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 mirror Client Information’s impressions of the complete mannequin lineup. | |
| Massive & Tall Consolation | |
| Massive Man | A |
| Tall Man | A- |
| Massive & Tall consolation rankings are for entrance seats solely. “Massive” ranking based mostly on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” ranking based mostly on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 174-horsepower, 1.5-liter |
| Engine Sort | Turbocharged 4 |
| Transmission | 8-Velocity computerized |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Class: Subcompact Crossover
Nation of Manufacture: Mexico
Shade: 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)
Gas sort: 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)
Value as examined: $36,970
Audio-System High quality
Poor Honest Good Very-Good Wonderful
Execs and Cons
The nice: Roomy for sophistication, comfy cabin
The great: Wonderful experience and dealing with stability, spectacular gasoline financial system
The not so good: Middling acceleration, unreliable infotainment system
Evaluation
Excluding 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 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 a regular 8-speed computerized transmission, which simplifies issues a bit. For 2024, Taos fashions outfitted with AWD got here with a 7-speed dual-clutch fashion computerized, which, frankly, was crude in operation.
AWD
Be aware, too, that fashions outfitted with AWD are fitted with a moderately refined 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 suggest doing so.)
Check Automotive
Client Information lately spent every week behind the wheel of a 2025 Taos SEL AWD in extra-cost Monument Grey with the elective black-finish alloy wheels. All advised, our take a look at automotive got here to $36,970 together with vacation spot cost.
Shade
A fast word on the coloration of our take a look at automotive: Monument Grey is a dreary sounding identify for what must be a dreary automotive coloration. Nonetheless, our take a look at automotive loved a bit of 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 bit of larger on the within than their exterior footprints would possibly counsel, and the Taos is not any completely different. There’s loads of big-guy house within the entrance row, and ample grownup house within the 2nd-row, one thing we can not say for a lot of the automobiles within the subcompact crossover class.
There’s additionally a shocking quantity of cargo house after of the twond row, which suggests that you just and three grownup buddies might take off for just a few days in consolation.
Cabin Appointments
The cabin is properly completed, too. There are nonetheless some hard-plastic components included into the cabin trim, however for essentially the most half issues look stylish, and really feel high-quality. Additionally, all the pieces appears to be like tidy and effectively assembled, in an old-school German-car form of means.
Controls
We don’t love the management/infotainment system, but it surely has gotten higher, and works fairly effectively. The touchscreen interface continues to be, sometimes, gradual 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 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 fairly 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.
Journey and Dealing with
Underway, the Taos is calm and composed. Journey high quality ranks with the very best at school, and cabin quietness—even at freeway pace—is a Taos plus. This little (form of little) crossover additionally handles effectively, bordering on really 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 desires 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 ample energy for many conditions, extra aggressive drivers could also be disenchanted 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 have been a deal breaker for us.
Gas Economic system
And whereas the 2025 Taos might not ship sports-car-like energy, it’s frugal. We averaged higher than 29 mpg in routine driving. And, the Taos will run simply advantageous on regular-grade gasoline.
Worth
Whereas we want the Taos was a bit of faster, and maybe a bit of extra reasonably priced in prime trim ranges, it’s a stylish, refined, and in the end practical small crossover that completely deserves a spot in your test-drive brief listing. Be aware, too, that should you’re buying within the class and wish actual rear-seat passenger house, Taos is a should see. For extra Client Information critiques, click on right here.
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2025 Volkswagen Taos SEL Footage
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