, and it's time to new car shop again as our lease is about to end. The Volkswagen Taos is once again a serious consideration, especially since this 2025 refresh sees the dual-clutch transmission disappear from the all-wheel drive models, replaced by a conventional eight-speed automatic. To see if the SUV may be our next family car, we borrowed a 2025 Volkswagen Taos Highline, which is the fully loaded trim in Canada, equivalent to the SEL trim in the USA. Quick Take The Volkswagen Taos receives a mid-cycle refresh this year, with one of the key improvements being the switch to an eight-speed automatic transmission for all-wheel drive models. In the quest to find our family's next SUV, the Taos has immediately returned to our radar. Smooth power, a good ride, premium interior, great looks, and a user-friendly cargo area all won us over. Some technology hiccups and confusing interface, as well as other little squabbles didn't tarnish an otherwise positive experience with the Taos. 2025 Volkswagen Taos: All the Details 2025 Volkswagen Taos: All the Details View Gallery 34 photos What's New for 2025 Aside from the new transmission, for the 2025 model year, Taos gets a bump in power for the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine. There's new front and rear styling, plus new wheels and color choices. Inside, there are new interior materials and a redesigned dash. The 8-inch semi-floating infotainment screen, as well as LED projector headlights, are now standard on all models. Exterior Style 2025 volkswagen taos consumer review Digging a bit deeper into the styling changes for the updated Taos, the front bumper has been redesigned, sitting below a new grille with an available light bar. At the back, the Taos falls more in line with family styling, adorning connected taillights and an illuminated Volkswagen badge, much like the vehicle's larger SUV siblings. The new look doesn't stray too much from the 2024 Taos, which is a good thing, as the vehicle already had an appealing exterior style. In fact, my wife considers it one of the best-looking small SUVs currently on sale and I can't disagree. It's also a rare vehicle that can pull off such a bright green exterior paint job really well. Powertrain and Fuel Economy 2025 volkswagen taos consumer review As previously stated, the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gets a bump in power this year. It now generates 174 hp, a decent bump from the previous 158 hp. Despite horsepower increasing, torque remains unchanged at 184 lb-ft. With the new eight-speed automatic transmission sending power to all four wheels, we found the 2025 Taos accelerates well when merging onto the highway, even with 3,441 pounds (1,561 kg) to haul around. In the city, that slight delay when leaving from a complete stop, or when switching from reverse to drive, has disappeared. The overall engine performance is smooth and torquey, with decent response. Officially, the 2025 Taos is rated at 25 mpg (9.4 L/100 km) in the city and 33 mpg (7.2 L/100 km) on the highway. Handling and Drivability 2025 volkswagen taos consumer review Volkswagens have a reputation for being more responsive and engaging to drive than the competition, and that holds true for the Taos, especially on the optional 235/45R19 tires. We wouldn't call it sporty, but it's quick to respond and my wife was comfortable driving it by her second day. She did mention it felt wide initially behind the wheel, and she never got comfortable reversing it into parking spots. Although we didn't get a chance to test the 7.6 inches (193 mm) of ground clearance or all-wheel drive system, the Taos drives perfectly well in congested cities, on the highway, or on secondary urban roads. Ride Quality and Comfort Here's How Much More 2026 Porsches Cost 2025 volkswagen taos consumer review Despite the sporty pretensions and responses from the Taos, the vehicle still offers a smooth drive on most road types and surfaces. The step-down from the driver's seat is a bit high, a note to keep in mind for shorter drivers. Up front, there are 40.1 inches (1,019 mm) of legroom and 40.7 inches (1,033 mm) of headroom. The rear seats can accommodate two adults, with a decent 37.9 inches (963 mm) of legroom and 39.8 inches (1,011 mm) of headroom. My wife appreciated the low load floor in the cargo area that made transporting larger/heavier items easier. There is a lot of space back there as well, officially rated at 24.9 cu ft (705 L). She was let down by the absence of a power liftgate, though, especially since the Taos is otherwise quite premium. Interior Style and Quality 2025 volkswagen taos consumer review The redesigned interior continues the theme of conservative premium we find in a lot of Volkswagen products. The two-tone color scheme used on the seats, dash, and trim adds some interesting contrast, and the all-digital driver information center is a nice touch. We still find this is one of the more premium, higher quality-looking interiors in the class. Technology 2025 volkswagen taos consumer review Our tester came with every option available on the Taos, like the digital driver information center, heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, wireless phone charger, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, and more. My wife appreciated the in-car navigation and really liked that it couldbe displayed in the digital driver information center. She was not a fan of the touch climate controls and had a hard time figuring out the infotainment system, radio, and Bluetooth. While on the topic of infotainment, the touchscreen's physical placement in the vehicle, combined with the sun's reflection, can really highlight all the fingerprints on it Value Dollars and Sense 2025 volkswagen taos consumer review Pricing for the 2025 Volkswagen Taos starts at $26,920 (all prices include destination charges) in the United States and $31,970 in Canada. As tested, the Taos SEL 4Motion with the green paint came in at $37,075 in the USA. The Taos Highline 4Motion comes in at $42,170, with the green paint and 19-inch wheel options added. In America, that pricing puts it slightly above a fully loaded Subaru Crosstrek, and a few thousand above the top trim Kia Seltos and non-turbo Mazda CX-30. Final Thoughts 2025 volkswagen taos consumer review The upgrades to the Taos, especially to the transmission, make an already appealing small SUV even more so. The extra engine power, revised styling, and upgraded tech have it right near the top of our purchasing choices. The slightly higher price tag, as well as some technology issues are drawbacks, but there's far more to like about the 2025 Volkswagen Taos than not to like. PROS CONS Smoother Power and Ride Infotainment Controls/Interface Premium Interior Lack of Power Liftgate Easy to Drive Slightly Higher Price Over Competition FAQs Q: Will the 2025 VW Taos have a redesign? A: For the 2025 model year the Taos doesn't get a full redesign, but does get a mid-cycle refresh Q: What are the changes in the 2025 VW Taos? A: The updated Taos has a new transmission, more engine power, new front and rear styling, as well as an updated interior. Q: How big is the Volkswagen Taos? A: The Taos is a compact SUV, slotting below the Tiguan in the Volkswagen lineup. Specifications Engine/Motor 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder Output: 174 hp, 184 lb-ft Drivetrain: AWD Transmission: 8AT Fuel Economy (mpg): 25 city, 33 mpg highway Fuel Economy (L/100 km): 9.4 city, 7.2 highway Starting Price USA $26,920 (incl. dest.) Starting Price Canada $31,970 (incl. dest.) As Tested Price USA $37,075 (incl. dest.) As Tested Price Canada $42,170 (incl. dest.) Here's How Much More 2026 Porsches Cost
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