The higher purchase price and lower residuals vs the competition will make this a very expensive car to own, and that’s if nothing breaks. I would wager that a hybrid CRV (which is a class above and a much nicer vehicle) would be similar money to own.
Taos did weird stuff from time to time when you were taking a turn from a stop at a stopsign or red light and giving it a bit of gas. It would do nothing and then actually chirp the tires, even though you were trying to be smooth. Digital is what I'd call it, on or off. Good to hear they have possibly finally fixed that issue.
Choosing the VW: German styling, drives well for what it's supposed to be, cheap on the segment's car insurance spectrum. I bought my wife a new Q3 earlier this year...our 3rd over the years. Daughter bought a new mid trim Taos earlier this year. Unlike wife's Audi, daughters $20-something-thousand 'cheap' car came with things like wireless CarPlay, remote start, & heated steering wheel. Unlike wife's Q3, that we've had an electronic gremlin at work in it that necessated our dealer's service tech having to go back to the folks in Deutschland over... daughter's Taos has had zero issues. I couldn't even find a single loose nut/bolt on the Taos when I personally went over the entire vehicle after she brought it home. Long story short, as a guy that's owned about a dozen German vehicles in his life, I'm very surprised at how good the Taos is for a 'cheap car'. It's screwed together well, comes with all kinds of tech features that I as an Audi consumer have to pay extra for, & even daughter's FWD (non-DCT) '24 Taos drives really well around our fast-urban/suburban environment.
I kind of like it, if i was in that market i would think about this option. I would go mid trim, manual and some grey-ish color, use it as a main comuter and have something else for the weekend. Yeah, may not be the best daily car ever.... but not everybody needs the best daily driver ever. It even looks ok for the size of the car even though i know i much preffer a sedan over this.
As consumer reports said vw in the bottom 5 out of 30 manufacturers in reliability , that alone plus 1400 plus destination chargers from Mexico is absurd! Great job as always George , looking forward to the next cigar chat with Nathan. Happy Holidays to you & your Family!
I saw a Buick Envista the other night at night and it looked like a X6 or GLC or GLE. Of course I've seen them during the day and they are beautiful. I haven't driven one, but I have driven a Taos. It was super solid and it had the previous engine and it was very spirited and germanic. I would probably get the Envista but again I haven't driven it🎉
Buick would be my choice if AWD wasn’t a thing. Unfortunately GM doesn’t offer AWD in the Buick and Chevy versions. VW has improved their SUV lineup, but the issue is price. Hyundai/Kia are better choices with a better warranty and cheaper pricing. Lots of choices aren’t bad.
5:05 min - I'd pick the VW because quite frankly, I don't trust Detroit reliability over zee Germans. That noted, I'd buy a Honda CR-V hybrid over any of the small SUVs in this class. 👍🏾
German cars have this intangible which makes them feel more substantial. Even comparing my 2022 Golf R to a 2024 CX30 turbo the driving experience simply doesn’t compare.
I downgraded from a GLI to a 24 Taos S Awd and wouldn't spend a dollar more on these vehicles above the base model. What is interesting is that the clunky DSG is a software issue but VW won't admit it or doesn't want to attempt to fix it. The easiest way to tell is just put the DSG in manual mode and come to a stop street it will downshift on it's own and it's 100% gone the clunky downshifts.
Id go Taos our of the Chevy Buick & VW .. the Buick name alone is a dealbreaker for this 34 yr old and as good as the chevy is in its quality and reliability and looks id still choose the VW because of its looks and knowing its a playful GTI raised up but not a fan of the optional $395 wheels. I also prefer 4motion over whatever chevy offers but I think the trax isn't AWD right? That price is hard to swallow though, - You can get the hybrid sportage in prestige form with destination for $1500 more although the next class up in size but a benchmark in price and value
Buick actually ranked pretty high on CR's reliability list, much higher than VW. Although the only Buick I currently like is the Envista ST, seems like a good value option.
So basically you are suppose to be driving a practical happy happy inexpensive SUV yet this model is the VW SEL at 37k when all done. And your disappointed, I can see why... so many better more exciting SUV's for the money. And of course does not bring the happy happy to you either... lets move on.... I much prefer the dual clutch transmission over a regular one.
The Taos and Jetta/GLI use MK7.5 electronics from a generation ago, and that is a good thing in my book.
The higher purchase price and lower residuals vs the competition will make this a very expensive car to own, and that’s if nothing breaks. I would wager that a hybrid CRV (which is a class above and a much nicer vehicle) would be similar money to own.
Taos did weird stuff from time to time when you were taking a turn from a stop at a stopsign or red light and giving it a bit of gas. It would do nothing and then actually chirp the tires, even though you were trying to be smooth. Digital is what I'd call it, on or off. Good to hear they have possibly finally fixed that issue.
Choosing the VW: German styling, drives well for what it's supposed to be, cheap on the segment's car insurance spectrum. I bought my wife a new Q3 earlier this year...our 3rd over the years. Daughter bought a new mid trim Taos earlier this year. Unlike wife's Audi, daughters $20-something-thousand 'cheap' car came with things like wireless CarPlay, remote start, & heated steering wheel. Unlike wife's Q3, that we've had an electronic gremlin at work in it that necessated our dealer's service tech having to go back to the folks in Deutschland over... daughter's Taos has had zero issues. I couldn't even find a single loose nut/bolt on the Taos when I personally went over the entire vehicle after she brought it home.
Long story short, as a guy that's owned about a dozen German vehicles in his life, I'm very surprised at how good the Taos is for a 'cheap car'. It's screwed together well, comes with all kinds of tech features that I as an Audi consumer have to pay extra for, & even daughter's FWD (non-DCT) '24 Taos drives really well around our fast-urban/suburban environment.
I kind of like it, if i was in that market i would think about this option. I would go mid trim, manual and some grey-ish color, use it as a main comuter and have something else for the weekend. Yeah, may not be the best daily car ever.... but not everybody needs the best daily driver ever. It even looks ok for the size of the car even though i know i much preffer a sedan over this.
As consumer reports said vw in the bottom 5 out of 30 manufacturers in reliability , that alone plus 1400 plus destination chargers from Mexico is absurd! Great job as always George , looking forward to the next cigar chat with Nathan. Happy Holidays to you & your Family!
Consumer reports will trash anything that's not on their "favorite" list. Lots of bias from CR.
I saw a Buick Envista the other night at night and it looked like a X6 or GLC or GLE. Of course I've seen them during the day and they are beautiful. I haven't driven one, but I have driven a Taos. It was super solid and it had the previous engine and it was very spirited and germanic. I would probably get the Envista but again I haven't driven it🎉
I personally stay away from GM products. Nothing they make is durable or problem free. And GM makes the Envision in China.
Well, the Buick division is near the top of Quality ratings for multiple years and that is a big deal if most other things are equal or close!
Had the Toas as a loaner and oh God driving it the delay was terrible but very spacious.
Moving production to Mexico was always about more profits for the company and bigger checks for top management, was never for customer savings.
Supposedly VW improved cabin noise insulation for the 2025 (the OG had a bit of engine cabin noise). Is this something you can comment on?
Buick would be my choice if AWD wasn’t a thing. Unfortunately GM doesn’t offer AWD in the Buick and Chevy versions. VW has improved their SUV lineup, but the issue is price. Hyundai/Kia are better choices with a better warranty and cheaper pricing. Lots of choices aren’t bad.
I'll never get over this being how the Golf is replaced.
5:05 min - I'd pick the VW because quite frankly, I don't trust Detroit reliability over zee Germans. That noted, I'd buy a Honda CR-V hybrid over any of the small SUVs in this class. 👍🏾
How would you say VW did the tuning on the 8spd? I know it's a Hyundai unit now instead of Aisin.
The torque converter auto, and typical German build quality would have me pay real money for this over a Chevy Trax\Nissan Kicks 100% of the time.
German cars have this intangible which makes them feel more substantial. Even comparing my 2022 Golf R to a 2024 CX30 turbo the driving experience simply doesn’t compare.
I feel numb just by looking at this epitome of numbness.
The volume knob cannot be improved upon.
You tested the top of the line what is the base model cost or mid level?
I downgraded from a GLI to a 24 Taos S Awd and wouldn't spend a dollar more on these vehicles above the base model. What is interesting is that the clunky DSG is a software issue but VW won't admit it or doesn't want to attempt to fix it. The easiest way to tell is just put the DSG in manual mode and come to a stop street it will downshift on it's own and it's 100% gone the clunky downshifts.
They killed the Golf and the Golf wagon in the US for this SUV 👎🏻
Sad. I was once a huge VW fan. They lost me
Personally knowing a couple who have a Taos, she didn’t want a Golf or Jetta. She still wanted a VW, so they got this.
If that's how the market trends, they have to adapt. At least they still have the GTI.
I'd choose the Taos. Looks better, tighter well built.
Yeah, but he did specifically say that he is only one man.
VW puts vents in the back of this thing but NOT a jetta? Are you for real right now
Give me rear vents in a GLI
Good lord, is there a way to turn off that noise every time you tap on the screen?? I would never want to use it if you couldn't, it's so annoying.
Yes you can turn it off
I like the design, concerned about reliability
Reliability is very exaggerated. I have a 2019 golf also made in Mexico like this Taos and no issues at all after 90,000km (56k miles)
Id go Taos our of the Chevy Buick & VW .. the Buick name alone is a dealbreaker for this 34 yr old and as good as the chevy is in its quality and reliability and looks id still choose the VW because of its looks and knowing its a playful GTI raised up but not a fan of the optional $395 wheels. I also prefer 4motion over whatever chevy offers but I think the trax isn't AWD right? That price is hard to swallow though, - You can get the hybrid sportage in prestige form with destination for $1500 more although the next class up in size but a benchmark in price and value
Buick actually ranked pretty high on CR's reliability list, much higher than VW. Although the only Buick I currently like is the Envista ST, seems like a good value option.
At this point, why would you buy a Volkswagen? If you’re going to buy an ordinary car why not buy a Toyota?
CVT!
I see a CVT vs. DCT showdown coming soon.
Why not buy a Mazda instead of a Toyota. Mazdas have a much better build quality nowadays over toyotas and they have many incentives.
@@AmandeepSingh-ck9xd Yeah, Mazdas are amazing cars.
Better packaging and tech.
Uhm, much rather have the Mexican built VW than a Chinese built Buick.
You and sunroofs
They are nice until they leak.
So basically you are suppose to be driving a practical happy happy inexpensive SUV yet this model is the VW SEL at 37k when all done. And your disappointed, I can see why... so many better more exciting SUV's for the money. And of course does not bring the happy happy to you either... lets move on.... I much prefer the dual clutch transmission over a regular one.
The sweet spot is the SE. then you’re looking around 31k not too far off from a CX30 with an ancient fuel guzzling NA 2.5L
The biggest trash ever made!😅
Funny coming from someone who has a poop brain. Pull up your socks!!
What a turd this won't be a strong seller , I rarely see new VWs period these days , I'm more likely to see a sante Fe or a rogue
I see the tiguan all the time.