2024 Volkswagen Taos SUV

　　

2024 Volkswagen Taos Review

byChase BierenkovenContributor

　　Chase Bierenkoven has been writing about cars in his head since he was a child. Now, he does it for real, covering automotive news and producing reviews for outlets like zzdcar, Forbes Wheels and CarBuzz. Chase's career as an automotive journalist began in 2020, and he has already written scores of road tests. Some favorites of Chase's include the Dodge Challenger 392, Mazda Miata, Kia EV6 and Bentley Bentayga. Outside his work with cars, Chase is often found justifying his latest broken German sports car to anyone that will listen or enjoying the outdoor spaces of his native Colorado.

　　, rating written byChase BierenkovenDirector, Vehicle Testing

　　Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at zzdcar, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.

　　Coming off a debut a couple of years ago, the 2024 Volkswagen Taos is the brand's smallest and least expensive SUV. Think of it as the little brother to the Volkswagen Tiguan. But even though it's small, the Taos still has a roomy interior and many technology and driver assist features that come standard on most Taos trim levels. The Taos is also one of the quicker models in its class thanks to its 158-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The Taos had some minor changes last year, and we expect similarly small updates, if any, for 2024.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Volkswagen Taos S 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$121/mo  for Taos S

　　Taos S

　　S 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $23,995 MSRPS 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $26,335 MSRPSE 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $28,165 MSRPSE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $29,615 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 7AM) - $33,515 MSRP

　　vs

　　$167/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Plenty of storage space

This little Volkswagen SUV isn't so little on the inside. With 27.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats alone, the Taos is one of the roomiest models in its class. If you're standing at the rear hatch and in need of more space, the release levers on the seats are just within reach. The Taos' rear seats also have a 60/40 split, folding mostly flat. Parents of small children will also appreciate well-positioned top anchors and ease of fitting a car seat, making the Taos one of the most family-friendly options in the class. Read our test team's Expert Rating below to learn even more about the Taos' qualities.

　　

Competitors to consider

There are plenty of alternatives should the Taos not be your preferred SUV. Mazda's CX-30 has an upscale cabin and even quicker acceleration than the Taos if you opt for its available turbocharged engine. You might also want to check out the Chevy Trailblazer or Kia Seltos if value is a priority. The Honda HR-V and Toyota Corolla Cross are two other popular picks in this class.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Taos drive? We were surprised to find the Taos, one of the larger SUVs in this diminutive class, is also one of the quickest. Credit goes to a fairly high-strung turbocharged four-cylinder engine that whooshes and hisses its way to 60 mph in a respectable 7.8 seconds. That speed, however, is only really achievable if you use the Taos' launch control, which we imagine few owners will. Launch control is a feature typically reserved for sports cars, so naturally it's a bit out of place here. We were equally surprised by how stable and confident the Taos felt under hard panic braking, yet it cruises easily to a smooth stop in less hectic situations.

　　The Taos handles around corners quite impressively as well, with well-controlled body roll and accurate steering. In fact, the Taos scores high marks in every driving aspect except what's possibly the most important for this class: drivability. The combination of that high-strung engine and moderately unresponsive seven-speed transmission makes for a jerky affair. Power surges and gear shifts can often feel delayed or clunky, making it difficult to enjoy driving at slow stop-and-go speeds.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Taos? When it comes to cabin comfort, the Taos does it pretty well. The front seats have a sporty shape and offer surprisingly good support despite not having all the range of adjustments we would've liked. The climate control is easy to use and effective at distributing air flow to the entire cabin. We especially love the powerful ventilated front seats, which worked wonders on some warmer days.

　　The Taos suspension leans a little firm and doesn't isolate bumps in the road as well as some other cars we tested, but it's also not so harsh that we'd have second thoughts recommending it for that reason. We also experienced a fair amount of ambient noise, which isn't uncommon for this class.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below