Get Hotcars Premium. Start your free trial today
With Volkswagen not selling the new Golf in the U.S., it's the entry-level Taos crossover that should appeal to younger buyers.
No, your eyes are not deceiving you, this handsome compact SUV with the iconic VW badge on it is not the new Tiguan, but, instead, an all-new model from Volkswagen called Taos.
Sure, the new Taos crossover may be about as tall and as wide as a Tiguan, but after taking a few steps back, you will soon realize that it is almost 10-inches shorter than its larger sibling.
While Tiguan sports a more rounded styling that evokes the Golf R hot hatch, Taos has a more boxy, imperious, and upright sort of look that more closely resembles the larger Atlas SUV. VDub nerds in the audience, however, might pick up on the fact that Taos is actually most closely related to the Jetta sedan, as both roll on the same Volkswagen MQB A1 platform underneath.
Perks of that family plan include a shared data package, as Taos sports the same 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder EA211 engine that produces 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. Short of the Mazda CX-30, Taos is one of the more torque-rich options in its segment, and thanks to an impressive 11.5:1 compression ratio along with a variable geometry turbocharger, low RPM response is fantastic, and there is no real turbo lag to speak of at around town speeds.
Related: 2023 Volkswagen ID.4: Cost, Facts, And Figures The eight second 0-60 run may be nothing to write home about, but the fuel efficiency is a definite strong suit. Our middle-level SE trim tester comes as standard with front-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive is an optional extra. A FWD Taos will return EPA fuel economy figures of 28 MPG city, 36 MPG on the freeway and 31 MPG combined, which is impressive. A week behind the wheel showed the Taos returning 32 MPG under our care. Buyers can expect about a three MPG drop, overall, if they opt for AWD.
Curiously, the choice between FWD or AWD will dramatically change owners’ experiences from behind the wheel. A $1,450 option on all but the highest SEL trim where it is standard equipment, AWD-equipped Taos models swap out the conventional 8-speed automatic transmission for a quick-shifting 7-speed DSG, similar to what you would find on a Jetta GLI.
Another similarity to Jetta is the chassis, with FWD Taos models sporting a more economical torsion beam axle rear suspension, while AWD models get a fully independent multi-link rear end. Volkswagen tunes AWD Taos models to offer a much more sporting ride and dynamic from behind the wheel, compared to FWD models.
With all of the part-sharing between Taos and Jetta/Jetta GLI, one can’t help but wonder if an even sportier Taos GLI or Taos GTI would be possible in the future.
Related: A Look Back At The 2006 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
These are some rather dramatic changes for just $1,450, and on the same vehicle, no less. The differences between the two are clearly in their distinct personalities: the FWD Taos is the more economical option, while the AWD model is the more sporty one. For what it’s worth, I have been hustling this Taos through the winding roads outside of Los Angeles and it’s a refined and comfortable ride. The quiet, comfort-oriented Bridgestone rubber will give up and howl in protest before you ever manage to find any sort of real high-speed trouble, which is how it should be.
Dynamically, Taos offers the sort of solid, Teutonic ride and handling that Volkswagen fans have come to appreciate, which includes a cabin that feels well isolated from wind and road noise at speed. The typically Volkswagen-esque level of interior refinement reverberates through other parts of the in-cabin experience, as well.
The Germans have been quite clever with the design of Taos such that, despite the smaller size, it only yields a few tenths of an inch of legroom in the back seat, compared to the larger Tiguan. Anyone under 6’6” will be perfectly comfortable in the front or back seats, which is a rarity not only in the compact crossover segment, but for a lot of vehicles.
Taos’ low base price of $24,790 – two grand more than the Toyota Corolla Cross – does show through with large swathes of cheap, hard plastic stretching across the dashboard. Not only does this look a bit unfortunate compared to rivals like the excellent Honda HR-V, but can create some rather harsh sun glare, at the right angles.
Fortunately, with goodies like wireless phone charging, wireless Android Auto, wireless Apple CarPlay and the availability of Volkswagen’s Virtual Cockpit digital driver display, a lot of the key touchpoints and interfaces do feel upscale. Extra amenities, like the heated leather seats and heated steering wheel also enhance the everyday commute.
Related: 2022 GMC Terrain AT4 Review: This Crossover Can Bring New Buyers To The Brand
Mercifully, Taos sports the same infotainment setup as Jetta, and not the one found in other new models, like the Golf R or ID.4. It’s far from perfect, with screen responsiveness being a real sore spot, but with several hard buttons, knobs and functionality like gesture control, you can do your best Jedi mind-control impression as you flick through radio stations, rather than rely on the annoying capacitive touch screen issues plaguing other recent models from the brand.
The only hang-up is the price, as a fully-equipped Taos will ring in at almost $36,000. If speed and luxury are your vice, for the same money, you can get a loaded Mazda CX-30 with its more upscale interior, and much more punchy 2.5-liter turbo engine that produces 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. On the value side of things, a comparable Hyundai Kona will undercut that price by over $4,000.
The way to go is the mid-level Taos SE trim with AWD, which will set you back $31,670 before you toss in any extra goodies, like a power moonroof, or larger wheels, if they appeal.
The new Volkswagen Taos is an attractive, spacious and fuel efficient compact crossover, but in one of the fastest growing and most competitive vehicle segments, it feels like a pricey proposition, compared to its rivals. However, as Volkswagen has opted not to bring the regular MK8 Golf to U.S. shores – only the sporty GTI and high-performance Golf R made the cut – Volkswagen has been clever by keeping the base price attractive enough to swing over buyers who would normally shop for the brand’s compact hatchback into this new SUV model, instead.
Jake Stumph is an accomplished racer -- equally handy behind the wheel, turning wrenches, or writing -- with almost a decade of experience in the world of content creation, marketing and communications, having held roles of all levels from freelance consultant to editor. Based in Los Angeles, he has connections with the major automakers and other auto industry leaders, allowing access to some of the greatest vehicles, and the people responsible for them, in the world. When he isn't playing pretend race car driver he also works as a software engineer.