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 Financial 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 stage evaluated, and will not mirror Shopper Information’s impressions of your complete mannequin lineup. | |
| Massive & Tall Consolation | |
| Massive Man | A |
| Tall Man | A- |
| Massive & Tall consolation rankings are for entrance seats solely. “Massive” 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 Sort | Turbocharged 4 |
| Transmission | 8-Velocity computerized |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Class: Subcompact Crossover
Nation of Manufacture: Mexico
Colour: Monument Grey
Seating Capability: 5
Miles pushed: 139
Actual-world gasoline economic system: 29.1 mpg
Driving combine: 65% metropolis, 35% freeway
EPA-estimated gasoline economic system: 25/33/28 (metropolis, freeway, mixed)
Gas kind: Common Fuel
Base worth: $34,695 (not together with $1425 vacation spot cost)
Choices on check 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
Professionals and Cons
The nice: Roomy for sophistication, snug cabin
The great: Wonderful journey and dealing with steadiness, spectacular gasoline economic system
The not so good: Middling acceleration, unreliable infotainment system
Assessment
Apart from 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 reasonably priced mannequin is obtainable in 4 trim ranges, with costs beginning just below $27,000. Right here’s a take 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 12 months. The up to date powerplant is now rated at 174 horsepower, up 16 from final 12 months.
All fashions are actually fitted with a normal 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 fashion computerized, which, frankly, was crude in operation.
AWD
Notice, too, that fashions geared up with AWD are fitted with a moderately subtle multilink rear suspension, this rather than a extra widespread (learn low tech) torsion-beam association. (On condition that going AWD solely provides $1700 to the underside line, we heartily advocate doing so.)
Check Automotive
Shopper 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 advised, our check automobile got here to $36,970 together with vacation spot cost.
Colour
A fast word on the shade of our check automobile: Monument Grey is a dreary sounding identify for what needs to be a dreary automobile shade. Nonetheless, our check automobile loved a little bit bluish pop that helped it stand out a in visitors. Our level? Monument Grey isn’t simply one other boring 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 may 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 a lot 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 buddies 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 included into the cabin trim, however for essentially the most half issues look elegant, and really feel high-quality. Additionally, every thing appears tidy and properly assembled, in an old-school German-car form of approach.
Controls
We don’t love the management/infotainment system, but it surely has gotten higher, and works moderately properly. The touchscreen interface continues to be, often, 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 mostly incorrect, and capabilities like “shuffle” don’t really work.
(This editor discovered utilizing shuffle to randomize his music playlist at all times resulted within the system enjoying 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 appear to be an pointless complication. Whereas the haptic contact pads work moderately properly, they don’t work in addition to easy knobs or buttons. They’re, nonetheless, backlit, so discovering and utilizing the controls at night time is straightforward.
Journey and Dealing with
Underway, the Taos is calm and composed. Journey high quality ranks with the perfect in school, and cabin quietness—even at freeway velocity—is a Taos plus. This little (form of little) crossover additionally handles properly, 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 actually 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 adequate energy for many conditions, extra aggressive drivers could also be upset by the dearth of reserve oomph.
Excellent news: The little 1.5-liter engine usually sounds refined, and works very properly with the usual 8-speed computerized. That is excellent news, because the 7-speed DCT-style transmission beforehand normal on AWD fashions was merely horrible. It’s crude and ill-time shifts had been a deal breaker for us.
Gas Financial 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 wonderful on regular-grade gasoline.
Worth
Whereas we want the Taos was a little bit faster, and maybe a little bit extra reasonably priced in prime trim ranges, it’s a elegant, refined, and finally purposeful small crossover that completely deserves a spot in your test-drive brief listing. Notice, too, that should you’re procuring within the class and wish actual rear-seat passenger area, Taos is a should see. For extra Shopper Information critiques, click on right here.
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2025 Volkswagen Taos SEL Photos
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