2022 Volkswagen Taos Review

Name: 2022 Volkswagen Taos Review
Brand: Volkswagen
Price: 19499 USD

Volkswagen Taos SE 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

+108

Volkswagen's smallest SUV is a big deal. The Taos packs plenty of modern tech and safety features into a tidy package. It also has excellent passenger and cargo space. The transmission makes lazy or awkward gear shifts at times, but that's pretty much the vehicle's only weakness. Overall this is one of the most well-rounded and family-friendly offerings in the class.

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Volkswagen Taos model years

2024
2023
2022

Volkswagen Taos for Sale

2022

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2022 Volkswagen Taos Review

byChristian Wardlaw^{Correspondent
Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at Edmunds and was the first editor-in-chief of Edmunds.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.}

Pros

Sharp handling and smooth driving character
Comfortable interior that's easy to get in and out of
Big cargo area for a little SUV
Impressive technology features

Cons

Transmission can be slow to frustratingly slow to downshift
Noticeable road and engine noise at highway speeds

What's new

All-new two-row subcompact SUV that slots below the Tiguan
2022 model introduces the first generation of the Taos

Overview

With the all-new 2022 Volkswagen Taos, VW is filling out its SUV lineup with a new entry-level model that provides more style, interior room and driving satisfaction than many rivals. Smaller and more affordable than the automaker's Tiguan, the Taos is sized and priced to compete against the likes of the Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-30.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2022 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 $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$138/mo

$184/mo

Avg. Compact SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

The Taos is impressive from the moment you sit inside. All Taos models come standard with a digital instrument cluster that can be customized to display anything from the song that's playing to turn-by-turn directions, whether from the navigation system or from your phone via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone integration. There's also some nice-looking materials, roomy seating and lots of cargo space for a little SUV.

Overall, we think Volkswagen has a compelling SUV on its hands. The Taos offers comparable sophistication and not much of a trade-off in cargo space compared to its Tiguan stablemate, but at a lower price. Check out our Expert Rating below for more detail on what our test team has found to be the Taos' strengths and weaknesses.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds 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

edmunds 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.

Interior

8.5/10

How’s the interior? The interior is one of the best in the class, from the ease in which you can step in and out of the large door openings to the generous passenger space. The Taos almost feels like a class size up compared to its competition. Outward visibility is excellent thanks to square windows and good mirror coverage, and we had no issue reaching any of the controls from the driver's seat.

Some of Volkswagen's newest infotainment systems have been flops. Thankfully the Taos keeps things a bit simpler, limiting the touch-sensitive buttons. This approach makes a huge difference in usability. Touch controls can be great when they work, but most can't compare to good ole physical buttons and knobs when you want to minimize distraction.

Technology

8.5/10

How’s the tech? Thankfully, some of the latest VW touch-base controls did not make it to the Taos. What did make it is a punchy Beats sound system that delivers more bass than what we found comfortable for daily use (in a good way). Our higher trim model also had an onboard nav system that was a tad laggy but had a nice user interface. We really like that you can display the map in the center of the driver's gauge cluster as well.

Our vehicle had a total of three USB-C ports to plug devices in, plus a wireless charger and a 12-volt outlet. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration via USB is standard and steps up to wireless connectivity on the midtier SE model and above. A full suite of advanced driver aids is offered on all trims, and sensible pricing makes it a no-brainer option. Most of the aids worked well, though even the adaptive cruise control at times got tripped up at lower speeds by the clunky engine and transmission.

Storage

8.5/10

How’s the storage? The shape and size of the Taos mean it's able to maximize interior space. With 27.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, the Taos is class-leading. The rear seats have a center pass-through and the usual 60/40 split, and they fold down mostly flat, leaving about a 2-inch level change from the cargo floor. The release levers are on the seats but are close enough to reach if you're standing at the rear hatch.

Storage options in the passenger section of the cabin are pretty good. The front door pockets are generously sized, cupholders have an anti-tip design to keep your drinks upright, and the squarish cubby under the center armrest has some depth to it to make up for its shorter length.

Because the Taos is on the larger side of the segment, there's more space for car seats. But it's the small touches we noticed too, including sleeker-looking car seat anchor covers and well-positioned top tether anchors for easy access. This is definitely one of the more family-friendly options in the class.

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The Taos gets an EPA-estimated 28 mpg combined (25 city/32 highway), essentially matching its biggest competitors. We averaged 29.6 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation loop, which is a great result and proof that the estimate is achievable. Our only concern is that if you're prone to asking for a lot of acceleration, fuel efficiency won't be nearly as good with such a high-strung engine.

Value

7.5/10

Is the Taos a good value? Value is ultimately in the eye of the beholder, but as far as we're concerned, the Taos seems fairly priced for what you get. Its entry-level price is quite competitive, but there are a lot of attractive features we'd want in the upper trim levels. Our top-trim SEL test car came in at just under $35K, which is definitely on the pricier end of this SUV class, but also provides one of the most well-rounded packages. If you look closely, you'll definitely find some cheap-feeling aspects to the Taos interior, but Volkswagen spent money in the areas that are touched more frequently.

VW's warranties are typical for this segment, with four years/50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage and seven years/100,000 miles of rust-through coverage. On the plus side, VW offers free scheduled maintenance for two years/20,000 miles and roadside assistance for three years/36,000 miles.

Wildcard

8.0/10

When it came to styling the Taos, VW didn't bother reinventing the wheel. It looks very much like a scaled-down Atlas, which is to say clean and kind of rugged. There are bolder designs out there that some may find more attractive, but we bet the Taos' looks will be more appealing to the masses.

The same holds true for the driving experience. Some SUVs in this class are more fun to drive on curvy roads and less finicky at slower speeds, but the Taos offers a decent experience overall. And you simply can't argue with the interior accommodations. In a segment in which passenger and cargo space is in short supply, the Taos seems to have an abundance.

Which Taos does Edmunds recommend?

When choosing a Volkswagen Taos, the SE trim level offers the best mix of standard and available equipment. It lacks the top infotainment technologies but offers the full collection of collision avoidance and driving assistance systems. And it's available with a panoramic sunroof and black wheels. All you'll miss from the SEL trim is the premium sound system.

2022 Volkswagen Taos models

Volkswagen offers the 2022 Taos in S, SE and SEL trim levels, and each has a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (158 horsepower, 184 lb-ft of torque). Versions with front-wheel drive feature an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the all-wheel-drive Taos employs a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic as well as a more sophisticated rear suspension that should provide slightly better handling composure around turns.

S
Standard equipment for the most affordable Taos S includes:

17-inch alloy wheels
LED headlights
Roof rails
60/40-split folding back seat
Digital instrumentation display
6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
Connected services including onboard Wi-Fi
Four-speaker stereo

Volkswagen offers an affordable IQ Drive package for the S trim. It contains:

Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Active blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot and can add steering assistance to discourage a lane change)
Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while you're in reverse)
Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go (maintains a driver-set distance between the Taos and the car in front, can bring the Volkswagen to a full stop and resume travel)
Emergency assistance (identifies an unresponsive driver and brings the Taos to a safe stop with the hazard lights flashing)

SE
Moving up to the Taos SE adds the following equipment:

18-inch alloy wheels
Heated side mirrors and washer jet nozzles
Hands-free keyless entry
Remote engine start
Simulated leather seat trim with cloth inserts
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Heated front seats
8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
Wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Satellite radio
Six-speaker stereo
Wireless smartphone charging
Forward collision mitigation
Active blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert

SEL
The Taos SEL includes all IQ Drive driver aids as standard equipment, along with:

Black 18-inch alloy wheels
Illuminated grille bar
Adaptive headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves)
Automatic high-beam headlights
Rain-sensing wipers
Ambient interior lighting
Heated steering wheel
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Leather seats
Larger digital instrument display
Navigation system
Eight-speaker premium sound system
Rear parking sensors

If you select a Taos SEL with all-wheel drive, you also get:

19-inch alloy wheels
Ventilated front seats

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2022 Volkswagen Taos.

5 (39%)

4 (7%)

3 (5%)

2 (8%)

1 (41%)

3.0

83 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 83 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Great car, poorly built

Andrew G., 06/28/2022

2022 Volkswagen Taos SE 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

Bought a FWD SE in July 2021 for my teen daughter. Thought it would be perfect car for a new driver: tidy proportions, great visibility all the way around, nimble and responsive handling, easy tech and big touchscreen very close to driver. Six weeks after buying, got a recall notice about possible faulty fuel hose and clip which could lead to engine failure and fire while driving. My …

3 months old and not reliable

Stella , 10/14/2022

2022 Volkswagen Taos SE 4dr SUV (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

I purchased this car on July 1,2022. Two weeks ago at 6k miles I was driving down the road and the car decelerated to 20mph. The check engine light started blinking, epc light came on, caution symbol came on, traction control light came on. Took to the dealer and 7 stored codes for engine misfire and catalyst damaging combustion misfire. The dealer cleared the codes and told me nothing …

Absolutely love it.

GlobalCanadian, 12/19/2021

2022 Volkswagen Taos SEL 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)

I purchased the AWD Highline and love this SUV. I had a 2014 Tiguan and traded it in for a 2020 Jetta and then into a 2014 Tiguan. Jetta was not my cup of tea, and the new Tiguans I find too big for my purposes. I think the Taos is perfect despite some initial lousy press and comments on the AWD engine performance. It has all the luxuries and conveniences of a Tiguan and the liveliness …

My first VW!

1st VW, 07/01/2021

2022 Volkswagen Taos SE 4dr SUV AWD (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 7AM)

This car feels premium and looks handsome. It’s quiet and comfortable, but fun and agile. Purchased the SEL 4Motion in pure gray. I test drove the BMW X1, the Toyota Venza, the Rav4, and the CRV. All were great rides, but the Taos literally had me smiling when I got on throttle. The ventilated seats are a nice feature that many SUVs do not have at this price point. Sure, there are …

See all 83 reviews of the Volkswagen Taos

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2022 Volkswagen Taos video

These Are the Best SUVs of 2022-2023 | 2022-2023 Top SUVs | The SUVs We'd Buy in Each Class

In the market for a brand-new SUV? Whether you're looking for small and affordable or large and in charge, Edmunds has you covered with our list of best-in-class SUVs for the 2022-2023 model year. From Honda to Mercedes to Volkswagen, our comprehensive list encompasses everything from…

2022 Taos Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$23,495
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	31 MPG
Cost to Drive	$138/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	27.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Taos models:

Automatic Post-Collision Braking: Brings the Taos to a stop as soon as possible following a collision to prevent a secondary impact.
Travel Assist: Hands-on semi-automated driving assistance that combines the adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems.
Emergency Assist: With Travel Assist active, identifies an unresponsive driver and brings the Taos to a safe stop with the hazard lights flashing.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover17.4%

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2022 Volkswagen Taos Review

2022 Volkswagen Taos Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2022 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 $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Taos does Edmunds recommend?

2022 Volkswagen Taos models

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2022 Volkswagen Taos.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Great car, poorly built

3 months old and not reliable

Absolutely love it.

My first VW!

2022 Volkswagen Taos video

These Are the Best SUVs of 2022-2023 | 2022-2023 Top SUVs | The SUVs We'd Buy in Each Class

2022 Taos Highlights

Safety

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2022 Volkswagen Taos Review

2022 Volkswagen Taos Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 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 $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Taos does Edmunds recommend?

2022 Volkswagen Taos models

Most helpful consumer reviews

Great car, poorly built

3 months old and not reliable

Absolutely love it.

My first VW!

2022 Volkswagen Taos video

These Are the Best SUVs of 2022-2023 | 2022-2023 Top SUVs | The SUVs We'd Buy in Each Class

2022 Taos Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2022 Volkswagen Taos info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Volkswagen

Research similar vehicles

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2022 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 $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}