Yahoo Autos 2022 VW Taos Review | The family-friendly midcompact SUV
The 2022 Volkswagen Taos is an all-new midcompact SUV that's been designed specifically for the American market as opposed to something that's shared throughout VW's global empire. It's not the first such American VW, but it's easily the most successful … and least cynical. You see, previous efforts like the Jetta, Passat and Atlas broadly followed a simple, supposedly more American-friendly format: make 'em big and make 'em cheap. They were certainly that, but they also weren't as broadly competitive. Turns out American car buyers are more sophisticated than Volkswagen gave them credit for.
The new Taos, then, represents a smart course correction. Yes, it's a bit bigger than competitors like the Kia Seltos and Ford Bronco Sport, but it's not to the engorged levels of a Passat or Atlas. Indeed, the Taos manages to provide family-friendly backseat and cargo space while still being smaller on the outside than various compact SUVs. That's good for fitting in your garage, for fuel economy, for maneuverability and for ensuring a lower price. At the same time, the Taos doesn't have the same cost-cutting feel relative its competitors as past "American Volkswagens." You also get a little more style inside and out, with the exterior leaning a bit into the outdoor adventure space with a few rugged styling cues and functional raised roof rails. Don't expect much ground clearance or extra off-the-beaten-path capability, though.
We're really pleased with the 2022 Taos and consider it one of the best small SUVs. It scores high for functionality and value without being bland or chintzy. We actually think it’s a smarter buy than Volkswagen's other small SUV: the made-for-America Tiguan.
Interior & Technology | Passenger & Cargo Space | Performance & Fuel Economy
What it's like to drive | Pricing & Features | Crash Ratings & Safety Features
What's new for 2022?
The Taos is an all-new model.
What's the Taos interior and in-car technology like?
The Taos pulls heavily from the Volkswagen parts bin, which is just fine. The same high-quality switchgear and user-friendly touchscreen interfaces you'll find in the Tiguan and Atlas are also found in the lower-priced Taos. VW's Digital Cockpit instrument panel is also standard equipment, allowing drivers a wide array of customization options to provide as little or as much information directly in front of you as you desire. Materials quality is comparable to everything in the segment save the swanky Mazda CX-30 – expect plenty of hard plastics but with a few strategically placed pieces of painted trim and padded leatherette to spruce up the joint. We also like that every trim has some variation of a two-tone color scheme.
How big is the Taos?
The Taos is a few inches longer than other midcompact SUVs like the Kia Seltos and Mazda CX-30, but is still closer to those than compact models like the Toyota RAV4. You don't really notice this extra size while driving, but in addition to some smart interior packaging, you absolutely notice it when trying to fit people into the back seat or load up the cargo area.
The back seat is particularly impressive. We were able to fit a giant rear-facing Britax Boulevard car seat and still have plenty of space for a 6-foot-3 passenger up front. That's rare for any compact SUV, let alone this smaller segment. It also translates into genuine adult-friendly space regardless of who's up front. The back doors are also quite large.
Cargo space differs slightly depending on whether you get all-wheel drive: it's 27.9 cubic-feet without it and 24.9 with it due to a higher load floor. Without all-wheel drive, the Taos managed to hold more stuff in our luggage test than anything in the segment save for the Bronco Sport. In fact, it was more voluminous than several compact SUVs. We also like that the Taos has raised roof rails, making it easier to swap aftermarket roof racks between cars.
What are the Taos fuel economy and performance specs?
Unlike its competitors, the Taos offers only one engine, but it effectively splits the difference between those rivals' respective choices. Its 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four produces 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque.
Front-wheel drive is standard, and is paired with a traditional eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual (aka DSG). Though you may notice some slight differences in their behavior, they're basically just automatics that shift smoothly as expected. Fuel economy with FWD is 28 mpg city, 36 mpg highway and 31 mpg combined. With AWD those drop to 25/32/28, but the Taos is nevertheless one of the most efficient midcompact SUVs.
