I’ll be upfront – reviewing the Volkswagen Taos wasn’t exactly high on my list of automotive excitements. It wasn’t due to any dislike for VW, but more a sense of overwhelming indifference. Imagine being stuck in a dusty archive with only static-filled reruns from decades ago playing – that level of “I just don’t care” apathy was where I started with the Taos. It just seemed like another utterly average compact SUV in a market saturated with them: four doors, a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, wheels a tad too large, and styling that’s both trying too hard and instantly forgettable. Worse still, it felt like just another flavor in Volkswagen’s seemingly endless SUV lineup – variations on the same theme with minor tweaks in size, styling, and price.
To illustrate, take a look at this lineup:
Alt text: Volkswagen SUV lineup showcasing Tiguan, Taos, and Atlas, illustrating the similar styling and size variations within the VW SUV family. Explore vw taos reviews to understand how this compact SUV stands out.
Three SUVs, all blending together with similar design cues, plus an electric option thrown in. Compare this to the character-rich Volkswagen lineup from decades past:
Alt text: Classic Volkswagen lineup featuring Beetle, Bus, and Karmann Ghia, highlighting the distinctive and diverse styling that characterized older VW models. Contrast this with modern vw taos reviews focusing on practicality and contemporary design.
While those classics might have shared just a few engine types underneath, their styling was undeniably full of personality. Modernity has brought efficiency, safety, speed, and comfort, but arguably at the cost of some charm. So, going into this review, I wasn’t exactly predisposed to fall in love with the Taos.
Yet, here’s the twist: I actually ended up genuinely liking the Taos. Despite my initial reservations, this compact SUV won me over with two surprisingly simple yet effective qualities.
Green in Color and Price: Taos’s Appealing Aspects
Alt text: Front three-quarter view of a vibrant green Volkswagen Taos, emphasizing its bold color option as a key feature in vw taos reviews. The bright color stands out against the typical grayscale car palette.
The first thing that grabbed my attention was, quite literally, green. The test Taos came in a vibrant, eye-catching shade of tree-frog green. In a world dominated by monochrome gray, seeing a car in such a bold and unapologetic color was a breath of fresh air. The Taos color range isn’t extensive, but it does include at least two genuinely good, vibrant options: this green and a striking blue. Hopefully, buyers will steer clear of the more mundane gray shades.
Beyond the visual appeal, the other “green” aspect was financial. The Taos is, by today’s standards, an affordable vehicle. While the price can climb with added features, the base model starts under $25,000. The well-equipped SEL 4MOTION version I tested came in around $36,000, which, while not “cheap,” is significantly less than the average new car price in 2024, hovering near $48,000.
So, it’s available in great colors and doesn’t break the bank. That’s a solid foundation. However, the real revelation came from a more overarching quality that defined my experience with this car:
Simplicity and Ease: What Makes the Taos Stand Out
Alt text: Interior view of the Volkswagen Taos dashboard and steering wheel, highlighting the straightforward and user-friendly controls. This image supports vw taos reviews emphasizing the vehicle’s lack of unnecessary complexity.
The Taos feels remarkably free of modern car “bullshit.” Despite being a thoroughly modern vehicle with all the expected tech, the overall experience felt refreshingly easy and pleasant. It’s not demanding; it simply performs its basic car duties effectively and without fuss.
Of course, some minor modern car annoyances persist, like the pointless fake exhaust pipe tips:
Alt text: Close-up of the fake exhaust tips on the Volkswagen Taos rear bumper, illustrating a minor, common design element criticized in some vw taos reviews as unnecessary and inauthentic.
But, realistically, these are minor quibbles. The real “bullshit”-free nature of the Taos shines through in its user interface and controls. After recently driving the VW ID.Buzz, with its touch-sensitive volume controls and frustratingly modal power window switches, the Taos was a revelation. It features actual, physical window switches:
Alt text: Close-up of the traditional, physical power window switches on the Volkswagen Taos door panel, praised in vw taos reviews for their ease of use and tactile feedback compared to touch-sensitive controls.
…and proper knobs for volume and other essential functions:
Alt text: Dashboard view showing physical knobs and buttons for climate and audio controls in the Volkswagen Taos, highlighting user-friendliness favored in vw taos reviews for intuitive operation.
The result? Everything simply worked, easily and intuitively, requiring minimal thought – a welcome change for those of us who prefer simplicity.
While VW’s native infotainment system offers some off-road data displays (likely unused by most Taos owners):
Alt text: Volkswagen Taos infotainment screen displaying off-road driving data, a feature considered by some vw taos reviews as superfluous for the typical urban or suburban driver.
More importantly, the Taos includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing seamless integration with your smartphone for navigation, music, and apps. Furthermore, the Taos boasts the best wireless phone charging system I’ve encountered in a modern car.
Alt text: Center console of the Volkswagen Taos showcasing the wireless charging pad with a phone charging successfully. Vw taos reviews often praise the reliability of the wireless charging feature.
Wireless car chargers are often unreliable and frustrating. They can be poorly positioned, causing phones to slip, or randomly stop charging. The Taos’s charger, however, just worked – consistently and reliably, without needing precise phone placement.
Adding to the thoughtful design, there’s even a vent blowing cool air directly onto the charging pad:
Alt text: Close-up of the air vent located above the wireless charging pad in the Volkswagen Taos, a unique feature highlighted in vw taos reviews for preventing phone overheating during wireless charging.
This clever detail likely prevents phone overheating during charging, a common issue in many cars – another example of the Taos getting the basics right.
The cargo area is equally practical:
Alt text: Open cargo area of the Volkswagen Taos, demonstrating its spaciousness and rectangular shape. Vw taos reviews frequently mention the practical cargo capacity for a compact SUV.
While not overflowing with fancy storage solutions, it offers a genuinely spacious and rectangular cargo area. You get around 25 cubic feet of space in the 4MOTION version and about 28 in the FWD model. Folding the rear seats expands this to 60 (AWD) or 66 (FWD) cubic feet.
And, under the cargo floor, a welcome sight:
Alt text: Spare tire compartment under the cargo floor of the Volkswagen Taos, emphasizing the inclusion of a spare tire, a feature appreciated in vw taos reviews for added security and practicality.
An actual spare tire! Increasingly rare in modern cars, its presence is a reassuring touch.
In many ways, the Taos echoes the spirit of the classic Volkswagen Golf: a versatile, do-it-all vehicle. It comfortably accommodates passengers and cargo, is reliable, and offers an engaging (if not thrilling) driving experience. The Taos delivers on this fundamental formula, wrapped in a contemporary SUV package to suit current market trends.
Inside the Taos: A Pleasant and Practical Cabin
Alt text: Interior shot of the Volkswagen Taos cabin from the passenger side, showcasing the airy design, two-tone upholstery, and optional moonroof. Vw taos reviews often highlight the pleasant interior ambiance.
Volkswagen has a knack for creating pleasant interiors, and the Taos is no exception. The cabin feels airy, with a nice balance of light and dark materials. The optional panoramic moonroof enhances the sense of spaciousness.
Alt text: Interior view of the Volkswagen Taos with the panoramic moonroof fully opened, emphasizing the enhanced natural light and open feeling in the cabin, a feature praised in vw taos reviews.
It includes a powered sunshade, though its necessity is questionable unless you encounter unusual rooftop occupants.
The interior materials surpass expectations for an entry-level SUV. The door cards, for instance, feature a bold design, comfortable armrests, and deep storage pockets:
Alt text: Close-up of the Volkswagen Taos door panel, highlighting the textured materials, stitched accents, and practical storage cubby. Vw taos reviews note the surprisingly high-quality materials for its class.
They look and feel far from cheap. Even the stitching details are genuine, not molded plastic imitations.
Alt text: Macro shot of the stitching detail on the Volkswagen Taos door panel, confirming the use of real stitching, a detail appreciated in vw taos reviews for its premium feel.
The seats are comfortable, front and rear. Rear passengers also benefit from a fold-down armrest with cupholders, a ski pass-through, and rear vents and USB ports. It’s a well-equipped, no-frills space that provides everything you need and nothing you don’t.
Alt text: Rear seats of the Volkswagen Taos showing ample legroom, rear air vents, and center armrest with cupholders, demonstrating passenger comfort features often mentioned in vw taos reviews.
On the Road: Driving Performance and Efficiency of the Taos
Alt text: Volkswagen Taos driving on a paved road, showcasing its compact SUV proportions and on-road presence. Vw taos reviews assess the driving dynamics and handling in various conditions.
The 2025 Taos model boasts 174 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque from its 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This is more than adequate, especially considering its relatively light weight of around 3,400 pounds. Acceleration is decent (around 7 seconds to 60 mph), and while the 8-speed automatic transmission (new for the 4MOTION version) occasionally exhibited slightly unusual shift behavior, it was generally unobtrusive to the point of being forgettable.
In this case, “forgettable” is a positive. The Taos’s performance is capable and responsive when needed, fulfilling its purpose without demanding attention. It’s not the most exhilarating driving experience, but that aligns perfectly with the car’s overall character: easy, undemanding, and functional. It’s a tool to transport you and your belongings, requiring minimal effort or thought.
Alt text: Dashboard view showing the speedometer and tachometer of the Volkswagen Taos, indicating its functional and straightforward instrumentation. Vw taos reviews consider the engine performance and fuel economy as key aspects.
Fuel efficiency is acceptable, if not exceptional. I averaged between 26 and 29 mpg in mixed driving conditions. More economical driving could likely improve these figures, while more spirited driving would decrease them.
The Verdict on the VW Taos: Practicality Wins
Alt text: Front view of the Volkswagen Taos with a playful, slightly quirky angle, summarizing the vehicle’s approachable and unpretentious character as highlighted in vw taos reviews.
The VW Taos isn’t a vehicle overflowing with gimmicks or Easter eggs. Instead, it’s a well-rounded, easy-to-live-with car that excels at the fundamentals. While the lower grille might be a bit oversized, the overall design is agreeable, especially when choosing one of the bolder color options.
Alt text: Side profile of the Volkswagen Taos emphasizing its compact SUV shape and practical wagon-like silhouette. Vw taos reviews often categorize it as a versatile and functional vehicle in the compact SUV segment.
It’s essentially a modern interpretation of a compact wagon, a genuinely useful vehicle type.
And the taillights are a nice touch, too. In an era of expressive taillight designs, the Taos incorporates fun elements like the illuminated VW logo:
Alt text: Illuminated red Volkswagen logo on the rear of the Taos, showcasing a modern design element in taillight styling. Vw taos reviews sometimes mention the taillight design as a distinctive feature.
…and thankfully, amber rear turn signals:
Alt text: Rear amber turn signal illuminated on the Volkswagen Taos, a functional and safety-oriented design choice appreciated in automotive reviews and vw taos reviews.
Perhaps surprisingly, the best thing about the Taos is that it didn’t annoy me. In a market filled with cars featuring frustrating quirks – touch-sensitive controls, unreliable tech, or ergonomic issues – the Taos avoids these pitfalls.
It’s comfortable, easy to park and maneuver, drives adequately, offers ample space, and features intuitive controls. It minimizes the typical “bullshit” often associated with modern cars.
The Taos won’t ignite passions or inspire poetry, but for the majority of drivers who simply need a reliable machine for daily life, that’s perfectly acceptable. It’s designed to transport people and cargo efficiently and effortlessly. And the Taos accomplishes this admirably.
Long-term reliability and maintenance remain to be seen, but based on this initial experience, if you’re seeking an affordable, no-nonsense vehicle that avoids frustrating tech and prioritizes practicality, the Taos deserves serious consideration.
Especially in green.
