2023 Volkswagen Taos

It was a sad day when Volkswagen announced the discontinuation of its beloved Golf hatchback in the U.S. after a 46-year run. But as paying customers clearly demonstrated, crossover SUVs are what they want. To answer the call, the Wolfsburg-based automaker dropped its slow-selling hatch from the lineup—except for the performance-oriented GTI and Golf R—replacing it with the Taos, a new entry-level SUV for 2022. 

For 2023, it remains largely unchanged from its 2022 debut, aside from slight price hikes and equipment arrangements. More standard safety features are included across the S, SE and top-trim SEL. Higher trims come with VW’s IQ.Drive driver assistance system and the top trim includes a panoramic roof. AWD variants have bigger 18-inch tires.

As a contender in one of the hottest-selling segments since sliced bread, the Taos competes with the Kia Seltos, Hyundai Kona, Honda HR-V, Toyota Corolla Cross, Mazda CX-30, Chevrolet Trailblazer and many more. Opt for the mid- SE and top-range SEL, pricing alone picks fights with the larger compact SUV segment, like the Mazda CX-5 and CX-50, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4, Chevrolet Equinox, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson and even its larger sibling, the Tiguan.

Despite the extra sheet metal and slightly larger footprint, Volkswagen kept the Taos at the same price point as the Golf it replaces—just a shade under $25,000. Pricing for the base front-wheel-drive S increases to $24,155, from last year’s $23,495. Opting for 4MOTION all-wheel drive, which also bundles some extras, raises the sticker by $2,340. Other trims, such as our midrange SE tester, also see similar adjustments, starting at $28,925 versus $28,440—4MOTION adds $1,450 to the invoice. Lastly, the top-range SEL, which now gets all-wheel drive as standard, starts at $35,830, up from $32,865 (front-wheel-drive model) and $34,240. All prices exclude the mandatory $1,295 destination fee.

Slotting below the Tiguan, the Taos takes the crown as the “People’s SUV” and VW’s smallest and cheapest crossover offering. As the Golf’s replacement, the Taos shares its five-door front-engine and front-wheel drive configuration, and even the same MQB modular architecture. But the similarities mostly end there. There’s more ground clearance, all-wheel drive is optional and it’s all packaged in an upright boxy profile that’s reminiscent of the larger Atlas.

If you’re not quite sold on a crossover, excellent compact and midsize sedans can be had for this kind of dough as well. So while the Taos seems like it needs a lot to separate itself from the crowd, it does so by harnessing a lot of the Golf’s original charm by perfecting the simple things, such as fuel efficiency, comfortably usable space and pleasant road-going mannerisms, just in the form of a premium subcompact crossover SUV.

Performance: 13/15

While other competitors try a little too hard to be sporty, sometimes pretentiously, the Taos embraces its modest roots to make one pleasant driver’s car. The 158-horsepower EA211 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder won’t win pink slips any time soon. But its 184 pound-feet of torque and well-tuned and smooth eight-speed automatic pleasantly surprised us with its willing eagerness toward forward progress, even if upshifts aren’t lightning quick. Getting to 60 mph happens from a standstill in around 7 seconds, which makes zipping through and keeping up with NYC-metro traffic a breeze. It’s as fast the CX-30 and faster than the Seltos.

It’s obvious Volkswagen spent more time in the chassis and suspension departments. Find yourself in a desolate area blessed with curvy and hilly roads and the Taos shows that the Golf’s cheery handling isn’t completely lost either. It doesn’t feel as connected—the steering is a bit light on feel and over-boosted. Enthusiasts and commuters, however, won’t be disappointed with its excellent chassis and compliantly composed suspension, which seem to get better as speed increases.

It serves as a perfect example of a modestly powered car that’s fun to hustle quickly, despite the higher center of gravity and even on the front-wheel drive arrangement—which employs a torsion beam rear suspension setup. The 4MOTION AWD models reward with even more refinement from its multi-link rear suspension and slightly longer wheelbase from the extra drivetrain components. Though the seven-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission may be clunky around town for a smooth ride. 

Speed demons will want to check out the high-performance Hyundai Kona N while the less potent but noticeably quicker turbocharged Kia Seltos and Mazda options (CX-30, CX-5, CX-50) also provide more oomph, but without the Taos’ expertly balanced suspension.

Fuel Economy: 14/15

The Taos’ partially class-leading EPA ratings carryover from last year at 28 city, 36 highway and 31 mpg combined for the two-wheel-drive model (25,32,28 mpg for 4MOTION-equipped variants). Both front- and all-wheel-drive models lead the gas-only class with highway ratings, while city figures rate above average for the segment. Only the front-wheel-drive Corolla Cross’s 31 mpg city beats the Taos considerably. With city figures differing by one or two mpg’s, drivers are unlikely to see a perceivable difference among the competition.

In our week-long evaluation, aside from a sprint through upstate NY’s curvy roads where the trip computer reported the lowest average of 25.6 mpg, the Taos never seemed to drop below 28 mpg on average in everyday use, even with some lead-foot driving.

Toyota’s newly inbound all-wheel-drive Corolla Cross Hybrid is just around the corner while pricing alone also puts the RAV4 hybrid within reach if fuel efficiency is a priority. If you can wait, rumors of a possible plug-in hybrid Taos are circulating. But they’re only that—rumors. And if you’re not trying to burn any petrochemicals at all, Hyundai’s Kona Electric and Chevrolet Bolt EUV are available at this price point, but without all-wheel drive.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 10/15

Most manufacturers have taken extra steps to make safety and driver assistance technology front and center in their driving experiences. While they’re present in the Taos, VW engineers seemingly made the assists run more subtly in the background to encourage the greatest safety asset of them all: an attentive and engaged motorist. More evidence that the Taos is a driver’s car.

The competition’s systems seem to step in earlier, which is especially obtrusive for those who pay extra attention to the road. But in case the knob behind the wheel misses a step, all Taos models now get forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection and automatic braking, blind-spot warning, rear-cross traffic alert and a backup camera as standard. Opting for the optional IQ/Convenience package on the S (standard on SE and SEL) adds lane-keep assist and radar-guided cruise control.

All of the items worked well, though like many other vehicles, the rear-facing backup camera didn’t perform well in the rain. In terms of its radar-guided cruise control, Kia and Hyundai’s Highway Drive Assist (HDA) technologies are much more compelling. But again, the Taos is a car that demands your attention, input and control.The Taos retains a “good” Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (or IIHS) rating in all but the passenger-side small overlap and head restraint tests, where it received “acceptable” scores in 2022. The Taos also received a “basic” score for its vehicle-to-pedestrian collision avoidance evaluation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Taos four out of five stars overall.

Comfort & Room: 13/15

Germany’s high regard for engineering cars for the Autobahn is unmistakable in the Taos’s ability to eat up miles without strain. The seats may feel firmer than others—a typical German car trait. But they still strike an impeccable balance of comfort and support for an entry-level vehicle.

Because the Taos mimics its boxy brother’s proportions, it feels much roomier than VW’s claimed 40.1 inches of front and 37.9 inches of rear legroom. Four or even five adults won’t have much issue packing in somewhat comfortably. There’s more space to stretch out than in the 36.3 inches on the CX-30 and it’s only slightly tighter than the Seltos’ 38 inches. 

Minimal noise, vibration, and harshness levels and solid Germanic thunks when closing the doors give the Taos a premium feel. Though some of the panels in the rear quarters feel a bit too cut-rate, especially with the Taos’ pricing. The Mazda CX-30 has a leg up on choice materials. But overall, the Taos isn’t a terrible place to be.

Infotainment: 14/15

The base S starts with a 6.5-inch touchscreen-based MIB infotainment system with the usual suite of AM/FM, Bluetooth and USB-connected Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone connectivity. The SE and SEL add an 8-inch screen, HD Radio and wireless smartphone app connectivity. The SEL gains the premium Beats Audio system.

VW’s MIB system remains largely unchanged, aside from periodic updates. That said, the Taos’ system is easy to use and navigate with high-definition graphics, a responsive touchscreen and quick loading. Even without the Beats Audio, our midrange SE’s sound system kept us more than adequately entertained. 

Thankfully, the Taos gets physical and tactile steering wheel control buttons rather than the troublesome touch-sensitive steering controls in some other VWs. Hallelujah! Our only slight complaint is the 8-inch cluster info display in the S and SE, which feels a bit pedestrian, particularly with its cheap-looking filler panels. We certainly prefer Volkswagen’s 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro found on the SEL.

Cargo Space & Storage: 14/15

The Taos carries the Golf’s reputation for practicality and hauling abilities well. Rear cargo space is class-leading when compared to its direct subcompact competition, offering similar figures to that of some larger compact SUVs. For instance, its 27.9 cubic-feet of cargo space is just short of the outgoing compact Kia Sportage. Impressive for a car that’s 9.3 inches shorter overall than its larger Tiguan sibling.

The cargo space shrinks to 24.9 cubes when adding all-wheel drive, due to the shallower floor. But folding the 60/40-split rear bench opens that up to a whopping 65.9 cubic-feet in the front-drive model and 60.2 for the 4MOTION. In addition to hauling up to five adults reasonably comfortably, the Taos shouldn’t have any issue hauling their overnighter bags.

But for those who want a more spacious VW CUV, there’s always a mid-entry-level Tiguan for around the same price.

Style & Design: 9/10

If you’re a fan of the compact Tiguan and midsize Atlas SUV, then you’ll be smitten with the Taos as it inherits those aesthetic qualities, but in subcompact proportions. Some of the competition suffer from disproportionate downsizing, making some compact SUVs appear frumpy, angular and even wimpy. 

But thanks to its boxy proportions, the Taos feels a lot more substantial and SUV-like from behind the wheel than many of the blob-like crossovers. We also love its clean and mature design cues (and that “Cornflower Blue” exterior) that hit a perfect balance of handsome and upscale looks without being over-styled. It serves up a lot more road presence and curbside substance than many of its competitors without trying too hard.

Is the 2023 Volkswagen Taos Worth it? Which Taos is the Best Value? 

In a car world where fuel economy, safety and driver assistance tech have taken precedence over any other qualities, the Taos feels refreshingly minimalistic in a way that reminds us about the simple joys of driving. With class-leading space, excellent fuel economy, competitive safety tech and top-notch engaging driving dynamics, it’s proof that fun can still come from excellently balanced solid bones without excess or compromising on essentials.

Few cars in its class involve the driver on such a basic level without trying too hard or too little, while serving up an even-keeled and sensible balance of everything. Additionally, the Taos’ backseat approach to driving assist tech will appeal to those who seek the best driver’s cars of them all. If you’re one to appreciate the journey as much as the destination and love being in control instead of having a whole bunch of safety systems suggesting how you should drive, the Taos is worth it for that alone.

Our recommended sweet spot is the midrange front-wheel-drive SE, which stickers at $30,220, including destination. It’s the right amount of car for anyone looking for a quality, practical and excellent subcompact crossover SUV that is well-balanced on all accounts. Though we are a bit perplexed with the pricing of the Taos as its larger and plusher sibling, the Tiguan, could be had for not much more dough, if one desires a more spacious and substantial vehicle.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2023 Volkswagen Taos?

The Taos should align with most of its peers in insurance costs. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium starting just under $1,900, though this averages all 50 states. A Toyota Corolla Cross owner might pay slightly more than $2,000 per year, while the Mazda CX-30 starts around $1,775 and the Kia Seltos is around $1,750. For a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.