Text by Tom Appel
2025 Volkswagen Taos SEL AWD
Specs
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | A |
| Power and Performance | C+ |
| Fit and Finish | B+ |
| Fuel Economy | B+ |
| Value | B |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide’s impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | A |
| Tall Guy | A- |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. “Big” rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, “Tall” rating based on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 174-horsepower, 1.5-liter |
| Engine Type | Turbocharged four |
| Transmission | 8-Speed automatic |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Class: Subcompact Crossover
Country of Manufacture: Mexico
Color: Monument Gray
Seating Capacity: 5
Miles driven: 139
Real-world fuel economy: 29.1 mpg
Driving mix: 65% city, 35% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 25/33/28 (city, highway, combined)
Fuel type: Regular Gas
Base price: $34,695 (not including $1425 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Special paint ($455), black-finish 19-inch alloy wheels ($395)
Price as tested: $36,970
Audio-System Quality
Poor Fair Good Very-Good Excellent
Pros and Cons
The great: Roomy for class, comfortable cabin
The good: Excellent ride and handling balance, impressive fuel economy
The not so good: Middling acceleration, unreliable infotainment system
Review
With the exception of 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 serve as entry-level ambassador for the brand. Taos is now the least-expensive VW offered in the States, and, and its only “small” hatchback.
Updates
We put small in quotes because the Taos doesn’t look or feel especially small. More on that momentarily…
Taos is freshened for 2025, and has been treated to an updated cabin, a dose of extra horsepower, and a much-needed transmission fix.
Trim Levels
For 2025 Volkswagen’s most affordable model is offered in four trim levels, with prices starting just under $27,000. Here’s a look at the 2025 lineup:
- S ($26,290)
- SE ($29,820)
- SE Black ($32,070)
- SEL ($36,620)
Engines
Power again comes from a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, though it cranks out more power this year. The updated powerplant is now rated at 174 horsepower, up 16 from last year.
All models are now fitted with a standard 8-speed automatic transmission, which simplifies things a bit. For 2024, Taos models equipped with AWD came with a 7-speed dual-clutch style automatic, which, frankly, was crude in operation.
AWD
Note, too, that models equipped with AWD are fitted with a rather sophisticated multilink rear suspension, this in place of a more common (read low tech) torsion-beam arrangement. (Given that going AWD only adds $1700 to the bottom line, we heartily recommend doing so.)
Test Car
Consumer Guide recently spent a week behind the wheel of a 2025 Taos SEL AWD in extra-cost Monument Gray with the optional black-finish alloy wheels. All told, our test car came to $36,970 including destination charge.
Color
A quick note on the color of our test car: Monument Gray is a dreary sounding name for what should be a dreary car color. However, our test car enjoyed a little bluish pop that helped it stand out a in traffic. Our point? Monument Gray isn’t just another dull silver/gray tone, but the difference is subtle.
Room and Comfort
Volkswagen crossovers have always seemed a little bigger on the inside than their exterior footprints might suggest, and the Taos is no different. There’s plenty of big-guy space in the front row, and ample adult space in the 2nd-row, something we cannot say for most of the vehicles in the subcompact crossover class.
There’s also a surprising amount of cargo space after of the 2nd row, which suggests that you and three adult friends could take off for a few days in comfort.
Cabin Appointments
The cabin is nicely finished, too. There are still some hard-plastic elements incorporated into the cabin trim, but for the most part things look classy, and feel high-quality. Also, everything looks tidy and well assembled, in an old-school German-car sort of way.
Controls
We don’t love the control/infotainment system, but it has gotten better, and works reasonably well. The touchscreen interface is still, occasionally, slow to respond to inputs, and is less logically arrayed than the likes of that found in the Toyota RAV4, for example.
Also, using the native system—as opposed to Apple CarPlay—audio playback frustrates. The information for the music/podcast being play is generally incorrect, and functions like “shuffle” don’t actually work.
(This editor found using shuffle to randomize his music playlist always resulted in the system playing a single randomly chosen album in its entirety.)
Still, the system is an improvement over that found in the previous-generation Taos. Also, the audio system actually sounds very good.
Haptic Controls
While we’re on the subject, the “haptic” (finger slide) climate controls seem like an unnecessary complication. While the haptic touch pads work reasonably well, they don’t work as well as simple knobs or buttons. They are, however, backlit, so finding and using the controls at night is easy.
Ride and Handling
Underway, the Taos is calm and composed. Ride quality ranks with the best in class, and cabin quietness—even at highway speed—is a Taos plus. This little (sort of little) crossover also handles well, bordering on actually being sporty. There’s plenty of old-school steering feel, and only moderate lean in tight corners.
Power and Performance
As we noted earlier, Taos enjoys a power bump for 2025, though we honestly don’t detect much of a change in performance. Taos is reasonable snappy off the line, and around town, but wants for reserve power when passing or merging, especially with a full load of passengers. There is also some frustrating turbo lag—a delay in acceleration after the throttle is depressed—which manifests primarily at highway speeds. While there’s sufficient power for most situations, more aggressive drivers may be disappointed by the lack of reserve oomph.
Good news: The little 1.5-liter engine generally sounds refined, and works very well with the standard 8-speed automatic. This is good news, as the 7-speed DCT-style transmission previously standard on AWD models was simply terrible. It’s crude and ill-time shifts were a deal breaker for us.
Fuel Economy
And while the 2025 Taos may not deliver sports-car-like power, it is frugal. We averaged better than 29 mpg in routine driving. And, the Taos will run just fine on regular-grade gasoline.
Value
While we wish the Taos was a little quicker, and perhaps a little more affordable in top trim levels, it is a classy, refined, and ultimately functional small crossover that absolutely deserves a place on your test-drive short list. Note, too, that if you’re shopping in the class and need real rear-seat passenger space, Taos is a must see. For more Consumer Guide reviews, click here.
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2025 Volkswagen Taos SEL Pictures
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