Textual content by Tom Appel
2025 Volkswagen Taos SEL AWD
Specs
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Consolation | A |
| Energy and Efficiency | C+ |
| Match and End | B+ |
| Gas Financial system | B+ |
| Worth | B |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different autos in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim stage evaluated, and will not replicate Client Information’s impressions of all the mannequin lineup. | |
| Large & Tall Consolation | |
| Large Man | A |
| Tall Man | A- |
| Large & Tall consolation rankings are for entrance seats solely. “Large” score based mostly on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” score based mostly on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 174-horsepower, 1.5-liter |
| Engine Kind | Turbocharged 4 |
| Transmission | 8-Velocity automated |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Class: Subcompact Crossover
Nation of Manufacture: Mexico
Coloration: Monument Grey
Seating Capability: 5
Miles pushed: 139
Actual-world gasoline economic system: 29.1 mpg
Driving combine: 65% metropolis, 35% freeway
EPA-estimated gasoline economic system: 25/33/28 (metropolis, freeway, mixed)
Gas sort: Common Fuel
Base worth: $34,695 (not together with $1425 vacation spot cost)
Choices on check car: Particular paint ($455), black-finish 19-inch alloy wheels ($395)
Value as examined: $36,970
Audio-System High quality
Poor Truthful Good Very-Good Wonderful
Professionals and Cons
The nice: Roomy for sophistication, snug cabin
The great: Wonderful experience and dealing with stability, spectacular gasoline economic system
The not so good: Middling acceleration, unreliable infotainment system
Evaluate
Apart from the sporty GTI, and aggressively sporty R, the Golf has been dropped from Volkswagen’s U.S. lineup. That leaves the German maker’s subcompact Taos to function entry-level ambassador for the model. Taos is now the least-expensive VW supplied within the States, and, and its solely “small” hatchback.
Updates
We put small in quotes as a result of the Taos doesn’t look or really feel particularly small. Extra on that momentarily…
Taos is freshened for 2025, and has been handled to an up to date cabin, a dose of additional horsepower, and a much-needed transmission repair.
Trim Ranges
For 2025 Volkswagen’s most inexpensive mannequin is obtainable in 4 trim ranges, with costs beginning slightly below $27,000. Right here’s a have a look at the 2025 lineup:
- S ($26,290)
- SE ($29,820)
- SE Black ($32,070)
- SEL ($36,620)
Engines
Energy once more comes from a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, although it cranks out extra energy this 12 months. The up to date powerplant is now rated at 174 horsepower, up 16 from final 12 months.
All fashions at the moment are fitted with a normal 8-speed automated transmission, which simplifies issues a bit. For 2024, Taos fashions outfitted with AWD got here with a 7-speed dual-clutch model automated, which, frankly, was crude in operation.
AWD
Observe, too, that fashions outfitted with AWD are fitted with a reasonably refined multilink rear suspension, this rather than a extra frequent (learn low tech) torsion-beam association. (On condition that going AWD solely provides $1700 to the underside line, we heartily advocate doing so.)
Check Automotive
Client Information not too long ago spent every week behind the wheel of a 2025 Taos SEL AWD in extra-cost Monument Grey with the non-obligatory black-finish alloy wheels. All instructed, our check automotive got here to $36,970 together with vacation spot cost.
Coloration
A fast word on the colour of our check automotive: Monument Grey is a dreary sounding title for what ought to be a dreary automotive colour. Nevertheless, our check automotive loved a bit bluish pop that helped it stand out a in visitors. Our level? Monument Grey isn’t simply one other uninteresting silver/grey tone, however the distinction is delicate.
Room and Consolation
Volkswagen crossovers have at all times appeared a bit larger on the within than their exterior footprints may counsel, and the Taos isn’t any totally different. There’s loads of big-guy area within the entrance row, and ample grownup area within the 2nd-row, one thing we can’t say for a lot of the autos within the subcompact crossover class.
There’s additionally a stunning quantity of cargo area after of the twond row, which suggests that you simply and three grownup pals may take off for a couple of days in consolation.
Cabin Appointments
The cabin is properly completed, too. There are nonetheless some hard-plastic components integrated into the cabin trim, however for probably the most half issues look stylish, and really feel high-quality. Additionally, every part appears tidy and properly assembled, in an old-school German-car form of manner.
Controls
We don’t love the management/infotainment system, but it surely has gotten higher, and works fairly properly. The touchscreen interface remains to be, often, sluggish to answer inputs, and is much less logically arrayed than the likes of that discovered within the Toyota RAV4, for instance.
Additionally, utilizing the native system—versus Apple CarPlay—audio playback frustrates. The knowledge for the music/podcast being play is mostly incorrect, and capabilities like “shuffle” don’t really work.
(This editor discovered utilizing shuffle to randomize his music playlist at all times resulted within the system enjoying a single randomly chosen album in its entirety.)
Nonetheless, the system is an enchancment over that discovered within the previous-generation Taos. Additionally, the audio system really sounds excellent.
Haptic Controls
Whereas we’re on the topic, the “haptic” (finger slide) local weather controls look like an pointless complication. Whereas the haptic contact pads work fairly properly, they don’t work in addition to easy knobs or buttons. They’re, nonetheless, backlit, so discovering and utilizing the controls at evening is simple.
Trip and Dealing with
Underway, the Taos is calm and composed. Trip high quality ranks with the perfect at school, and cabin quietness—even at freeway pace—is a Taos plus. This little (form of little) crossover additionally handles properly, bordering on really being sporty. There’s loads of old-school steering really feel, and solely reasonable lean in tight corners.
Energy and Efficiency
As we famous earlier, Taos enjoys an influence bump for 2025, although we truthfully don’t detect a lot of a change in efficiency. Taos is cheap snappy off the road, and round city, however desires for reserve energy when passing or merging, particularly with a full load of passengers. There may be additionally some irritating turbo lag—a delay in acceleration after the throttle is depressed—which manifests primarily at freeway speeds. Whereas there’s enough energy for many conditions, extra aggressive drivers could also be upset by the dearth of reserve oomph.
Excellent news: The little 1.5-liter engine usually sounds refined, and works very properly with the usual 8-speed automated. That is excellent news, because the 7-speed DCT-style transmission beforehand normal on AWD fashions was merely horrible. It’s crude and ill-time shifts had been a deal breaker for us.
Gas Financial system
And whereas the 2025 Taos could not ship sports-car-like energy, it’s frugal. We averaged higher than 29 mpg in routine driving. And, the Taos will run simply nice on regular-grade gasoline.
Worth
Whereas we want the Taos was a bit faster, and maybe a bit extra inexpensive in prime trim ranges, it’s a stylish, refined, and in the end purposeful small crossover that completely deserves a spot in your test-drive quick listing. Observe, too, that if you happen to’re purchasing within the class and want actual rear-seat passenger area, Taos is a should see. For extra Client Information evaluations, click on right here.
Take heed to the Automotive Stuff Podcast
2025 Volkswagen Taos SEL Photos
Click on beneath for enlarged photographs
2025 Mazda CX-30 Turbo Premium Plus: Evaluate, Costs, and Specs
