2023 Volkswagen Taos

Pros

• A strong personality that moves quickly and gracefully
• An excellent interior that’s easy to get in and out of
• A small SUV with a big trunk
• Very advanced technology

Cons

• The transmission can slowly shift down for as long as you want.
• You can hear noise from the road and the engine at highway speeds.

What makes the Taos move? We were surprised to learn that the Taos is one of the fastest SUVs in both the small SUV class and the larger SUV class. The credit goes to a very tense turbocharged four-cylinder engine that goes from 0 to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds while whooshing and hissing. To get to that speed, you have to use Taos’ launch control, which we think only a few owners will do. Launch control is usually only found on sports cars, so it’s clear it doesn’t belong here. We were amazed by how stable and confident the Taos was when we slammed on the brakes hard and how smoothly it stopped when we weren’t in a hurry.

The Taos turns very well because the body roll is well-controlled, and the steering is accurate. The Taos gets high marks for everything about how it drives, except how easy it is to go, which is the most important thing for this class. When you combine the tense engine with the average responsiveness of the seven-speed transmission, you get a rough ride. It may be hard to enjoy driving at slow speeds with lots of stops and starts because power surges and gear changes are often slow or hard to do.

How do you feel about Taos? The Taos does an excellent job of making the inside of the car comfortable. The front seats are more adjustable than we’d like, but they’re sporty and supportive. The easy-to-use climate control ensures the airflow is the same throughout the cabin. The front seats with strong airflow are our favorites. They came in handy on several hot days.

Even though the Taos has a firmer suspension than some of the other cars we tested and doesn’t smooth out road bumps as well, we would be okay with recommending it. Also, there was some noise in the background, which is typical for this class.

How does the inside look? You won’t find a better cabin anywhere else in its price range. The wide doorways make it easy to get in and out, and there is enough room for everyone. Taos is almost better than its competitors. It was easy to reach the controls from the driver’s seat, and the square windows and good mirror coverage made it easy to see.

Volkswagen’s newest infotainment systems have gotten mixed reviews from people who have used them. The Taos keeps things simple by having fewer buttons that can touch. This method makes it much easier to use. Touch controls can be great when they work right, but most can’t keep your attention, as well as physical buttons and knobs.

How good is the tech? They did not add some of VW’s newest touch-screen controls to the Taos, which is a good thing. It was possible because of a powerful Beats sound system with more bass than we liked for everyday use (in a good way). The navigation system in our car with a higher trim level was also a little slow, but it was easy to use. We like that the map is in the middle of the gauge cluster for the driver.

Our car had a 12-volt plug, a wireless charger, and three USB-C ports. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity for smartphones are standard via USB, and wireless connectivity is available on models SE and up. Most of the Taos’s high-tech driver aids work well, but the transmission’s jerky shifting made the adaptive cruise control system less effective at slower speeds.

What about putting things away? Because of its size and shape, the Taos makes the most of the space inside. The Taos has the most cargo space in its class, with 27.9 cubic feet behind the back seats. The back seats fold almost flat, leaving a 2-inch gap between them and the cargo floor. They also have the standard 60/40 split and center pass-through. Because the release levers are on the seats, you can reach them even if standing at the back hatch.

In the passenger area of the cabin, there is a lot of room to store things. The cupholders can’t fall over, the pockets on the front doors are big enough, and the square cubby under the center armrest is deep enough to make up for its shorter length.

The Taos is on the bigger side of the segment, so there is more space for car seats. On the other hand, we were drawn to the cleaner-looking car seat anchor covers and the top tether anchors that were placed in a way that made them easy to reach. This is one of the better choices for families in the class.

How well does it use gasoline? With all-wheel drive, the EPA says the Taos gets a combined 28 mpg (25 city/32 highway), which is about the same as its top competitors. The average fuel economy on our 115-mile test loop was 29.6 mpg, which is a great result and shows that the estimate is correct. Our main worry is that with such a powerful engine, you won’t get the best gas mileage if you ask for a lot of speed.

Is it wise to buy the Taos? Value is a matter of opinion, but the Taos seems priced well for what you get. Even though the base price is reasonable, we prefer the higher trim levels because they have more features we like. Even though it’s one of the more expensive SUVs in its class—our top-of-the-line SEL test car cost just under $35,000—it’s also one of the most well-rounded. Even though some parts of Taos’s interior look and feel cheap, Volkswagen put more money into the features that people use the most.

VW’s warranties are standard for this market segment. They cover everything from bumper to bumper and the powertrain for four years or 50,000 miles, and they cover rust through for seven years or 100,000 miles. Volkswagen offers free scheduled maintenance for two years or 20,000 miles and roadside assistance for three or 36,000 miles.

When they made the Taos, VW didn’t try to come up with something new. It looks neat and rough, like a smaller version of the Atlas. People may like other styles that are more daring, but the Taos style will be more popular.

The same thing happens when you drive. Overall, going to Taos is pretty decent. However, some SUVs in this class are more fun to drive on winding roads and less annoying at slower speeds. Also, the accommodations inside can’t be denied. Taos has more of both in a market where there isn’t enough space for people and things.

The SE trim, which is in the middle, is the best value. In the S trim, the IQ has everything a driver could need. Standard features include a drive package with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, hands-free keyless entry, and heated front seats.

Volkswagen Taos models

Volkswagen’s 2023 Taos S, SE, and SEL all have a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that is turbocharged (158 horsepower, 184 lb-ft of torque). The cars with front-wheel drive have an automatic transmission with eight speeds.