2023 Volkswagen Taos

Volkswagen sets newly born Taos in three trims. It starts with the S as an entry-level model. SE is the most popular version, while SEL rounds off all features as the top-spec of Taos. All of the above variants are empowered with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine yielding 158 horsepower. LED headlights, roof rails, digital instrument cluster, blindspot monitoring with rear-cross traffic warning, four-speaker audio system, and 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen are some of the limited features counted on basic trim.

Ahead of the features promised on different trims, Volkswagen brings no such optional upgrades. Of course, some features like 18-inch wheels can be deployed on the S trim if the shoppers choose to opt for its AWD drivetrain. Furthermore it also adds an optional IQ Drive package for S Trim

• Active blindspot monitoring
• Lane-keeping system
• Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go
• Emergency assistance

We Recommend

The S is a good option if you wish for a car under $30k. But the SE brings the best of everything with a mere price hike going above $30k. Second-row USB ports, heated side mirrors, power-adjustable driver seat, remote engine start, tinted rear window, 18-inch wheels, wireless charging pad, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connection, heated front seats, and much to upgrade from the S. Standard driver assistance and safety features like emergency assistance, blindspot monitoring with rear-cross traffic alert, lane keeping system and much to count.

Release Date

2023 Volkswagen Taos is alighted into the market and is available for sale in your nearest showroom.

A 1.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine preaches Taos to execute performance very delicately. It produces 158 horsepower and 184-pound feet of torque. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, Volkswagen offers Taos with an FWD system. The AWD model supposes a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. With the basic orientation, Taos shows strength to rush a 0-60 mph mark in 7.8 seconds. When running at 87 mph momentum, it can make a quarter-mile distance in 15.8 seconds. Even the figures are only attainable when shoppers use launch control But who is actually going to use it? The SUV is a great vehicle to drive. Steering column feels a little uncomfortable on basic trim but it responds and peacefully handles the tantrums of Taos. Smooth and creamy transmission shifts provide a delightful understanding. We prefer the optional seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Cool city driving behavior lets Taos handle the bumps gently. Looking at its size, it neglects the segment it belongs to. On the highways, it offers a mild illustration. Going at moderate speed is pleasing, but making a mind rev at high speeds is annoying. First gear ratio of 5.07 falls to 1.47 till the fourth and glides effortlessly with 0.67 till the last shift. It takes 4 seconds to reverse, some rivals offer better and lesser ratios.

Besides, the most stylish design format, Mazda CX-30 is the fastest subcompact SUV. The new 2023 Volkswagen Taos price makes it a compelling option. With the least price possible, Mazda CX-30 fetches the highest-in- comparison power and torque production. Kia Seltos is the most affordable subcompact SUV to buy in 2023. Being the most costly SUV by a few hundred dollars, Subaru Crosstrek contains sluggish acceleration– credit goes to its lowest top speed. Volkswagen Taos hp numbers are fulfilling over Subaru and Kia. Relatively in the segment, Taos top speed is average to its rivals. Kia is the vehicle with a CVT, while Crosstrek brings manual transmission. Mazda with an AWD system sends six-speed.

2023 Volkswagen Taos Ride and Handling

A bulky-styled design sends an interesting ride quality. It is fluffy. To the segment it belongs, the driving manners are above average. Everything looks accurately tuned as it propels a composed and precise handling coverage. A very controlled body roll and accurate steering response support the vehicle impressing shoppers' first attempt. When turning, it causes a 37.6 ft. of turning radius, which is acceptable for its size. Varying on the chosen trim level, Volkswagen sends differently tuned suspension on the rear wheels. With an FWD model, the strut suspensions on front wheels support the vehicle's weight. It also gives assurance in absorbing surface impacts and ensures a smooth ride. Low-cost torsion beam suspensions on the rear wheels boost excellent road handling. With more durability, they are less prone to wear. Multi-link suspensions on the rear wheels of AWD trims provide the vehicle extra stretch. It allows wheels to move easily conforming to varying angles of off-road driving. VW sends four drive modes in Taos. The normal is a day-to-day driving mode that offers an equilibrium of comfort and performance. Snow mode brings traction to tires when dealing with slippery surfaces. Off-road mode by adjusting suspension lets the driver achieve a significant level of joy when doing off-road adventures. The custom mode gives settings to the drivers' hand to personalize functions according to their whims. Standard 17- inch wheels move with tires of P215/55HR17.

2023 Volkswagen Taos Braking System

Appraisingly stable brakes stop Taos very confidently under hard and panic braking circumstances. In hectic situations, it stops smoothly. Standard forward collision mitigation warns of a speculated crash and applies brakes in certain situations. Optional emergency assistance identifies an unresponsive driver and brings the Taos to a safe stop with the hazard lights flashing. Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse.

Mazda CX-30 is the most loaded subcompact SUV, still, it manages to stop faster than Volkswagen Taos. Kia Seltos is the least-weighted car on the market. Volkswagon Taos curb weight uplifts it over the Subaru Crosstrek and Kia Seltos. On the front wheels, Taos is adorned with the greatly enlarged brake calipers. Meanwhile, on the rear wheels, this crown goes towards Kia Seltos. This enables it to stop the fastest in its segment. Taos stops effectively, considering the weight it carries. Taking the curb weight and brake rotors size of the Subaru Crosstrek into relation, educated speculation tells us that it stops relatively to the Volkswagen Taos.

No matter if it charges extra for features. In the context of efficiency, Volkswagen gives an assurance of saving your extra expenditure on fuel stations. It begets a combined mileage of 31 mpg while achieving 28 in the city and 36 on the highways. When fully restoring its fuel tank of 13.2 gallons, it earns 409.2 combined miles of range. 369.6 and 475.2 miles of range in city and highways respectively. The 4MOTION models lack two or three mpg. They show 25 city, 32 highway, and 28 combined mpg. The bigger 14.5 gallons of fuel tank compensate for range numbers. It offers 362.5 miles in the city, 464 miles on the highways, and 406 miles of range combined.

Taos 2023 mpg clearly confirms it to be the most efficient subcompact SUV one can buy with least budget. It gains an extra two or three mpg more than many of its rivals. On a combined basis, Kia Seltos, and Mazda CX-30 provide the same mileage numbers. Mazda scores two mpg extra on highways than Kia, while Kia steps ahead by one city mpg. Subaru Crosstrek renders the dullest mileage figures, but its largest on-table fuel carrying capacity, helps it score more miles of range than Kia and Mazda. Volkswagen Taos range is the highest.

A scrumptiously crafted interior design provide a sense of being seated on a flagship-level vehicle. Average-quality materials and element composition push it down the line, but a well-structured cabin layout brings it back into the game. A pretty large body for a subcompact SUV profits passengers when going in and out of the cabin. It does not appeal to anyone complaining about space and room. Even taller people do not face any complexion. Rear door panels outfit a nice soft touch material for its price. They manage controls for windows, an armrest, and a little storage space for bottles. Designed with identical personification, front door panels formulate additional controls to monitor the movement of front seats. The seats are comfortable and cushiony. Taos sends the ability to hold passengers on long distances with ease. SE and above models, brings heated front seats and a power-adjustable driver seat.

A cool and distinctive-looking dashboard is a center of attraction in the cabin. It felicitates a nicely designed structure that anyone would love. With a sturdy and strong finish, dash furnishes four AC vents. Two of them are deployed in either pole and rest under the infotainment touchscreen. A 6.5 infotainment screen fitted a little deeper into the dash offers a wired integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The steering looks fashionable with chrome-like paint on its borders. It alleviates several controls. If you wish to have heated steering, you need to go for SE and SEL trims. Center console mounts a little higher center armrest that showcases some storage enclosed underneath. The handbrake, few controls, gear selector, and cupholders finish off switches.

Front row seats of Subaru Crosstrek are highly spacious. In the front and second-row seats, Kia Seltos and Volkswagen Taos bring approximating legroom for passengers. Second-row seats of Mazda CX-30 and Subaru Crosstrek fail to convey competitive room. If second-row seats are folded or at their respective coordinates, in both the cases, the cargo capacity of Volkswagen Taos tops the table. Mazda CX-30 has the lowest cargo space behind its front-row seats.

Highlights of interior

• Manually adjustable driver and passenger seats
• 60-40 folding rear seats
• Manual tilt and telescopic steering column
• Power rear windows with fixed third-row window
• Front and rear cupholder
• Proximity key for doors and push button start
• Crusie controls with steering wheel control
• Manual air conditioning
• Daynight rearview mirror
• Cargo space light

How intuitive is the 2023 Volkswagen Taos Infotainment System?

A slick and out-of-the-box looking infotainment system is offered on every Taos. Entry-level trim brings it in the 6.5-inch fraction and sells the wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections. The other two trims send bigger 8-inch screens with wireless connectivity. Both of the screens have good haptic responses and are easily understandable for day-to-day use. Standard four-speaker sound system is complaining when rivals have much to offer for the same. Six-speaker on SE and eight on the SEL enhance the quality of the experience. The system can be equipped with built-in navigation, a wireless charging pad, SiriusXM Radio, and most of the things given standard on senior models.

Extracts of infotainment system

• 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connection
• Four-speaker sound system
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Streaming audio
• Window grid antenna
• 2 USB ports
• Speed compensated volume control
• FM Radio
• Radio data system

Keeping aside a formal looking approach of Taos, its dimensions peeks to be way bigger than some of its competitors. A stylish and fatty-looking body structure provides the Taos with an elevated road presence. Focused more toward the other end, the front is a little shorter. A good proportionate hood hosts the turbocharged four-cylinder engine underneath. Confident character lines over the bonnet set the vehicle a little more stylish than just some boring cars on the market. Front headlights placed in a compartment-like structure projects LED function. The black grille placed in between fits a shiny chrome VW logo. A fully packed front spoiler opens for front parking sensors on the remaining two trims. Side profile looks amazing with bigger wheels. Standard 17-inch wheels move normally with tires of measurement P215/55HR17. Larger 18-inch wheels are offered with AWD models. Chrome surrounding the windows definitely points toward higher models. Outside rearview mirrors help with no function of auto-dimming or heating by default. A thick cladding over the wheels boosts the vehicle to do adventures without headaches spoiling body paint. Offered in ten exterior shades, we like Taos in Dusk Blue Metallic. A clean and simple rear end provides the VW logo at the center, a liftgate operation, Taos badging, chrome plating around the exhaust tips, and a lifted rear spoiler.

Volkswagen Taos wheelbase justifies the size of the car. It is the largest in comparison. Subaru Crosstrek carries the highest ground clearance, while Volkswagen Taos ground clearance is satisfied with the lowest. Mazda CX-30 plays with a bigger wheelbase and extra ground clearance than Kia. Being the least expensive and least weighted SUV on the list, Kia Seltos is the shortest vehicle of all. Volkswagen Taos towing capacity is assumed to be better than a few vehicles of its class.

Exterior Features

• 17-inc silver painted alloy wheels
• Compact spare tire mounted under cargo
• Clearcoat paint
• Outside rearview mirror
• Deep tinted glass
• Fixed rear window with fixed interval wiper
• Variable intermittent wipers
• Liftgate rear cargo access
• Auto on-off aero composite LED headlights
• LED Brake lights

A variety of driver-assistive and safety aids are offered with the smallest crossover of VW. But most of them are optional. As standard, there is a blind-spot warning and rear-cross-traffic warning which alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during lane changes or while reversing. There is an option to add active blind-spot monitor which warns you if a vehicle in the next lane is in your blind spot and can provide steering assistance to discourage lane changes. Stop-and-go adaptive cruise control maintains a driver-set distance between the Taos and the car in front, and can bring the Volkswagen to a complete stop and resume traveling.

Salient features of safety system

• Standard blindspot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert
• Standard forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking
• Standard rear traffic alert
• Optional active blindspot monitor
• Optional lane-keeping system
• Optional adaptive cruise control with step-and-go
• Optional emergency assistance
• Dual front side-mounted airbags
• Front and rear head airbags
• Airbag occupancy sensor

2023 VW Taos vs. 2023 Mazda CX-30

Mazda is small. Mazda is fast, and Mazda is stylish. Counting extra hundred dollars, Volkswagen Taos shows a bigger size helping store more cargo with an abundance of passenger space. With an AWD architecture by default, Mazda offers more driver-assistive and safety features without extra charge. VW Taos promises the best-in-segment fuel economy.

2023 VW Taos vs. 2023 Kia Seltos

With properly cut corners, Kia Seltos brings good aesthetics over Toas. Meanwhile, Volkswagen offers promising acceleration with a better interior layout. Compared to a shorter 6.5-inch infotainment screen on Taos, Kia gives a bigger 8-inch system on its entry-level model. Volkswagen pleases shoppers with a complimentary maintenance plan.

2023 VW Taos vs. 2023 Subaru Crosstrek

Yes. The car is a lucrative deal among its rivals. A bigger body, stylish cabin, best-in-segment fuel efficiency, comfortable seats, a bunch of standard features, good-looking infotainment interface, complimentary maintenance coverage, and moderate acceleration are some of the key factors to consider it. Mostly optional safety and driver aids, shorter infotainment screens, and screaming performance at high speeds are some issues to look upon. Want the most powerful subcompact car under $25k? Nothing can be as stylish and better than Mazda CX-30. Is buying the most affordable SUV is in your bucket list? Kia Seltos sends the best value it can with the price. Or apart from family picnic planning, also aspires to do tremendous off-road adventures? Subaru Crosstrek is made for the same in its price range.