The verdict: The 2023 Volkswagen Taos is more likable than its second-to-last-place finish in Cars.com’s 2023 Affordable SUV Challenge suggests thanks to a plucky, efficient powertrain and ample room for people and stuff.
Versus the competition: Despite its good qualities, the Taos didn’t come in fifth out of six subcompact SUVs for no reason: It lagged rivals in areas like vehicle controls, interior quality and value.
Volkswagen’s smallest Taos SUV was new for 2022, and for the 2023 model year, it gets more standard safety features, and uplevel trim levels add driver-assist and convenience features. See how the 2023 Taos compares with its preceding model.
Related: 2022 Volkswagen Taos Round 2: Our Second Take on VW’s Cheapest SUV
The Taos competes against a slew of subcompact SUVs designed to deliver maximum utility for minimum cost, including the Honda HR-V, Subaru Crosstrek and Kia Seltos (see them compared). The VW recently competed against these models, as well as the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid and Chevrolet Trax, in a comparison test of affordable subcompact SUVs; see our full results here.
Good on Balance
Some of the subcompact SUVs we tested were pretty poky, but the Taos was one of the quicker ones in our comparison test, going from 0-60 mph in 8.51 seconds. All versions of the Taos are powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that’s good for 158 horsepower and 184 pounds-feet of torque. Front-wheel-drive models like the one we tested use an eight-speed automatic transmission, while all-wheel-drive versions get a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
The Taos’ drivetrain displayed a welcome responsiveness that was lacking in many of the other subcompact SUVs we tested, both off the line and at midrange speeds. Acceleration in the Taos was much brisker than in the lethargic Subaru Crosstrek or lifeless Honda HR-V.
While power delivery is good in the Taos, however, it isn’t very smooth. The eight-speed automatic can feel busy, and shifts are sometimes too hurried and abrupt at lower speeds. This transmission is, however, a step up from the dual-clutch automatic transmission that goes in AWD versions, which we found unrefined and wonky in a previous test.
The Taos’ powertrain strikes a good balance between pep and efficiency: In our comparison test, the Taos was the third quickest from 0-60 mph and the second most fuel-efficient, returning 34.7 mpg on a 200-mile real-world fuel-economy drive. That tracks with the Taos’ EPA-estimated 28/36/31 mpg city/highway/combined with FWD; estimated fuel economy with AWD is 25/32/28 mpg. On our fuel-economy drive, the HR-V averaged 31.6 mpg and the Crosstrek 33.6 mpg, while the Seltos trailed the pack at 28.4 mpg.
This VW also manages to strike an appealing balance between ride quality and handling proficiency. While many rivals tend to swing one way or the other, the Taos takes the middle ground with responsive but not athletic handling and — even though it’s on the firm side — a comfortable ride with decent isolation from imperfect roads.
Exceptional Room, Underwhelming Infotainment
The Taos’ cabin underwhelms in a couple of ways (more on those later), but when it comes to space for cargo and people, it’s exceptional. Driver comfort is a strong suit; space is generous, with a tall, commanding driving position that adds confidence and clear sight lines to the rear.
The backseat is also a high point for a few reasons. Seat comfort and space are good even for adults, and it’s also one of the more versatile rear seats in its segment thanks to a middle seating position that features both a flip-down center armrest and a cargo pass-through for transporting long, narrow items. In our Car Seat Check, the Taos earned high grades thanks to good backseat legroom and easy-access Latch anchors.
The Taos’ cargo space also stood out: With 17.5 cubic feet of Cars.com-measured space, it had more cargo room than every other SUV in our test. By comparison, the HR-V had 15.5 cubic feet, the Crosstrek 12.7 and the Seltos 17.4.
Where things start slipping for the Taos is cabin refinement and controls; it trails the competition in both areas. Its generic-looking, plastic-heavy interior doesn’t stand out in the class, nor does its dated infotainment system.
At least that infotainment system is easy to use; it’s much less confusing than those in some other VW vehicles, including the ID.4 electric SUV. The Taos SE’s 8-inch touchscreen, however, is not as large, responsive or modern-looking as others in its class, and there are a few control oddities. Our test vehicle didn’t have automatic climate control — a now-common feature in this class — and though the infotainment system has a tuning knob, it only tunes the AM/FM radio; it’s useless for satellite radio tuning.
The best of the bunch we tested was the Chevrolet Trax’s infotainment system; its large screen, crisp graphics and no-nonsense menu structure earned it the most points in this category.
Safety and Value
The 2023 Taos’ abundance of standard safety features helps keep it competitive in its class. New standard features for 2023 include forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian monitoring, blind spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert. Also for 2023, the mid-level SE trim adds Volkswagen’s IQ.Drive, which adds driver-assist features including adaptive cruise control, emergency assist and lane-centering steering.
Of course, more standard safety features means more cost, and prices are up a few hundred dollars over 2022: The 2023 Taos starts at $25,450 (including destination). AWD adds $2,340 to the price of the base S trim level and $1,450 to the SE model, while the range-topping SEL is offered only with AWD.
With an as-tested price of $30,220, the Taos we drove wasn’t the most expensive SUV in our comparison test, but nor was it the cheapest. It was also missing some features that many of its rivals had, including AWD, automatic climate control and a moonroof. When the Taos’ as-tested price and features were taken together, it ended up with the lowest value score of the six SUVs in our test.
In the end, the Taos is a likable little SUV with good power, a comfortable backseat and ample cargo room. It’s not a bad option, but others, such as the Kia Seltos and Subaru Crosstrek, do more — and do it better.
More From Cars.com:
- 2022 Volkswagen Taos First Drive: Exactly as Good as It Needs to Be
- 2022 Volkswagen Taos Fumbles IIHS Crash Tests, Sidelined From Top Safety Pick Awards
- How Do Car Seats Fit in a 2023 Volkswagen Taos?
- Research the 2023 Volkswagen Taos
- Shop for a 2023 Volkswagen Taos
Related Video:
We cannot generate a video preview.
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
Latch
Infant
Rear-facing Convertible
Front-facing Convertible
Booster
