2025 Volkswagen Taos - What's New Review

Out of the legacy of New Mexico hippies and John Muir, the man who repaired their air cooled Type 2's and Beetles, in 2022 German automaker Volkswagen introduced its smallest crossover utility vehicle for the Americans. Replacing the once world best selling Golf in the line-up, the VW Taos complemented the larger Tiguan and jumbo Atlas.

The baby People's SUV arrived tardy to cute ute game, but it benefitted from an extra dollop of spaciousness. From its inception the MQB-A1 Volkswagen Taos has been imbued with Teutonic firm reflexes. Steering has meaty heft, damping is on the taut side, slowing is linear, with minimal dive. A decidedly more spartan cabin and a clumsy dual clutch transaxle, exclusive to all-wheel drive 4Motion models, registered some "Meh's."

As an early mid-cycle refresh, the 2025 VW Taos arrives at Roadblazing.com, seeking to right the niggling wrongs.

2022 Volkswagen Taos SE 4Motion - Bottom Line Review

IT TAKES A PUEBLO VILLAGE: At the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains there is an early 2nd Millennium adobe dwelling community, which the Tiwa Puebloan indigenous Americans peoples call the place “Tao” or “toward the village at the red willow canyon mouth.” What was once an important place

RoadBlazingGeorge Straton

WHAT'S NEW FOR '25 IN THE VOLKSWAGEN TAOS:

MECHANICAL:

• Modified turbocharged EA 211 1.4 liter DOHC engine + stop / start idle
  • 174 horsepower@ 5500 r.p.m., 184 lb-ft torque @ 1750 r.p.m.
    • + 16 hp vs. 2024 VW Taos 1.4T
• 8-speed torque converter automatic planetary transaxle on 4Motion models
  • replaces 2024 VW Taos 4Motion 7-speed automated dual clutch helical transaxle

EXTERIOR:

• Revised body color solid lateral bar upper grille
  • New semi bow-tie headlight housing
  • Illuminated front lateral light bar and VW emblem (available)
• Revised lower front fascia
  • Taller, wider dark large honeycomb cell grille + body color hexagon frame
  • More prominent dark corner folds
• Fender louvers removed
• Striated dark lower body cladding imprint
• Revised rear liftgate full width light bar
  • Illuminated rear liftgate VW emblem (available)
• Bold new colors such as Bright Moss Green and Monterrey Blue
• "Black" pkg. gloss ebony 19" inch wheels (available)

INTERIOR:

• Glasssy middle dash & front door card appliques
• 10.25" Digital Cockpit Pro display standard on lower trims
  • Native navigation maps duplicate in Digital Cockpit
• Revised connectivity
  • 1st Row USB-C x 2, 2nd Row USB-C x 1, Cargo Bay 12V x 1

CARRIED OVER, MOSTLY UNCHANGED:

• two row compact family SUV 5 occupant seating
• sporty rugged look + choice of interesting colors
  • full darkened lower body cladding, simulated rear lower bash plate
  • strong familial resemblance to larger VW SUVs
• ID Drive advanced driver assistance with Travel Assist semi-autonomy
• ID LED adaptive lighting, illuminated grille bar
• Off-road drive mode
• 28 miles per gallon. Highway range = 508 miles.
• Fully independent suspension (torsion beam rear on Taos front wheel drive) + four wheel disc brakes, front vented
• IIHS - Good marks, Small overlap front passenger side = AVERAGE
  • ID Drive advanced driver assistance w/ traffic jam assist
  • Park distance control, traffic sign detection
• 8.0" MIB 3.0 Composition voice command infotainment display, gesture control
• 4 (6-speaker available) streaming HD radio audio + Bluetooth hands-free communication
• wired (wireless available) Android Auto, Apple CarPlay projection
• CarNet logistics, remote access, valet, emergency services, Wi-Fi
• Perforated leather seating, heated & cooled 1st Row, heated steering wheel, contrast padded dash + Row 1 door card accents

BOTTOM LINE:

• $36,970 price, as tested SEL 4Motion in Monument Gray, blue leather, panorama roof ( S front-drive from $26,420)
  • Test vehicle price +$1710 vs. 2024 Taos SEL 4Motion
• 4 years / 50,000 miles bumper to bumper warranty; 2 years scheduled maintenance

LIKES ABOUT THE 2025 VOLKSWAGEN TAOS SEL 4MOTION:

• Cooled front seats & above average warranty in a volume entry model.
• Refined detail, streamlined square-back look
• Urban touring composure, and civilized on the motorway
• Deep finish outside, unexpected interior finish detail, webbed headliner, A-pillars
• Par for class fuel consumption
• Segment cargo bay + tall, wide load aperture
• Exemplary tall adult headroom & ample 2nd Row knee and foot space
• Body hugging front bucket seats
• 2nd Row front seatback aft pockets x 2, climate system vents
• Variable detailed display instrument cluster
• Variable color ambient night lighting
• Retained physical steering wheel spoke ADAS and instrument buttons

NOT PREFERRED ABOUT THE 2025 VOLKSWAGEN TAOS SEL 4MOTION:

• Retains old, slow 8.0" inch MIB 3.0 media UI
• Start stop idle & no hybrid electric option
• Abrupt throttle tip-in
• Turbo lag makes acceleration on/off
• Damping body rocks and slams over broken concrete, static steering winding, and brake pedal is mushy at end of travel
• Wind noise on motorways
• Stiff seat cushions & leather surfaces lack suppleness
• Hard plastic dash top, 2nd Row door cards & cabin exposed door frames
• Instrument panel brightness accessible in infotainment display
• Lacks power liftgate, driver's headliner grab handle
• Lacks Beats audio system

2024 Volkswagen Taos - Re- Driven Review

A major political election is just around the corner generating all sorts of anxiety with the imminence of great change. Back in 2020, another election year, German automaker Volkswagen caused similar anxiety announcing the end for the Americans of the standard Golf, that apogee of compact sportbacks. The Golf replacement

RoadBlazingGeorge Straton