2025 VW Taos refreshed with additional power, design tweaks inside and out

Volkswagen of America is giving its smallest crossover — a critical entry point to the brand — a slight uptick in power, a more chiseled face and a revamped interior as part of a midcycle refresh.

The 2025 VW Taos gains a new front bumper design, a new grille with an available light bar and standard LED headlights.

The changes give the Taos a more muscular and squared-off front end that evokes the Atlas large crossover, VW's biggest vehicle.

At the rear are connected taillights and an illuminated VW badge, a detail also found on the Atlas and ID4 electric compact crossover.

Melinda Godec, product manager for the Taos, said at a media presentation she likes to call the small crossover a "baby Atlas" but added that it's slightly more affordable.

The Taos' 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine receives a slight boost in power, going from 158 hp to 174 hp. Updates to the engine include revised piston rings and fuel injectors, a modified turbo housing, a larger intercooler and a new gasoline particulate filter, VW said.

Taos models with all-wheel drive now have an eight-speed automatic transmission that replaces a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Customers complained that the old transmission was clunky, so VW removed it, Godec said. Front-wheel-drive models continue to have the eight-speed transmission.

A new dashboard design features a now standard 8-inch floating infotainment screen. VW has also added new acoustic dampening treatments to reduce cabin noise and vibration.

The top-of-the-line SEL trim level gains a new leather seat color option — dark blue. There are three new exterior colors and new wheel designs across S, SE and SEL trim levels.

Buyers will have the option to purchase a ChatGPT-integrated voice assistant subscription that VW calls Plus Speech. The subscription can be purchased through the myVW mobile app.

The Taos is smaller than the Tiguan compact crossover but the automaker still considers the Taos a compact. VW said it plans to show a redesigned Tiguan at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

In the subcompact crossover segment, dominated by the Chevrolet Trax, Subaru Crosstrek and Honda HR-V, U.S. sales of the Taos totaled 32,276 through the first half of the year, a gain of 19 percent. The Taos ranks 10th in sales among subcompact crossovers, according to the Automotive News Research & Data Center.

Sales of the Taos began in the second quarter of 2021. VW sold 31,682 in 2021 and deliveries nearly doubled in its first full year at 59,103 in 2022. Sales fell slightly to 58,889 in 2023.

VW said the refreshed Taos will arrive at U.S. dealerships by year-end, which means it will join the lineup just after the refreshed 2025 Jetta compact sedan goes on sale.

The German automaker has seen strong demand for both models but especially entry trim levels as consumers grapple with price increases and higher borrowing costs.

Pricing for the 2025 Taos will be released closer to launch, VW said. The 2024 Taos starts at $25,420, including shipping.

The Taos will continue to be built at VW's plant in Puebla, Mexico.