Volkswagen is expanding its crossover lineup with the compact 2021 VW Taos. Although it is instantly recognizable as a Volkswagen with plenty of styling cues shared with the Tiguan and Atlas Grand Sport, the Taos gets VW's new horizontal LED lighting strip across its grille on the range-topping SEL (see the ID.4) plus a variety of pseudo rugged styling flourishes on every trim. These include black plastic lower cladding and fender flares, raised roof rails, and alloy trim on the front and rear bumpers that mimic skid plates. Besides serving as an obvious point of difference with the more traditional, family-friendly Tiguan, this more rugged look is the telltale sign that the Taos was designed specifically for the North American market where outdoorsy-themed models like the Subaru Crosstrek and Toyota RAV4 Adventure are booming.

Volkswagen's flexible MQB architecture underpins the Taos, which stretches 175.8 inches from end to end, 72.5 inches wide, and 64.4 inches tall. For context, it's about 9.3 inches shorter than a Tiguan, and only a couple inches longer than the growing list of "in-betweener" crossovers that bridge the gap between subcompact and compact choices. These include the Kia Seltos, Chevy Trailblazer and Jeep Compass. Its cargo capacity is consistent with those, too, as there is 28.1 cubic feet with five adults on board and 66.3 cubes with the second-row seats folded flat. Back seat legroom is 37.9 inches.

From the driver seat, horizontal lines on the dashboard emphasize the crossover's width, and the basic layout looks familiar if you've seen the most recent Volkswagen Jetta. A 6.5-inch touchscreen is standard on the base Taos S, while the SE SEL get an 8-inch unit running Volkswagen's latest MIB3 infotainment system. Every Taos also gets an all-digital instrument panel measuring either a standard 8 inches or 10.25 inches on the range-topping SEL.



Other standard features include two-tone cloth upholstery, automatic headlights, and a push-button ignition. An in-car Wi-Fi connection is included, too, though staying connected on-the-go requires a data plan. Motorists able to spend more can unlock features like leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, a navigation system, plus a wireless device charger.

Volkswagen notes that the Taos is "available" with the IQ.DRIVE package of electronic driving aids, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot warning, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. Of course, "available" means that those features are optional, whereas most competitors at least include forward collision warning and automatic braking as standard equipment.

As we've already reported, the Taos uses a fuel-sipping evolution of the Jetta's 1.4-liter turbocharged engine. Enlarged to 1.5 liters and modified to run a modified Miller cycle, the new four-cylinder produces 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It spins the front wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission in its standard configuration, while the optional 4Motion all-wheel-drive system brings with it a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic as well as a more sophisticated multi-link rear suspension. The front-drive Taos has a torsion beam at the back.



Despite the rugged look, the Taos shouldn't be considered for anything but the lightest of off-road duty. Volkswagen didn't specify ground clearance, but it doesn't look especially lofty. The company did indicate, however, that it is still considering a more capable trim level along the lines of the Toyota RAV4 Adventure or Jeep's Trailhawk trims.

Built in Puebla, Mexico, along with the Jetta and Tiguan, the 2022 Volkswagen Taos will arrive in showrooms in the summer of 2021. Buyers will initially have three trim levels named S, SE, and SEL, respectively, to choose from. Pricing information will be announced closer to the crossover's on-sale date, but Volkswagen indicated during a presentation to journalists Friday that we can expect it to start around $3,000 less than the Tiguan, give or take a few hundred dollars. That would put the starting price around $22,000, and therefore inline with the Kia Seltos, Subaru Crosstrek and Jeep Compass.

As for the name, the Taos follows the Tiguan and discontinued Touareg as Volkswagen crossovers with T names that are difficult to pronounce (Atlas is the non-T outlier). While the Touareg was named after a nomadic North African people and Tiguan is the combination of the words "tiger" and "iguana" (seriously, that isn't a joke), the name Taos is borrowed from a picturesque small town in northern New Mexico and is pronounced like "house."

Volkswagen of America, Inc. unveiled the all-new 2022 Taos. The Volkswagen Taos will slot under the Tiguan, and is the second proof point of Volkswagen's doubling-up SUV strategy following the launch of Atlas Cross Sport in 2020. The vehicle is positioned in the largest U.S. vehicle segment, the compact SUV market, where 4 million vehicles were sold in 2019-around 24 percent of the market. The Taos is small in stature, but big on value, with bold design, smart packaging, and high-end features.

"Taos is our fifth new addition to the Volkswagen SUV family in just four years, and we're thrilled to keep finding new ways to meet the needs of American families," said Scott Keogh, CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. "Taos will bookend our compact SUV offering, giving buyers all the style, technology, and drivability that Volkswagen is known for at an even more affordable price."

The Volkswagen SUV design DNA is clear in the exterior of the Taos. It bears a bold front end with a sculpted hood, and LED light signature reminiscent of the Atlas Cross Sport. Top trims feature LED headlights with the Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), and an illuminated light line stretching outward from the logo, as on the recently unveiled ID.4 electric SUV. The distinctive side profile, with a strong character line, harkens to the Tiguan, while the more squared-off wheel arches give a nod to Atlas. Eight colors meet four wheel designs-17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels are standard, with two 18-inch wheels (machined or black finish) and 19-inch wheels available-and a panoramic sunroof is optional.

Dimensionally, Taos sits at the middle of the entry compact SUV space, in contrast to the Tiguan, which sits at the top of the compact SUV space. Nose to tail, Volkswagen Taos is 175.8 inches long-9.3 inches shy of Tiguan-with a wheelbase of 105.9 inches; it is 72.5 inches wide and 64.4 inches tall. Passenger space is a roomy 99.5 cubic feet-just 1.6 cu ft less than the two-row Tiguan-with 28.1 cu ft of luggage space behind the second-row seats and 66.3 cu ft with the second row folded down. In addition to offering generous cargo space, the Taos offers a comfortable ride for all passengers, with 40.1 inches of legroom in the front and 37.9 in the rear.

Inside, the Volkswagen Taos features modern design and premium fit and finish. The cockpit is composed of clean lines with a horizontal focus; dash décor divides the central touchscreen from climate controls and flows seamlessly into the door inserts, adding visual interest. Two-tone seats are standard-whether in the base cloth or optional leatherette and leather seating surfaces-and include a luxurious French Roast and black combination for top-of-the-line models. Standard comfort and convenience features include automatic headlights and push-button start; KESSY® keyless access is available, along with an 8-way power driver seat, dual-zone Climatronic® climate control, rain-sensing wipers, a heated leatherette steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, heated side mirrors and heated washer nozzles.

Taos offers the latest in Volkswagen connectivity and infotainment technology. The Volkswagen Digital Cockpit configurable instrument cluster comes standard, as does Volkswagen Car-Net with in-car WiFi capability when you subscribe to a data plan. The MIB3 infotainment system with wireless charging and wireless App-Connect for compatible devices is available from mid-level trims and is paired with an 8-inch touchscreen with voice control, SiriusXM® satellite radio (three-month trial), and available navigation. Top trims add 10-color ambient lighting and a premium BeatsAudio® sound system with 8 speakers.

The IQ.DRIVE® suite of driver assistance technology is available on every Taos model, featuring Forward Collision Warning with Autonomous Braking (Front Assist), Active Blind Spot Monitor, Lane Keeping System (Lane Assist), Adaptive Cruise Control with a Stop and Go feature, Travel Assist and Emergency Assist. High Beam Control (Light Assist), the Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), and Park Distance Control are also available.

The Volkswagen Taos is powered by a 1.5-liter version of the EA211 turbocharged four-cylinder engine that currently powers the Jetta sedan. Making 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, the new engine offers a number of high-tech features designed to help produce outstanding fuel economy. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission in the front-wheel-drive model, while models with 4Motion® all-wheel drive get a seven-speed DSG® dual-clutch automatic transmission.

There will be three trim levels: S, SE, and SEL. Volkswagen Taos will be produced in the North American Region at Volkswagen's Puebla, Mexico factory.

Volkswagen supersized the Tiguan a few years ago for the U.S. market, removing it from the strange, middle ground it inhabited previously. It was too small to compete with bigger compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4, and the craze for smaller-size crossovers hadn’t really taken off yet. VW remedied the problem by making the Tiguan gigantic, going so far as to wedge in an optional third row that its main competition doesn’t even bother with.

Making the Tiguan so large left VW with a big hole in its lineup and no answer to the fast-growing segment of subcompact crossovers. Enter the 2022 Volkswagen Taos. The Taos is only 1.3 inches longer and 1.3 inches wider than the original Tiguan that VW strayed so far away from in 2018. And once again, it sits in a space with very little company — the Taos is smaller than most compact crossovers and bigger than most subcompacts. That begs the question: Did VW just end up right back where it started?

In a way, yes. And in another way, no. The old Tiguan was designed for Europe. It prioritized sporty dynamics, didn’t play up the rugged adventure angle, and the interior packaging failed to produce enough space for American tastes. These issues are all addressed with the more America-centric Taos. So, while on the spec sheet it may look as if VW just created the Original Tiguan 2.0, the Taos makes sure to avoid the past model’s mistakes.

The new Taos starts as nearly every other Volkswagen product starts these days, with the MQB platform. The 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is a revised version of the Jetta’s engine and makes 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Not only is it more powerful than the Jetta’s engine, but VW modified it to run the Miller cycle, making it more efficient, too. Other changes include a new turbocharger with variable turbine geometry (accounting for the extra power), a higher-pressure injection system and a new cooling system that warms the engine to operating temperatures quicker. The Taos maxes out at 31 miles per gallon combined when paired with front-wheel drive, which is only 2 mpg worse than the lighter and more aerodynamic Jetta (with an automatic). You take a significant hit at just 28 mpg combined opting for all-wheel drive, but there are several other pluses beyond just power to all four wheels you get when upgrading to AWD.





The eight-speed traditional torque-converter transmission in the front-drive Taos is swapped for VW’s seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic with AWD. Plus, the front-driver’s torsion-beam rear suspension is replaced with a multi-link setup. You also gain selectable drive modes in the all-wheel-drive Taos. The choices include: Normal, Sport, Eco, Individual, Snow, Offroad and Custom Offroad. It’s a fairly basic off-road mode — it relaxes throttle sensitivity and upshifts earlier, but also allows manual control of the transmission if you want it. Hill descent control is automatically activated on gradients greater than 10%, and it relaxes the stability-control system, too. The Taos isn’t designed to be a great off-road companion, but at least the electronics will be on your side should you choose to go where most won’t with it.

One downside to adding all-wheel drive is slightly reduced cargo capacity. You lose three cubes off the front-drive Taos’ generous 27.9 cubic feet of space behind the second row due to a higher load floor, though the difference is likely negligible when it comes to real-world luggage packing. Even so, the Taos offers more cargo space than the old Tiguan. It also has a significantly larger back seat with 37.9 inches of rear legroom. Sitting in the back of the Taos is nearly akin to being in the back seat of a CR-V or RAV4. It’s freakin’ huge for such a small car, and it’s easy getting in and out, too. Just like that, consider the original Tiguan’s flaws addressed.

The rest of the interior is mostly standard, conservative Volkswagen. We say mostly, because VW tried to make this crossover a touch quirky. The intrigue is in the SE’s “CloudTex” cloth seats that have a Volvo-esque look to them with patterning and multiple colors. They’re far more interesting than the SEL’s leather seats. You’ll also find greater use of glossy plastic trim in the Taos versus other VW products, which is comparable to what other brands are doing, but it doesn’t look or feel luxurious here. Most of the controls and buttons are all old VW gear, unlike the new Tiguan’s haptic-touch and touch-slider–festooned center stack and steering wheel. The Taos is built to be a budget crossover, though, so it can’t have every new goodie in VW’s grab bag.

Volkswagen would rather throw us a bone in the form of the standard Digital Cockpit, which consists of an 8-inch digital instrument cluster. A configurable 10.25-inch screen comes on the SEL. The base Taos also comes with a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment that runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the two more premium trims upgrade you to an 8-inch touch display with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. You’ll also get wireless charging with this unit, and the SEL adds navigation.






The vital tech needed to compete in this cutthroat segment is there, but VW promised us that the Taos would also feature the usual fun-to-drive quotient we’re accustomed to with other small MQB-based Volkswagens. If you are looking for a semi-fun (or simply less dreary) experience, then you’ll need to make a beeline for the all-wheel-drive model. It’s less about having additional traction and more about being able to slot it into a Sport drive mode that makes the AWD version better.

The steering in the front-drive Taos is laughably light, and the throttle tuning is far too sensitive in what is seemingly an effort to make the Taos feel quicker than it actually is around town. Even in the AWD model’s Normal mode, the steering and throttle tuning are dialed in far better. Stick it into Sport, and the steering weights up properly in corners, offering an improved and more natural handling experience than the front-drive model. There’s still plenty of body roll, as VW’s tuning erred on the side of comfort over performance — but that’s likely a wise choice, considering that few owners will actually explore this vehicle’s handling capabilities.

We could hardly sense a difference between the torsion beam and multi-link rear suspension when it came to ride quality and performance in most situations. The AWD multi-link-equipped Taos felt more composed over rapidly-changing, undulating surfaces, but you’ll be hard-pressed to notice the differences. Both versions ride comfortably and filter out potholes sufficiently on our pockmarked roads here in Michigan. VW says its North American division did the final tuning for the Taos, so it’s designed for our roads, not Europe’s comparatively glass-smooth tarmac.



If you were excited about the DSG, we’re sorry to disappoint you, because it’s not particularly special in the Taos. There are no paddles to shift yourself, and even if you do try to control shift points with the gear lever’s +/- slapstick functionality, the transmission auto upshifts far before redline and won’t execute downshifts if the revs will go much higher than 3,500 rpm. When left to its devices (as it should be), the DSG will shift smoothly and imperceptibly around town like the traditional eight-speed does. When you do get after it, upshifts are met with a bit more verve and quickness than the torque converter. That said, you won’t want to stay in it for too long listening to the meh engine and exhaust note. We’d wager the 0-60 run is somewhere in the 8-second range, making it quick enough to keep up with the competitors, but no better.

Think of the Taos as a very regular-driving crossover that is more fun than some others like the Jeep Compass or Chevrolet Trailblazer. It’s competent, but won’t raise any pulses, sort of like the Kia Seltos SX Turbo. That could change in the future, as VW teased us by mentioning it’s had talks about doing a "GTI" version with more power and an upgraded suspension, but that’s only a dream for now.

Folks in this class are rightfully more concerned with tech features and driver-assistance systems, of which this car has some good ones. Option the IQ.DRIVE package on S or SE models (it’s standard on the SEL), and you get VW’s full suite of driver assistance systems that includes desirables such as adaptive cruise control (with stop-and-go functionality) and Travel Assist, which is VW’s highest level of lane-centering on offer. It’s rather capable at keeping the car centered in lanes on the highway, but is still a completely hands-on system.

Finding the direct competitors for the Taos is a weirdly difficult task in our bloated crossover market. It’s more expensive than virtually all of the subcompacts, but priced in line with or cheaper than the compact crossovers at $24,190 to start. Fully loading up an SEL model puts the sticker at $35,440, which is starting to feel rather steep when you can get a well-equipped Tiguan (with more power and space) for less. If you don’t need the space, though, the Taos offers spunkier styling and much better fuel economy than a Tiguan. It’s also more engaging to drive than most small crossovers. The original Tiguan-sized hole in VW’s lineup is finally filled, and more effectively this time.

Volkswagen of America Inc. announced a range of updates for the Taos that deliver a fresh new look, upgraded technology, and more power to complement the versatility and efficiency of this affordable, fun-to-drive SUV. Revised exterior styling and an expanded selection of paint options are joined by new wheel designs to deliver even more curb appeal, while upgraded in-car tech and powertrain refinements further elevate the appeal of this neatly packaged compact sport-utility vehicle.

The updates begin with the exterior, which now sports a more expressive front-end look. Changes include a new bumper design, a new grille with an available light bar, and standard LED projector headlights with available AFS. Connected taillights and an illuminated Volkswagen badge at the rear add to the distinctive, upscale appearance of the 2025 Taos. Three new paint colors-Bright Moss Green, Monterey Blue Pearl, and Monument Gray-enhance the aesthetic palette. New wheel offerings include new 17-inch aluminum alloys for front-wheel drive S models, 18-inch alloys for the front-wheel drive SE, and 19-inch wheels for SEL. The SE Black trim, introduced for 2024, continues with a black roof, trim, and unique wheels-18 inches for front-wheel-drive models and 19 inches for 4Motion® all-wheel-drive models.

Moving into the cabin, the 2025 Taos features a new dashboard design, along with new materials and colors. An 8-inch floating infotainment display is standard on all models, while touch control for the Climatronic® HVAC system is available on the SE trim and above. New acoustic dampening treatments help to reduce interior noise, too. Taos S features two-tone black and grey cloth upholstery; SE and SE Black models are equipped with CloudTex and cloth materials-SE in two different two-tone options and SE Black in all black, naturally. SEL models are outfitted with leather seats, available in either a two-tone black and grey combination or a new striking dark blue hue.

Under the hood of the 2025 Taos is an updated version of the efficient 1.5-liter EA211 turbocharged four-cylinder TSI® engine. Hardware changes include revised piston rings and fuel injectors, a modified turbo housing, a larger intercooler, and a new gasoline particulate filter. These changes raise the powerplant's output from the outgoing model's 158 horsepower to 174 hp. To further enhance drivability, an eight-speed automatic transmission replaces the seven-speed DSG® dual-clutch automatic on 4Motion models.

The 2025 Taos features VW's sophisticated suite of IQ.DRIVE® driver assistance features across all trims. This includes Travel Assist (semi-automated driving assistance); Front Assist (Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring); Active Blind Spot Monitor; Rear Traffic Alert; Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Stop and Go; Lane Assist (Lane Keeping System); and Emergency Assist (semi-automated vehicle assistance in a medical emergency). Front and rear Park Distance Control are now also available and helps provide guidance when parking or in tight spaces.