2024 Volkswagen Taos

Pros

• A strong spirit that moves quickly and gracefully.
• A lovely room that’s easy to get in and out of.
• A small SUV with a big trunk.
• Most trims come standard with several helpful tech features.

Cons

• The transmission can shift down step by step forever.
• You can hear noise from the road and the car at highway speeds.

What makes the Taos move? We were surprised to find out that the Taos is one of the fastest SUVs in both the small and more significant SUV classes. 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. You have to use Taos’ launch control to get to that speed, which we think only a few users will do. Launch control is usually only found in sports cars, so it’s clear it doesn’t fit here. We were amazed by Taos’s stability and trust when we brake hard in a hurry and how smoothly it stopped when things weren’t so crazy.

The Taos turns very well because the body roll is well-controlled, and the driving is sharp. The Taos gets good grades for everything about driving except for how easy it is, which may be the most important thing for this class. When you combine the tense engine with the average performance of the seven-speed transmission, you get a terrible ride. It might be hard to enjoy driving at slow stop-and-go speeds because power spikes and gear changes often happen at bad times or take too long.

How do you feel about Taos? The Taos does a great job of making the cabin feel cosy. Even though the front seats aren’t as adjustable as we would have liked, they have a sporty shape and surprisingly strong support. The easy-to-use temperature control makes sure that the flow of air is even throughout the whole cabin. Front seats with good ventilation are our favorites. They came in handy on many hot days.

Even though the Taos has a harsher suspension than some of the other cars we tried and doesn’t isolate road bumps as well, we wouldn’t hesitate to suggest it. There was also some noise in the background, which happens often in this class.

How does the inside look? The cabin is one of the best in its class because the big doorways make it easy to get in and out and because it can fit a lot of people. Taos is almost better than its competition. From the driver’s seat, it was easy to reach the controls, and the square windows and good mirror coverage made it easy to see outside.

Volkswagen’s newest entertainment systems have gotten mixed reviews from people who have used them. The Taos keeps things easy by having fewer buttons that can be touched. This method simplifies use. Touch controls are great when they work, but most can’t beat actual buttons and knobs when reducing distractions.

How good is the tech? Some of VW’s newest touch-screen features were not added to the Taos, which is a good thing. What made it stand out was a robust Beats sound system with more bass than we were comfortable with (in a good way) for daily use. The built-in navigation system in our higher-end car was also a little slow, but it was easy to use. We like that the driver can see the map from the middle of the cluster of gauges.

Our car has a 12-volt plug, a portable charger, and three USB-C ports. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility with smartphones is built via USB, and SE and higher versions can link wirelessly. Most of the Taos’s high-tech driver aids work well, but when we tested it, the abrupt shifting of the gear made the adaptive cruise control less effective at slower speeds.

What about putting things away? Because of its size and shape, the Taos can make the most of the room inside. The Taos has the most cargo room, with 27.9 cubic feet behind the back seats. The rear seats fold almost completely flat, leaving only 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 handles are on the seats, you can reach them even standing at the back hatch.

There is a lot of storage room in the part of the cabin where people sit. The cupholders won’t fall over, the pockets in the front doors are the right size, and the square cubby under the center armrest is deep enough to compensate for its short length.

Since the Taos is on the bigger side of the segment, it can hold more car seats. However, we liked the cleaner-looking car seat anchor covers and the easy-to-reach top tether anchors. 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), close to what its best competitors get. The average fuel economy on our 115-mile test loop was 29.6 mpg, which is a significant number and shows that the estimate is correct. Our main worry is that you won’t get the best gas mileage with such a powerful engine if you need to speed up a lot.

Is it wise to buy the Taos? Value is an opinion, but the Taos seems priced well for your purchase. Even though the base price is reasonable, we prefer the higher-trim versions because they have more appealing features. Even though it’s one of the more expensive SUVs in its class—our top-of-the-line SEL test car costs 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 places where people spend the most time.

VW’s warranties are market-standard. For four years or 50,000 miles, they cover bumper to bumper and the powertrain. For seven years or 100,000 miles, they cover corrosion through. Volkswagen provides free scheduled maintenance for two years or 20,000 miles and roadside assistance for three years or 36,000 miles.

VW didn’t innovate with the Taos. It looks tidy and rugged, like a tiny Atlas. People may choose adventurous styles, but Taos will be more popular.

The same thing happens when you drive. Overall, the Taos is a decent SUV to drive. However, some SUVs in the same class are more fun to drive on winding roads and are less picky when going slower. Also, there’s no denying that the inside is comfortable. Taos has a lot of space for both people and things in a market where both are in short supply.

As of this writing, Volkswagen hasn’t said anything explicit about the 2024 Taos. We’ll change our suggestion if something changes, but based on the Taos from last year, we’d recommend the SE trim. The best value for money in a Taos is the SE, which has all of the driver assistance features from the IQ.Drive package of the S trim. It also has heated front seats, Bluetooth, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. There is no push-button start.

Models of Volkswagen Taos

Volkswagen’s Taos S, SE, and SEL models all have 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engines that make 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. The versions with front-wheel drive have an automatic transmission with eight speeds. The all-wheel-drive Taos has a dual-clutch automatic transmission with seven speeds and a better rear suspension, making turning easier. We’ll discuss Taos’s standard and extra features in the following lines.