2025 Volkswagen Taos

The Taos is the entry point to Volkswagen’s SUV lineup, but it shares some welcome commonalities with its bigger brothers the Tiguan and Atlas, namely a roomier-than-expected interior and engaging driving manners. The Taos’ cargo area is among the tops in its segment, making VW’s least-expensive SUV all the more attractive and practical to the kind of young and young-at-heart shoppers eyeing this vehicle. The Taos is also quite fun to drive considering its practicality. The Taos’ standard turbocharged engine and European-derived driving manners bring an unexpected friskiness to the subcompact SUV segment.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of subcompact SUVs, including the VW Taos.

The 2025 VW Taos gets a welcome freshening in its fourth year of production. Updates include a more powerful engine that now makes 174 horsepower vs. the previous 158, a standard 8-inch touchscreen, and revised styling inside and out. The 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that some found a bit unrefined on past all-wheel-drive models is replaced by an 8-speed automatic, just like front-wheel-drive versions. VW’s new ChatGPT-enabled virtual assistant will also be available on the 2025 Taos. Three new exterior colors expand this subcompact SUV’s range of attitude: Bright Moss Green, Monterey Blue Pearl, and Monument Gray. Also new is a dark-blue leather interior option for the SEL trim.

The Taos is close to rivals like the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-30, and Subaru Crosstrek, of which the latter two come standard with all-wheel drive. Costing less are the all-new-for-2025 Nissan Kicks, Toyota Corolla Cross, Hyundai Kona, Kia Seltos, and Chevy Trax and Trailblazer.

Before buying, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know how much you should pay. The VW Taos’ resale value is about average for the segment. Remember, recouping more money when selling or trading in a vehicle can mean more money for your next one.

We’ve mostly enjoyed our time behind the wheel of every Taos model we’ve driven, and the 2025 model, with its power increase from 158 hp to 174 hp, is no different. And now with all-wheel-drive models using a traditional 8-speed automatic transmission instead of the former 7-speed dual-clutch, the all-wheel-drive models enjoy much improved shifting and power delivery. Generally, Volkswagen cars have a knack for feeling a cut above the fray thanks to taut manners and an eagerness that runs under the surface. It’s a German thing, extending even to the automaker’s smallest SUV. During our 160-mile jaunt around the Texas Hill Country in a 2025 Taos SEL 4Motion — love the new dark blue leather interior, by the way — we were impressed not only with the improved performance of the power boost in collaboration with the 8-speed transmission but also with the cabin’s quiet. This is no easy feat when rolling over the pebble-like pavement of many of the Hill Country roads. Well-balanced and composed, the Taos performs with nearly silent efficiency. Even at speed, the Taos had plenty of grunt in reserve for quick sprints around slower vehicles.

Fuel economy

The last VW Taos earned 31 mpg in city-highway mixed driving with front-wheel drive and 27 mpg combined with all-wheel drive. These figures were above average for the class, at least for front-wheel-drive models. If fuel economy ranks high on your priorities, you might want to check out the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, which comes standard with all-wheel drive and earns 42 mpg combined.

The 2025 VW Taos benefits from an interior update that give includes a new dashboard design and standard 8-inch touchscreen, which replaces a 6.5-inch setup on base models. SE models and above now get touch-based climate controls (for better or worse). Base Taos S models have two-tone black and gray cloth upholstery, SE models get VW’s CloudTex synthetic leather, and top-line SEL trims get genuine leather upholstery available in either a black/gray combo or a new handsome dark blue color. Though unseen, new acoustic dampening excels at reducing the intrusion of outside noise into the cabin. Furthermore, its front seats are wonderfully well bolstered offering a solid blend of comfort and support.

We’ve lauded this VW for its 2-row/5-passenger cabin that feels more spacious than the Taos’ exterior dimensions would suggest. This is especially notable in the cargo area, which boasts up to 65.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded in front-drive versions (or 60.2 for those with all-wheel drive). Those figures are right up there with the Hyundai Kona (63.7) and Kia Seltos (62.8).

The Taos has long looked like the proper youngest sibling in the VW SUV family, and that’s fine by us. We like the squared-off, slightly blocky design. In addition to lending boldness on the outside, it’s what helps create all that versatile space within.

This year’s update brings a new front-end design that lowers the grille and connects the headlights with an available light bar. In back the sophisticated theme continues with connected taillights and an illuminated VW badge. This year also brings three new paint colors: Bright Moss Green, Monterey Blue Pearl, and Monument Gray.

IQ.Drive
This is the name for VW’s suite of active safety and driver assistance features, and it’s standard for all Taos trim levels. It bundles adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and active blind-spot monitoring.

Cargo capacity
Most people don’t buy a subcompact SUV if copious cargo room is a priority, but it is nice when it’s there. In this respect, the Taos is among the best in its class, with up to 65.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

Digital Cockpit
Such all-digital instrument clusters debuted in luxury vehicles from Audi, VW’s corporate cousin and it’s standard in a Taos.

Carefree Maintenance Program
All new 2025 Taos models come with two years or 20,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.

4Motion
This is the name for VW’s all-wheel drive system, and while most rivals also offer all-wheel drive, not all have four user-adjustable drive modes — including off-road and off-road custom.

Wireless phone charging
A helpful feature if there ever was one, this is standard in SE and SEL models. Place a compatible phone on the pad, and it begins charging.

The 2025 Taos is motivated by a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that now makes 174 hp, a 16-hp bump from prior models. Whether front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, all 2025 Taos models use an 8-speed automatic transmission.

4-year/50,000-mile warranty

New Volkswagen models are covered for four years or 50,000 miles across the board. That’s a little better and a little worse than most competitors, which offer bumper-to-bumper coverage of three years or 36,000 miles and powertrain protection for five years or 60,000 miles. New VWs include two years or 20,000 miles (whichever is first) of complimentary maintenance.

Safety ratings

The 2024 VW Taos received scores of “Good” (the top) in four of six crashworthiness categories by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), along with scores of “Acceptable” and “Poor” in others. In government testing by NHTSA, it received a 4-Star score, out of the top 5-Star rating. We hope some of the updates for the 2025 Taos will improve scores.