CarPro.com Reviews the Volkswagen Taos 

The subcompact crossover category continues to grow in sales and entries as more people find that these small vehicles offer a lot of utility and affordability. A model that shows how much the category has grown from its humble roots is the Volkswagen Taos. CarPro.com’s Taos review is a case in point, as Bud Brown Volkswagen summarizes what they had to say. 

CarPro.com took temporary delivery of a Monterey Blue Taos SEL 4Motion.  This is the top-of-the-line trim of the Taos, with an MSRP of just under $35K.  This is a fair distance from the base model’s MSRP of $26,500, but much of what they like about the Taos applies to the model line as a whole. 

Both top and bottom-level models are powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 that produces 174 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired with an eight-speed conventional automatic transmission, which provides smoother starts from a stop compared with the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission the model used to have. The “4Motion” in the name indicates that, after the transmission, power is sent to all four wheels. The system helps off the pavement, but most owners will likely use it to stay on the pavement in poor weather. As equipped, the model has an EPA city/highway/combined rating of 25/33/28, while front-drive models are rated at a very impressive 28/36/31. 

Outside, the Taos sports the styling refresh it received for the 2025 model year, starting with thin headlights with a full-width illuminated connection between them, above a simply shaped yet well-defined grille with a matte silver surround. It is a clean look that avoids the complexity in the lower breathing area that many of its competitors succumb to. The rear is just as clean, with a full-width taillight interrupted by an illuminated VW logo. Brightly finished 19-inch alloy wheels come standard, though CarPro.com’s tester came with a set of 19-inch black-finished wheels, its only option.   

“Let’s take a look at this very well-done cabin.” is how CarPro.com begins its description of the interior, then goes on to say, “The dashboard layout is clean and modern, centered around a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with built-in navigation, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad.” The navigation system and wireless charging pad are courtesy of the SEL trim level, but the rest of the description applies to all Taos models. The SEL also features a 10.25-inch digital driver display, a panoramic moonroof, and two-tone leather seats with heating and ventilation for the front seats. 

All Taos models offer 24.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats, which is over three more than the Corolla Cross, which expands to 60.2 when the 60/40 split rear seats are lowered, which is almost 10% more than a Honda HR-V. Surprisingly, the rear seats have just over 40 inches of rear legroom, which beats that of a Toyota Camry, a model arguably two sizes up in platform hierarchy. All Taos models also apply in CarPro.com’s description of the ride: “The Taos rides and handles very well, quite sporty for a small SUV.  Visibility is great, and interior noise is much better than I’ve had with many small SUVs.”  

The car pros at CarPro.com like this vehicle very much for its class, so it won’t be surprising if you do too.  Find out with a visit to Bud Brown Volkswagen for a Taos test drive.