I just bought a Taos SE AWD a week ago and I have been overly impressed. This is the best driving little SUV/CUV I have ever driven. The engine is peppy and it handles going up into the mountains beautifully. Y'all are right about the price. The interior is wonderful and the dashboard is laid out efficently. True VW. This is a real winner. Thank you for the review. This is a gem that seems to be flying under the radar.
Just got mine yesterday and seeing positive reviews makes me happy. I mean what can go wrong with German engineering, so hopefully it’ll be a pleasant car to drive around
Nothing can ever replace the Golf. I'm still livid they stopped selling my favourite car. The GTI and R just aren't my style or budget, give me the base Golf with a stick any day.
I have seen many Motormouth reviews and I am very impressed. Zack and Andrea do a wonderful, thorough job. I learned things about the Taos that weren't even mentioned in other reviews that I have seen. Nice job!
Nice car and well described… you re right about the screens… the only Problem is that nowadays, people shop cars comparing screens and lights. You could have the worst brakes , with the worst engine and poor assembling quality, but If you sell it with a massive flashy screen and connectivity it will become an instant seller . Most people don t know what kind of suspension, engine, tires… they have on their car. But they sure know that there is a nice screen in the middle and a glass roof.
My Wife’s (purchased at 37,000 km) VW Jetta Highline with the Fender Sound System option was ‘originally’ $34,000 Canadian, New (I paid $17,300). I has been fantastic for our Family. I would recommend it. This new Taos is not much more money than that original price. But this CUV has so so much more bang for around the same $35,000. So I say, ‘Well done VW’. I would absolutely consider replacing her Jetta with this latest offering. I like the space, the displays and the traditional VW looks. So, a winner in my books. Thanks for another great review.
Thank you so much, we really appreciate the kind words. Our main goal when we do these reviews is to help people buy cars and to make the car buying experience easier.
Very, very good review, folks. Kudos for recognizing that the Taos is effectively the North American replacement for the standard Golf and the Sportwagen, each of which has been withdrawn from the marketplace in the US and Canada. Your recognition of the fact is rare in the reviews of the Taos and is explains a lot about the Taos. Likewise, your recognition that VW has learned that North American consumers like their VWs to be among the largest vehicles (especially SUVs) in each market category. The Taos has the most overall cargo space in the subcompact class. The Tiguan is the largest in the compact category and the Atlas (and Atlas Crosssport) enjoy the same distinction in the midsize two and three row SUV category. As far as the Taos is concerned, its 65.9 cubic ft of overall cargo space is nearly as much as the RAV4 and significantly more than the Mazda CX-5, each of which is in the larger "compact" SUV class. Furthermore, Andrea's comments about the "peppy" 1.5L turbo engine in the Taos (a very slight displacement increase in the previous 1.4L engine in the Golf) are not surprising. VW is famous (infamous?) for understating the power of their smaller 4 cylinder turbo engines, likely due to an effort to qualify for lower insurance rates in some European markets. The GTI, for example, is well known for the practice. Before assuming that the Taos is "underpowered," consumers should experience an extended test drive in the vehicle. Among the Taos competitors the CrossTrek and Jeep Compass are, imo, very different vehicles with more off-road chops but less engaging on-road manners. The Taos' most obvious rival is the KIA Seltos. And as an owner of both a VW (GTI) and a KIA (Sorento) I find both appealing. The Seltos has the typical KIA advantage of offering more bells and whistles for the same (or slightly less) money. The Taos, on the other hand, enjoys the advantages of a European driving feel that the Seltos lacks. If I were shopping in the category, I'd opt for the Taos. Others, of course, will differ. Each is solid entry in the compact SUV category and offer many of the benefits of a larger compact SUV in a smaller overall, easier to manage package.
I absolutely love WV's, I've had a Golf, Jetta, Sportwagen, and Passat over the years. When car shopping recently I went and test drove one of these. I do have to say the review is on point. The 1.5T is adequate, it's surprisingly quiet and the ride is supple yet fun. The two issues I just could not get past were the jerky DSG while cold and the weird seating position. The DSG was very jerky\clunky off the line until warm which was a major knock on its driveability. I'm 5'9" tall and the steering wheel did not telescope down or out far enough to let me get comfortable. I could not touch the steering wheel while also resting my elbows on either the door or center armrest. In my past VW's this was not an issue because the center armrests both slid forward and you could position\lock the lid up a few degrees so you could rest your arm while driving. Not so in the TAOS, the center armrest lid does not slide or adjust up\down. So, these two things were a deal breaker for me, especially the seating position as on a long trip that would get very uncomfortable. I also looked at Tiguan's which had the same weird seating position. The Atlas Cross Sport actually fit me very well and I wanted to purchase one but there is a stop sale on them with no ETA on parts... So, unfortunately, after many years VW lost me and I had to switch brands. Maybe we'll meet again someday VW.
I have to admit. The part about the arm rest is all I could see in the video because it disturbed me so much. I like to be comfortable especially for long drives and having my arm hanging like that on the steering wheel not being able to use the arm rest is a deal breaker. Thanks for pointing it out from your test drive as I was thinking that maybe I'm imagining it. But the center console/arm rest is too small and too far
We where looking at either a 2021 Tiguan or the 2022 taos. Same price. A lot of reviews leaned towards the Tiguan we just loved the Taos looks and the way it drives. We ended up with the Taos. Only time will tell if we made the right choice.
Thanks for the review Andrea and Zack! Nice to see that VW haven't moved to their awful capacitive touch controls in the Taos. I've been a huge VW fan for years and I used to regularly recommend VW products, however with the departure of the Golf and Alltrack, and the cheapening of the Passat and Jetta I really am disappointed and no longer have the confidence to recommend VW. I wish VW would bring the Skoda or Seat versions of their MQB/MLB/MEB platforms to North America.
nice little vehicle...VW does a good job on the fit and finish...only thing for me is I have heard maintenance cost are outrageous..best thing I would say is lease it and have the dealer cough up the maintenance as part of the lease...enjoy
thanks for the review. i came home last night with a new 2023 VW Taos SE-4motion (not a fan of the name Taos). This SUV purchase was an unintended upgrade to my 2021 Jetta. Looking forward to seeing how it hands in the Colorado winter next month. It looks cool and the engine and 7 speed D/clutch is smooth. I like the ride and plan to do a road trip in the near future. I wasn't a fan of my Jetta but did appreciate the fuel economy of 40 mpg. so happy that my new VW does Not have the touch capacitive buttons on the steering wheel. Another plus is that the button for the heated steering wheel is a separate dedicated button on the steering wheel whereas the Jetta had combined the heated seat and heated steering into a single button. Honda Civic doesn't even offer the heated steering wheel in Colorado (so sad).
Corolla Cross's breakfast is about to be served. Wishing VW all the best. Wish others would provide a centre ski pass threw. You 2 nailed the review. The Steve and Jamie Austin of the car review world. Q up the bionic SFX. Cheers from MTL
A traded in a 2017 sportwagen two weeks ago. It was an all wheel drive version. Compared to my sportwagen, it had a smaller boot and less horsepower. I priced out a tiguan at 40K. I then looked at Audi Q3, Q5, Volvo XC60, and a BMW 1. In the end I bought a company care Arteon SEL because it had the most power and best ride and biggest boot of the bunch.
Nice review . When you figure all the gadgets one would like the price reach stratospheric altitude...it is not a ladder it is an elevator . Thanks for the review.
One flaw!! No paddle shifters????? All DCT equipped cars should ave paddle shifter, my 2022 AWD Kona limited has the same flaw. 2nd: no overview camera. The 2024 kona as one available. Great review!!! Keep your reviews coming!!!
The mid, comfortline trim seems to include all of the desired features, less a few extras. Without the bigger tire package, it retails for 36,000 and 38,000 with the tire/performance package.
Thanks Stephen and Andrea for the detailed review of the Taos! I understand that the Taos is the VW replacement for the Golf hatchback and wagons. I totally agree that the small touchscreen on the base model is a disappointment and the mid level variant seems to have the right feature to price balance. You both seem quite excited about how the Taos drives.. being car like with a lower center of gravity than other SUV's whereby car buyers would find the transition easy. The odd thing is that in Canada, we still can get hold of a compact Golf in the form of the GTI and from what information I have is actually at a lower price point than the Taos in the mid level trim (Comfortline)! For someone looking for a fun compact everyday car would you choose the Taos over the GTI? I know they are supposed to be in different market segments, but given the market realities today of what is available in the compact segment where would you put your money?
we have both a GTI and a TAOS. If you have children or older relatives, get the TAOS. The TAOS is super spacious, but the GTI is cramped in back. If you prefer performance, get the GTI.
Interesting how you brought up the Golf Sportwagen. I have a 2019 Sportwagen S, one of the last built in Mexico for the US market. I ordered it from my local dealer. The car total cost with local tax and license was just over $19K US. True, the Taos has more back seat room and headroom, but the cargo area in my Sportwagen has a perfectly flat floor, ideal for carrying stuff. I have over 32,000 miles on it and it always averages over 40 mpg. AND, it has a 6-speed manual. The real shame is we can't get the Passat Estate PHEV in North America. Thanks for your review. The only reason to part with my Golf is when the Buzz is being built in NA. Phooey on SUVs and CUVs, the box is the most practical shape for people and things.
As senior citizens....my wife and I read where this would appeal to our age group....sadly for the price it's lacking power lift gate...and manual seats are a joke. Cmon volkswagen we are in the 21st century..if you are charging these prices, your going to have to keep up with your competitors.
My parents are having the same problem, John! They really also like the Kia Seltos but also lack of power tailgate makes it an issue. The Chevrolet Trailblazer has it but the interior is a bit of a let down. Mazda CX-30 is a bit tight. Might have to wait for the all new Nissan Rogue Sport soon, already previewed as the Qashqai.
$38k was the price of a top spec Golf Alltrack before they stopped selling it. It was a much nicer vehicle than this Taos with more soft touch surfaces, a much better engine, more ground clearance and the Fender audio system.
The SportWagen version held even more appeal for me. It was essentially the same car without the cladding and the extra ride height for much less, if I recall correctly.
Over $ 38,000 for that and it does not look fancy but looks ok . I have a few friends that are big VW fans that both had the Golf and now want a SUV and are looking at Rav4 Prime but so hard to get.
Great review, hope the engine keeps you warm in the winter. The 1.4 the jettas used to have do not heat up enough to keep you warm. 1.5 isn't much bigger. I guess time will tell.
I test drove one and comparing it to my Golf Sportwagon, I will give it a ok ride. But, I think the Golf Sportwagon is much better all around. It’s unfortunate that we can no longer get such a great car as the Golf!
2:05 - Why does it seem like all cars have the exterior paint on the inside of the door? I don't see that on my car, but it could be because it is white...
I find it interesting you never mentioned mazda cx30 as a competitor, esp as you rated the cx30 as being very good esp its handling and fun to drive factor.
How much better was the Beats than the stock audio? I drove a Comfortline and was shocked at how bad the base setup was. No where near the Fender I’m used to in my GTI. Also, does the Highline have more sound deadening? I found it to be noticeably louder than my wife’s Tig.
I have a tiguan now.. while it is nice.. I find the fuel economy is pretty steep. How would you compare this in fuel economy. Is it worth trading in the tiguan to go to this? We only use the space of the tiguan for skiing. But we can always go to roof racks
I noticed on several reviews that the reviewers are complaining about really bad turbo lag. Did you experience these during your test drive? If not is it because vw has addressed the issue on this newer versions of the Taos.
I am looking at two different models and brands entirely.. Sedan - 22 Nissan Sentra SR Premium (fully loaded) SC-SUV - 22 Taos Highline (Fully loaded) Now I am confused with your statement saying it gives a car driving feel..
Good rainy Saturday morning Y’all 👋👋👋👋 I’m kind of bored of these SUV’s they all pretty much look the same. Starting to miss zippy cars, especially with the price of gas creeping up. Heck filling my Mini Cooper S is even getting pricey nowadays 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️ awesome review guys be safe 👍👍👍
I had an opportunity to test drive an AWD Taos model. I respectfully had a different impression of the driving dynamics. The DCT is really inconvenient at low speeds. There's also noticeable turbo lag that happens intermittently. It reminds me of a slower, first generation Mercedes-Benz GLA. This subcompact is definitely not friendly for Boston urban driving.
I ordered an AWD TAOS but then cancelled my order after our test drive. The 7 speed dual clutch was jerky at slow speeds and the 2 second turbo lag before hitting the power curve was downright dangerous in traffic. I usually love your reviews but I think you missed pointing out these serious flaws in the AWD Taos. Perhaps the 8 speed transmission in the FWD would be smoother but you’d still have that horrible 2 second turbo lag!
We did not have any issue with this. The dual clutch drove like others in the VW family. Might have been worse before the recall but we didn't drive it then.
Great review Andrea! Good vehicle but looks a bit of boxing but the cargo spaces is excellent and gas mileage is not bad. I am surprise no gate lifter and no power seat. 👍🏻👍🏻👊🏻
Every time I look at a VW I build the vehicle so it's close to the Audi alternative. I don't think I'd want this with so little HP so I built a Tiguan, then I looked at a Q3 Progressive. VW/Audi are so clever with their marketing/pricing. I've never looked at the Tiguan or Taos, how does the size compare to the new Q3?
@@andreaspencer9813 really? Are you talking about interior space because the Q3 is a tiny bit longer with it’s exterior dimensions. I haven’t sat in the Taos, or Tiguan. I have sat in the Q3 & Q5 and it feels quite close in size once they redesigned the Q3
@@kevinn1158 The Taos wheelbase is a tiny bit longer than the Q3 but the Q3 is less than an inch longer. The Taos offers more second row legroom, an extra 1.8 inches. It also wins in cargo capacity offering 65.9 cubic feet of space compared to the Q3 which has 48 cubic feet. As for the Q5 it is 7.7 inches longer than the Q3 and offers almost 2 inches more second row legroom.
@@andreaspencer9813 A shame the Taos, Tiguan and Q3 have such meh HP. They should all be offered with higher output engines as options. SQ3 anybody? ;)
As usual, excellent report. What a dull car for me ! And also, it is incredible the number of SUV's VW has around the world : T-Cross, T-Roc, Taigo, Taos, Tiguan, Tiguan Allspace, Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, ID4, ID5, ID6, Touareg, Teramont...Maybe I forgot one... How do they manage that? Salut from grey Paris.
e-CVT hybrid should be standard in this class of car. By-and-large, this type of buyer doesn’t have a clue (or care) what’s under the hood, and nothing beats the cost of ownership of a good e-CVT hybrid.
CR reviewed it and said the powertrain was terrible and the testers were happy to be out of the car. They said the engine was slow to respond to the pedal and then suddenly the power would come on with a rush.
The early units were tested by some outlets and they reported issues, but there was a stop-sale order and an update/recall, our test unit was just fine.
So the price point is almost exactly like the Tiguan, so I guess it is easy to say that the Tiguan price is going up. Too bad I was hoping that it was 3k less so my son could buy his first new car, he really wants a GTI.
I planned on buying this SUV I went to the dealer and looked at an SEL $35,000 however next to it was a Tiguan R Line SEL for $38,0000 for a few grand more I drove away with the Tiguan the Taos interior even in the SEL seemed cheap for a $35k suv
Yeah but you’ll need to make great friends with your service advisor because it will be in the shop regularly. I’ve had the worst luck with VW products!
Is this VW known as the T-Roc or T-Cross in Australia. And UK markets. We don't get the T-Roc R hot rod. Too close to Golf R in very high cost. Very nice colour and I like the Taos name. Cheers.
I just bought a Taos SE AWD a week ago and I have been overly impressed. This is the best driving little SUV/CUV I have ever driven. The engine is peppy and it handles going up into the mountains beautifully. Y'all are right about the price. The interior is wonderful and the dashboard is laid out efficently. True VW. This is a real winner. Thank you for the review. This is a gem that seems to be flying under the radar.
Just got mine yesterday and seeing positive reviews makes me happy. I mean what can go wrong with German engineering, so hopefully it’ll be a pleasant car to drive around
Nothing can ever replace the Golf. I'm still livid they stopped selling my favourite car. The GTI and R just aren't my style or budget, give me the base Golf with a stick any day.
I know what you mean. I love driving my Civic Hatch manual. I have no desire to move into an HR-V or CR-V.
I have seen many Motormouth reviews and I am very impressed. Zack and Andrea do a wonderful, thorough job. I learned things about the Taos that weren't even mentioned in other reviews that I have seen. Nice job!
Wow, thank you!
I have this exact Taos and I love it. Thanks for the fun and honest review.
Thanks for watching!
Nice car and well described… you re right about the screens… the only
Problem is that nowadays, people shop cars comparing screens and lights. You could have the worst brakes , with the worst engine and poor assembling quality, but If you sell it with a massive flashy screen and connectivity it will become an instant seller . Most people don t know what kind of suspension, engine, tires… they have on their car. But they sure know that there is a nice screen in the middle and a glass roof.
Thank you, really glad you enjoyed the review.
cough cough hyundai cough cough
Hahha so true.
Loved this review! I love VW’s and Audi’s design language, elegant and simple and long lasting.
Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed it!
My Wife’s (purchased at 37,000 km) VW Jetta Highline with the Fender Sound System option was ‘originally’ $34,000 Canadian, New (I paid $17,300). I has been fantastic for our Family. I would recommend it. This new Taos is not much more money than that original price. But this CUV has so so much more bang for around the same $35,000. So I say, ‘Well done VW’. I would absolutely consider replacing her Jetta with this latest offering. I like the space, the displays and the traditional VW looks. So, a winner in my books. Thanks for another great review.
The cross model knowledge you both have is remarkable. It’s invaluable for shoppers.
Wow, thank you!
Thank you so much, we really appreciate the kind words. Our main goal when we do these reviews is to help people buy cars and to make the car buying experience easier.
Awesome review and very informative! I am picking up mine tomorrow and it is the same trim as the one you reviewed.
Very, very good review, folks. Kudos for recognizing that the Taos is effectively the North American replacement for the standard Golf and the Sportwagen, each of which has been withdrawn from the marketplace in the US and Canada. Your recognition of the fact is rare in the reviews of the Taos and is explains a lot about the Taos. Likewise, your recognition that VW has learned that North American consumers like their VWs to be among the largest vehicles (especially SUVs) in each market category. The Taos has the most overall cargo space in the subcompact class. The Tiguan is the largest in the compact category and the Atlas (and Atlas Crosssport) enjoy the same distinction in the midsize two and three row SUV category.
As far as the Taos is concerned, its 65.9 cubic ft of overall cargo space is nearly as much as the RAV4 and significantly more than the Mazda CX-5, each of which is in the larger "compact" SUV class. Furthermore, Andrea's comments about the "peppy" 1.5L turbo engine in the Taos (a very slight displacement increase in the previous 1.4L engine in the Golf) are not surprising. VW is famous (infamous?) for understating the power of their smaller 4 cylinder turbo engines, likely due to an effort to qualify for lower insurance rates in some European markets. The GTI, for example, is well known for the practice. Before assuming that the Taos is "underpowered," consumers should experience an extended test drive in the vehicle.
Among the Taos competitors the CrossTrek and Jeep Compass are, imo, very different vehicles with more off-road chops but less engaging on-road manners. The Taos' most obvious rival is the KIA Seltos. And as an owner of both a VW (GTI) and a KIA (Sorento) I find both appealing. The Seltos has the typical KIA advantage of offering more bells and whistles for the same (or slightly less) money. The Taos, on the other hand, enjoys the advantages of a European driving feel that the Seltos lacks. If I were shopping in the category, I'd opt for the Taos. Others, of course, will differ. Each is solid entry in the compact SUV category and offer many of the benefits of a larger compact SUV in a smaller overall, easier to manage package.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed the review
I absolutely love WV's, I've had a Golf, Jetta, Sportwagen, and Passat over the years. When car shopping recently I went and test drove one of these. I do have to say the review is on point. The 1.5T is adequate, it's surprisingly quiet and the ride is supple yet fun. The two issues I just could not get past were the jerky DSG while cold and the weird seating position. The DSG was very jerky\clunky off the line until warm which was a major knock on its driveability. I'm 5'9" tall and the steering wheel did not telescope down or out far enough to let me get comfortable. I could not touch the steering wheel while also resting my elbows on either the door or center armrest. In my past VW's this was not an issue because the center armrests both slid forward and you could position\lock the lid up a few degrees so you could rest your arm while driving. Not so in the TAOS, the center armrest lid does not slide or adjust up\down. So, these two things were a deal breaker for me, especially the seating position as on a long trip that would get very uncomfortable. I also looked at Tiguan's which had the same weird seating position. The Atlas Cross Sport actually fit me very well and I wanted to purchase one but there is a stop sale on them with no ETA on parts... So, unfortunately, after many years VW lost me and I had to switch brands. Maybe we'll meet again someday VW.
I have to admit. The part about the arm rest is all I could see in the video because it disturbed me so much. I like to be comfortable especially for long drives and having my arm hanging like that on the steering wheel not being able to use the arm rest is a deal breaker. Thanks for pointing it out from your test drive as I was thinking that maybe I'm imagining it. But the center console/arm rest is too small and too far
Excellent, well-made review, Andrea & Zack!
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed it
Great review guys! I'm a VW fan and presently own a Tiguan and I've got to say, this Taos is cool looking.
We agree!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. We really like it too!
We where looking at either a 2021 Tiguan or the 2022 taos. Same price. A lot of reviews leaned towards the Tiguan we just loved the Taos looks and the way it drives. We ended up with the Taos. Only time will tell if we made the right choice.
@@powertools2375 how are you enjoying thus far?
@@DSpurlin215 wife loves it. Great mpg plenty of power and soo much room. Currently 14k miles.
Thanks for the review Andrea and Zack! Nice to see that VW haven't moved to their awful capacitive touch controls in the Taos. I've been a huge VW fan for years and I used to regularly recommend VW products, however with the departure of the Golf and Alltrack, and the cheapening of the Passat and Jetta I really am disappointed and no longer have the confidence to recommend VW. I wish VW would bring the Skoda or Seat versions of their MQB/MLB/MEB platforms to North America.
Great review! You two are my favorite couple reviewers.
Wow, thanks!
Thank you so much! 😊
Excellent reviews, I’ve watched a lot of these to decide the VW Taos will be my next car.
We’ve had this in Europe for ages. It’s called the SEAT Ateca. They’ve put a VW badge on front and sent it to you guys.
No improvement in technology since 2016 ? :)
😂 you need a visit to an optometrist ASAP.
@@MariUovo Its taken you a year to comment on this. Think it’s your eye sight that’s got major issues.
Excellent review as always!
Thank you! Cheers!
Thank you very much!
nice little vehicle...VW does a good job on the fit and finish...only thing for me is I have heard maintenance cost are outrageous..best thing I would say is lease it and have the dealer cough up the maintenance as part of the lease...enjoy
great review again guys question though does this have car net thanks
thanks for the review. i came home last night with a new 2023 VW Taos SE-4motion (not a fan of the name Taos). This SUV purchase was an unintended upgrade to my 2021 Jetta. Looking forward to seeing how it hands in the Colorado winter next month. It looks cool and the engine and 7 speed D/clutch is smooth. I like the ride and plan to do a road trip in the near future. I wasn't a fan of my Jetta but did appreciate the fuel economy of 40 mpg. so happy that my new VW does Not have the touch capacitive buttons on the steering wheel. Another plus is that the button for the heated steering wheel is a separate dedicated button on the steering wheel whereas the Jetta had combined the heated seat and heated steering into a single button. Honda Civic doesn't even offer the heated steering wheel in Colorado (so sad).
Corolla Cross's breakfast is about to be served. Wishing VW all the best. Wish others would provide a centre ski pass threw. You 2 nailed the review. The Steve and Jamie Austin of the car review world. Q up the bionic SFX. Cheers from MTL
Thank you so much, really glad you liked the review.
Great vids I live in UK so appreciate mpg and mph thank you iv just ordered a tiguan thanks to u both the r of course.
Our pleasure!
A traded in a 2017 sportwagen two weeks ago. It was an all wheel drive version. Compared to my sportwagen, it had a smaller boot and less horsepower. I priced out a tiguan at 40K. I then looked at Audi Q3, Q5, Volvo XC60, and a BMW 1. In the end I bought a company care Arteon SEL because it had the most power and best ride and biggest boot of the bunch.
Does this TACO come in a soft shell?
Nice review . When you figure all the gadgets one would like the price reach stratospheric altitude...it is not a ladder it is an elevator . Thanks for the review.
Very Nice, Guys!! Here in the States , the VW Taos also competes head on with the Toyota Corolla Cross… 👍
@Seymore Facts After 5 yrs ownership, the Toyota will outshine the VW.
Thanks for watching!
What about the Mazda CX 30 would it compete against this and what do you recommend between the two?
Hey Guys,
Love the review,
I will say I love the look of it all ,yet the price point is an other story .
Thanks for sharing
Zach; you are great. But Andrea is the Best! I really enjoy your comments and reviews about VW.
Besides, there is nothing like a Canadian point of view!
One flaw!! No paddle shifters????? All DCT equipped cars should ave paddle shifter, my 2022 AWD Kona limited has the same flaw. 2nd: no overview camera. The 2024 kona as one available. Great review!!! Keep your reviews coming!!!
I own one, and l love it. Its good on gas
The mid, comfortline trim seems to include all of the desired features, less a few extras. Without the bigger tire package, it retails for 36,000 and 38,000 with the tire/performance package.
Thanks Stephen and Andrea for the detailed review of the Taos! I understand that the Taos is the VW replacement for the Golf hatchback and wagons. I totally agree that the small touchscreen on the base model is a disappointment and the mid level variant seems to have the right feature to price balance. You both seem quite excited about how the Taos drives.. being car like with a lower center of gravity than other SUV's whereby car buyers would find the transition easy. The odd thing is that in Canada, we still can get hold of a compact Golf in the form of the GTI and from what information I have is actually at a lower price point than the Taos in the mid level trim (Comfortline)! For someone looking for a fun compact everyday car would you choose the Taos over the GTI? I know they are supposed to be in different market segments, but given the market realities today of what is available in the compact segment where would you put your money?
we have both a GTI and a TAOS. If you have children or older relatives, get the TAOS. The TAOS is super spacious, but the GTI is cramped in back. If you prefer performance, get the GTI.
Great review, it a great cross-over
Interesting how you brought up the Golf Sportwagen. I have a 2019 Sportwagen S, one of the last built in Mexico for the US market. I ordered it from my local dealer.
The car total cost with local tax and license was just over $19K US. True, the Taos has more back seat room and headroom, but the cargo area in my Sportwagen has a perfectly flat floor, ideal for carrying stuff. I have over 32,000 miles on it and it always averages over 40 mpg. AND, it has a 6-speed manual. The real shame is we can't get the Passat Estate PHEV in North America.
Thanks for your review. The only reason to part with my Golf is when the Buzz is being built in NA. Phooey on SUVs and CUVs, the box is the most practical shape for people and things.
As senior citizens....my wife and I read where this would appeal to our age group....sadly for the price it's lacking power lift gate...and manual seats are a joke. Cmon volkswagen we are in the 21st century..if you are charging these prices, your going to have to keep up with your competitors.
My parents are having the same problem, John! They really also like the Kia Seltos but also lack of power tailgate makes it an issue. The Chevrolet Trailblazer has it but the interior is a bit of a let down. Mazda CX-30 is a bit tight. Might have to wait for the all new Nissan Rogue Sport soon, already previewed as the Qashqai.
2:19 i love it so much
$38k was the price of a top spec Golf Alltrack before they stopped selling it. It was a much nicer vehicle than this Taos with more soft touch surfaces, a much better engine, more ground clearance and the Fender audio system.
The SportWagen version held even more appeal for me. It was essentially the same car without the cladding and the extra ride height for much less, if I recall correctly.
Wireless android auto and apple CarPlay or not? She didn’t mention in the first 2 minute
Over $ 38,000 for that and it does not look fancy but looks ok . I have a few friends that are big VW fans that both had the Golf and now want a SUV and are looking at Rav4 Prime but so hard to get.
That blue is eye catching
Car and Driver said they got 40 mpg in their test loop on an AWD. Does anyone know if that's realistic? Sounds crazy to me.
I would color match the side clading and it would look even better in my opinion
Question, would you do the fully loaded Taos or the comfortline(mid) Tiguan?
Great review, hope the engine keeps you warm in the winter. The 1.4 the jettas used to have do not heat up enough to keep you warm. 1.5 isn't much bigger. I guess time will tell.
When my wife got her 2013 Jetta Comfortline I laughed at the 105 horsepower figure. Until I drove it. That German engineering is no joke.😅
Nice vehicle and design
Great review! Nice to hear your thoughts on pros and cons.
I test drove one and comparing it to my Golf Sportwagon, I will give it a ok ride. But, I think the Golf Sportwagon is much better all around. It’s unfortunate that we can no longer get such a great car as the Golf!
I don't care for those wheels but I like the looks of the rest of it.
It is bigger inside than the Tiguan. Also, the base model is a real deal, and I paid $22,000 USD, price out the door.
Great review!
Thank you!
2:05 - Why does it seem like all cars have the exterior paint on the inside of the door? I don't see that on my car, but it could be because it is white...
I find it interesting you never mentioned mazda cx30 as a competitor, esp as you rated the cx30 as being very good esp its handling and fun to drive factor.
We chose the competition based on size
@@Motormouth... the vw is only 2 inches longer and one inch wider. I hardly think that puts it in a different size class from the cx30
@@sgrant9814 They clearly are talking about legroom and cargo space. And this is CX-5 sized (and bigger) on those fronts.
Overpriced for the size. I'd much rather go with a Tucson for less money and more space. Great work as always, Spencers!!
That engine looks tiny!!! The opening video of it looked like vw got the motor out of a vending machine.
Great! What vehicle(s) do you both drive?
I drive a Cayenne Diesel and Zack has a Cayenne GTS
@@andreaspencer9813 awesome :)
Great review
Thank you so much! 😊
Haha "Over in the passenger seat there's a really nice feature" - I thought you meant Andrea : )
Lol... I think he did mean Andrea, she is priceless! :)
How much better was the Beats than the stock audio? I drove a Comfortline and was shocked at how bad the base setup was. No where near the Fender I’m used to in my GTI. Also, does the Highline have more sound deadening? I found it to be noticeably louder than my wife’s Tig.
I like the Taos. It seems like a small thing but the arm rest needs to be longer. That's a must have for me. Thanks for the review.
Thanks for watching!
I have a tiguan now.. while it is nice.. I find the fuel economy is pretty steep. How would you compare this in fuel economy. Is it worth trading in the tiguan to go to this? We only use the space of the tiguan for skiing. But we can always go to roof racks
I noticed on several reviews that the reviewers are complaining about really bad turbo lag. Did you experience these during your test drive? If not is it because vw has addressed the issue on this newer versions of the Taos.
You list the basics options with the SEL top of the line view....
I am looking at two different models and brands entirely..
Sedan - 22 Nissan Sentra SR Premium (fully loaded)
SC-SUV - 22 Taos Highline (Fully loaded)
Now I am confused with your statement saying it gives a car driving feel..
Good rainy Saturday morning Y’all 👋👋👋👋 I’m kind of bored of these SUV’s they all pretty much look the same. Starting to miss zippy cars, especially with the price of gas creeping up. Heck filling my Mini Cooper S is even getting pricey nowadays 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️ awesome review guys be safe 👍👍👍
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it!
We get a Mini this week, stay tuned.
So the stop sell was for stalling? The DSG AWD has been noted as dangerously slow to get moving from a start. Hope you get to review that model.
The 1.5L turbo in Europe has had "Kangaroo" issues in the cold... I'd wait or at least only lease this vehicle
Is it wider than the jetta?
I had an opportunity to test drive an AWD Taos model. I respectfully had a different impression of the driving dynamics. The DCT is really inconvenient at low speeds. There's also noticeable turbo lag that happens intermittently. It reminds me of a slower, first generation Mercedes-Benz GLA.
This subcompact is definitely not friendly for Boston urban driving.
@@StephenFogarty2023 I think that's a myth. I've had a DCT twice. It doesn't adapt and can't overcome its awkwardness at crawl speeds.
I would think the subcompact would be perfect for city driving
I ordered an AWD TAOS but then cancelled my order after our test drive. The 7 speed dual clutch was jerky at slow speeds and the 2 second turbo lag before hitting the power curve was downright dangerous in traffic. I usually love your reviews but I think you missed pointing out these serious flaws in the AWD Taos. Perhaps the 8 speed transmission in the FWD would be smoother but you’d still have that horrible 2 second turbo lag!
Yeah your right, but i think thats why the recalled them… they fixed it, i know someone with the 7-speed and i think the problem is solved now. :)
We did not have any issue with this. The dual clutch drove like others in the VW family. Might have been worse before the recall but we didn't drive it then.
Great review Andrea! Good vehicle but looks a bit of boxing but the cargo spaces is excellent and gas mileage is not bad. I am surprise no gate lifter and no power seat. 👍🏻👍🏻👊🏻
So glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching 👌🚘☕
@@andreaspencer9813 You are an very welcome Andrea! Have a good one! 👍🏻
Cornflower blue you say?.....I like it.
That could work for van-life..has a lot of space but is still compact.
Every time I look at a VW I build the vehicle so it's close to the Audi alternative. I don't think I'd want this with so little HP so I built a Tiguan, then I looked at a Q3 Progressive. VW/Audi are so clever with their marketing/pricing. I've never looked at the Tiguan or Taos, how does the size compare to the new Q3?
The Taos is bigger than the Q3
@@andreaspencer9813 really? Are you talking about interior space because the Q3 is a tiny bit longer with it’s exterior dimensions. I haven’t sat in the Taos, or Tiguan. I have sat in the Q3 & Q5 and it feels quite close in size once they redesigned the Q3
@@kevinn1158 The Taos wheelbase is a tiny bit longer than the Q3 but the Q3 is less than an inch longer. The Taos offers more second row legroom, an extra 1.8 inches. It also wins in cargo capacity offering 65.9 cubic feet of space compared to the Q3 which has 48 cubic feet. As for the Q5 it is 7.7 inches longer than the Q3 and offers almost 2 inches more second row legroom.
@@andreaspencer9813 A shame the Taos, Tiguan and Q3 have such meh HP. They should all be offered with higher output engines as options. SQ3 anybody? ;)
As usual, excellent report.
What a dull car for me !
And also, it is incredible the number of SUV's VW has around the world : T-Cross, T-Roc, Taigo, Taos, Tiguan, Tiguan Allspace, Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, ID4, ID5, ID6, Touareg, Teramont...Maybe I forgot one... How do they manage that?
Salut from grey Paris.
Atlas and Terramont are the same.
I wish we got the T-Roc, such a great little unit.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.
@@Motormouth... Yes...
But we Europeans don't have the Taos!
@@michaelwiebe4282 Ah OK.
Keeping my 2021 Crosstrek Outdoor ..
It's a great SUV, I enjoyed driving it for a week.
6:21 I've heard that before.
Please review latest Jetta.
When will you guys be reviewing the new Golf R?
I want my car to be built by the Germans.
They are not , most cars are being built in Mexico just like the ford bronco sport
However, they are created and designed with German engineering.
I want mine to be designed and built by the Japanese. Reliability matters!
I watched another review say go with the fwd because the transmission is better.
e-CVT hybrid should be standard in this class of car. By-and-large, this type of buyer doesn’t have a clue (or care) what’s under the hood, and nothing beats the cost of ownership of a good e-CVT hybrid.
You can build out a AWD 'S' with driver assistance for under $30k. That's a screaming good value.
My understanding is that dual clutch trans. wear out just like a regular clutch. Is this true? If so,how much does it cost to repair/replace?
Yes and a lot
Nice car ♥️♥️ practical , affordable ,what more you want right ?
Right!
Better acceleration. Other reviewers also mentioned it feels peppy, but the data doesn't support that perception. Also, reliability is a crap shoot.
great revew and yes...waaaay too expensive
Great review, expensive top trim model!
Thanks for watching!
How about 2022 Kia Sportage SX Turbo it's still available👍
These subcompact suvs are getting WAYYYYYYY too expensive
CR reviewed it and said the powertrain was terrible and the testers were happy to be out of the car. They said the engine was slow to respond to the pedal and then suddenly the power would come on with a rush.
The early units were tested by some outlets and they reported issues, but there was a stop-sale order and an update/recall, our test unit was just fine.
@@Motormouth... thanks!
So the price point is almost exactly like the Tiguan, so I guess it is easy to say that the Tiguan price is going up. Too bad I was hoping that it was 3k less so my son could buy his first new car, he really wants a GTI.
I planned on buying this SUV I went to the dealer and looked at an SEL $35,000 however next to it was a Tiguan R Line SEL for $38,0000 for a few grand more I drove away with the Tiguan the Taos interior even in the SEL seemed cheap for a $35k suv
Yeah but you’ll need to make great friends with your service advisor because it will be in the shop regularly. I’ve had the worst luck with VW products!
I do not understand why VW has decided to stop selling the Golf in NA.
Maybe it's just me but all that exposed B-pillar on the interior makes it look cheap for what they're asking for this.
Taos or tuscon gas?
I always like VW manual seat adjustment, but my wife is 5'4" and I'm 6'2", so I couldn't go without memory seats at this point. Way too convenient!
Is this VW known as the T-Roc or T-Cross in Australia. And UK markets. We don't get the T-Roc R hot rod. Too close to Golf R in very high cost. Very nice colour and I like the Taos name. Cheers.
It’s a rebadged version of our SEAT Ateca in Europe. We also get the T-Roc and T-Cross which are both smaller
@@Pipsicle330 SEAT are coming back to Australia soon? Price and models to be announced. Supply will be a drama due to distance, closed borders etc.
Basically a Jetta with a hatchback?