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+ |
| Gas Economic system | B+ |
| Worth | B |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different automobiles in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim degree evaluated, and will not replicate Client Information’s impressions of your complete mannequin lineup. | |
| Large & Tall Consolation | |
| Large Man | A |
| Tall Man | A- |
| Large & Tall consolation rankings are for entrance seats solely. “Large” score primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” score primarily based on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 174-horsepower, 1.5-liter |
| Engine Kind | Turbocharged 4 |
| Transmission | 8-Pace computerized |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Class: Subcompact Crossover
Nation of Manufacture: Mexico
Coloration: Monument Grey
Seating Capability: 5
Miles pushed: 139
Actual-world gas economic system: 29.1 mpg
Driving combine: 65% metropolis, 35% freeway
EPA-estimated gas economic system: 25/33/28 (metropolis, freeway, mixed)
Gas kind: Common Fuel
Base value: $34,695 (not together with $1425 vacation spot cost)
Choices on take a look at car: 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 nice: Roomy for sophistication, snug cabin
The nice: Wonderful experience and dealing with steadiness, spectacular gas economic system
The not so good: Middling acceleration, unreliable infotainment system
Evaluate
Except 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 supplied 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 inexpensive mannequin is obtainable in 4 trim ranges, with costs beginning slightly below $27,000. Right here’s a have 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 an ordinary 8-speed computerized transmission, which simplifies issues a bit. For 2024, Taos fashions geared up with AWD got here with a 7-speed dual-clutch type computerized, which, frankly, was crude in operation.
AWD
Observe, 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.)
Take a look at Automobile
Client Information lately spent per week behind the wheel of a 2025 Taos SEL AWD in extra-cost Monument Grey with the non-compulsory black-finish alloy wheels. All instructed, our take a look at automotive got here to $36,970 together with vacation spot cost.
Coloration
A fast observe 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. Nonetheless, our take a look at automotive loved a little bit bluish pop that helped it stand out a in site visitors. Our level? Monument Grey isn’t simply one other uninteresting silver/grey tone, however the distinction is refined.
Room and Consolation
Volkswagen crossovers have at all times appeared a little bit larger on the within than their exterior footprints would possibly recommend, and the Taos isn’t any completely different. There’s loads of big-guy area within the entrance row, and ample grownup area within the 2nd-row, one thing we can’t say for many of the automobiles within the subcompact crossover class.
There’s additionally a shocking quantity of cargo area after of the twond row, which suggests that you just and three grownup pals may take off for a couple of days in consolation.
Cabin Appointments
The cabin is properly completed, too. There are nonetheless some hard-plastic components integrated into the cabin trim, however for probably the most half issues look elegant, and really feel high-quality. Additionally, all the pieces appears tidy and effectively assembled, in an old-school German-car kind of approach.
Controls
We don’t love the management/infotainment system, nevertheless it has gotten higher, and works moderately effectively. The touchscreen interface remains to be, sometimes, 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 knowledge for the music/podcast being play is usually incorrect, and capabilities like “shuffle” don’t truly 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 truly sounds superb.
Haptic Controls
Whereas we’re on the topic, the “haptic” (finger slide) local weather controls appear to be an pointless complication. Whereas the haptic contact pads work moderately effectively, they don’t work in addition to easy knobs or buttons. They’re, nevertheless, 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 one of the best at school, and cabin quietness—even at freeway velocity—is a Taos plus. This little (kind of little) crossover additionally handles effectively, bordering on truly being sporty. There’s loads of old-school steering really feel, and solely average 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 affordable snappy off the road, and round city, however needs for reserve energy when passing or merging, particularly with a full load of passengers. There’s 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 dissatisfied by the dearth of reserve oomph.
Excellent news: The little 1.5-liter engine typically sounds refined, and works very effectively with the usual 8-speed computerized. That is excellent news, because the 7-speed DCT-style transmission beforehand commonplace on AWD fashions was merely horrible. It’s crude and ill-time shifts had been a deal breaker for us.
Gas 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 positive on regular-grade gasoline.
Worth
Whereas we want the Taos was a little bit faster, and maybe a little bit extra inexpensive in prime trim ranges, it’s a elegant, refined, and finally useful small crossover that completely deserves a spot in your test-drive quick record. Observe, too, that in the event you’re buying within the class and wish 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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