Yahoo Autos 2024 VW Taos Review: The most family-friendly subcompact SUV
Pros: Huge back seat and cargo area for the segment; strong fuel economy; quality interior; functional roof rails
Cons: Bland to drive with numb steering and mushy throttle response; so-so safety scores
“Compact” SUVs have gotten awfully big. They’ve also gotten awfully expensive, with the Honda CR-Vs and Toyota RAV4s of the world quickly approaching $40,000. For families or those simply looking for an ample amount of space and utility, that might mean going the used route, but before you do, there is a smart alternative: the 2024 Volkswagen Taos. Technically, it’s a subcompact SUV, but it has a genuinely family-friendly back seat and a cargo area that can fit more inside it than plenty of SUVs one price category above.
That size alone equates to strong value for the VW Taos, with most trim levels costing just over $30,000. It doesn’t stop there. Feature content is ample, interior quality is well above-average and you should be able to get 30 mpg. We also think the Taos looks pretty cool, too, with its of-the-moment body cladding, black wheels and available contrast roof.
All of this adds up to one of our top-recommended small SUVs along with the Buick Envista, Chevy Trax and Kia’s Seltos and Niro hybrid. The Ford Bronco Sport and Subaru Crosstrek should also be considered by those attracted to the Taos’ extra utility and quasi-rugged vibe.
Interior & Technology | Passenger & Cargo Space | Performance & Fuel Economy
What it's like to drive | Pricing & Trim Levels | Crash Ratings & Safety Features
What's new for 2024?
The IQ.Drive driver assistance package is now standard on every Taos, bringing adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist to even the base Taos S. That trim level also picks up a standard heated leatherette steering wheel and rain-sensing wipers. The SE trim level picks up dual-zone automatic climate control. A new SE Black package adds a black contrast roof, black wheels and other black exterior styling elements. Prices also went down a bit for 2024.
What are 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 are also found in the lower-priced Taos. VW's Digital Cockpit instrument panel is also standard equipment (8 inches for S and SE, 10 inches for SEL), 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 Mazda CX-30 and Honda HR-V – 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.
There are two infotainment systems available. The base S has a 6.5-inch touchscreen with a more basic interface, but it does include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SE and SEL gain an 8-inch touchscreen (see above), with enhanced functionality plus wireless charging and connectivity for Apple/Android. Both systems are easy to see and reach, and unlike VW's newer system in the ID.4, GTI and 2024 Atlas, are actually user-friendly. In this cast, older is definitely better.
How big is the Taos?
The Taos is a few inches longer than other subcompact 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. With front-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.
