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+ |
| Gasoline Economic 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. | |
| Huge & Tall Consolation | |
| Huge Man | A |
| Tall Man | A- |
| Huge & Tall consolation scores are for entrance seats solely. “Huge” ranking primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” ranking primarily based 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
Colour: Monument Grey
Seating Capability: 5
Miles pushed: 139
Actual-world gasoline financial system: 29.1 mpg
Driving combine: 65% metropolis, 35% freeway
EPA-estimated gasoline financial system: 25/33/28 (metropolis, freeway, mixed)
Gasoline kind: Common Gasoline
Base value: $34,695 (not together with $1425 vacation spot cost)
Choices on take a look at automobile: Particular paint ($455), black-finish 19-inch alloy wheels ($395)
Worth as examined: $36,970
Audio-System High quality
Poor Truthful Good Very-Good Wonderful
Execs and Cons
The good: Roomy for sophistication, comfy cabin
The nice: Wonderful journey and dealing with steadiness, spectacular gasoline financial system
The not so good: Middling acceleration, unreliable infotainment system
Overview
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 provided 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 reasonably priced mannequin is obtainable in 4 trim ranges, with costs beginning just below $27,000. Right here’s a take 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 yr. The up to date powerplant is now rated at 174 horsepower, up 16 from final yr.
All fashions are actually fitted with a regular 8-speed automated transmission, which simplifies issues a bit. For 2024, Taos fashions geared up with AWD got here with a 7-speed dual-clutch model automated, which, frankly, was crude in operation.
AWD
Word, too, that fashions geared up with AWD are fitted with a somewhat subtle multilink rear suspension, this rather than a extra frequent (learn low tech) torsion-beam association. (Provided that going AWD solely provides $1700 to the underside line, we heartily advocate doing so.)
Check Automobile
Client Information not too long ago spent per week behind the wheel of a 2025 Taos SEL AWD in extra-cost Monument Grey with the optionally available black-finish alloy wheels. All informed, our take a look at automotive got here to $36,970 together with vacation spot cost.
Colour
A fast word on the colour of our take a look at automotive: Monument Grey is a dreary sounding title for what needs to be a dreary automotive colour. Nevertheless, our take a look at automotive loved just a little bluish pop that helped it stand out a in site visitors. Our level? Monument Grey isn’t simply one other boring silver/grey tone, however the distinction is refined.
Room and Consolation
Volkswagen crossovers have at all times appeared just a little greater 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 not say for many of the autos within the subcompact crossover class.
There’s additionally a stunning quantity of cargo area aft of the twond row, which suggests that you just and three grownup mates might take off for a number of days in consolation.
Cabin Appointments
The cabin is properly completed, too. There are nonetheless some hard-plastic parts included into the cabin trim, however for essentially the most half issues look elegant, and really feel high-quality. Additionally, every part seems to be tidy and nicely assembled, in an old-school, German-car type of manner.
Controls
We don’t love the management/infotainment system, however it has gotten higher, and works moderately nicely. The touchscreen interface continues 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 data for the music/podcast being play is mostly incorrect, and features like “shuffle” don’t really work.
(This editor discovered utilizing shuffle to randomize his music playlist at all times resulted within the system taking part in 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 superb.
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 moderately nicely, 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 in school, and cabin quietness—even at freeway pace—is a Taos plus. This little (type of little) crossover additionally handles nicely, 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 disenchanted by the shortage of reserve oomph.
Excellent news: The little 1.5-liter engine typically sounds refined, and works very nicely 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.
Gasoline Economic 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 high-quality on regular-grade gasoline.
Worth
Whereas we want the Taos was just a little faster, and maybe just a little extra reasonably priced in high trim ranges, it’s a elegant, refined, and finally practical small crossover that completely deserves a spot in your test-drive brief checklist. Word, too, that in case you’re buying within the class and want actual rear-seat passenger area, Taos is a should see. For extra Client Information evaluations, click on right here.
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2025 Volkswagen Taos SEL Photos
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