2022 VW Taos: A Golf in a crossover wrapper

Volkswagen, like other automakers, is doubling down on small crossovers with the 2022 Taos, a complement to the Tiguan. The Taos is powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four engine — the same as in the Jetta sedan — that produces 158 hp and 184 pound-feet of torque. It is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission in front-wheel-drive versions or a seven-speed automatic when equipped with available all-wheel drive. Taos pricing starts at $24,190, including shipping — at least $2,500 cheaper than the 2022 Tiguan. We've collected some early reviews of the Taos from the automotive press.

"The Taos' exterior is a tidy balance of the current Tiguan mixed with the more rounded styling of the ID.4 electric crossover. The fascia adopts squarish headlights and Volkswagen's latest grille, which high-end models, like our all-wheel-drive SEL tester, highlight with an LED strip. The back is attractive, but simple, drawing heavier inspiration from the Tiguan, and we dig the little 'TAOS' wordmark under the license plate cutout. Finished in VW's classic Cornflower Blue, our tester is a handsome thing, hiding a surprising amount of car in a tidy, crossover footprint.

"At 175.8 inches long and riding on a 105.9-inch wheelbase, the Taos isn't a dramatic increase in size over the outgoing Golf. In fact, it sits neatly between the 167.6-inch five-door hatchback and the 185.1-inch Tiguan, with a wheelbase that's just 2.1 inches longer than its spiritual predecessor. This neat balance between compact crossover and compact hatchback gives the Taos a best-of-both-worlds feel.

"On the road, the Taos is easy to place in a lane, but it doesn't feel frighteningly small when driving alongside a 1-ton pickup truck. If your immediate reaction to a Golf is that it's a little too petite or low to the ground, the Taos assuages your concerns without forcing you into an oversized product. That the Taos is more like a Golf to throw around doesn't hurt either."

— Brandon Turkus, Motor1.com

"Handling ... disappointed us to a degree. Maybe it's because we're old enough to remember the 'Drivers Wanted' campaign, but we tend to hold VW to a higher handling standard, and the new 2022 Taos doesn't quite meet it. The precise steering shows great promise, but the Taos feels floaty when driven hard. And like its larger cousin, the Tiguan, it doesn't do a great job of ironing out bumps at higher speeds. The combination of a tall driving position and soft suspension exacerbates the sensation of body lean.

"The all-wheel-drive Taos gets an independent rear suspension in place of the front-driver's twist-beam axle. It feels a hair's width more buttoned down than the front-drive setup, and offers a bit more grip before yielding to understeer, but the two versions largely delivered a similar feel. The sad part is, we drove an all-wheel-drive prototype with a better suspension tune, one that handled better yet still maintained a perfectly comfortable ride. Why couldn't we get that version? We can understand why Volkswagen would tune the Taos' suspension for comfort and compliance — no rock-hard cheap-crossover ride here; it's all part of the up-market feel — but that doesn't mean we like it. ...

"So, the Taos is expensive, the all-wheel-drive version is a bit unruly, and the handling isn't quite what we hoped for. Still, the Taos has its bright spots: We like its room, refinement, and comfortable ride. The Taos S delivers reasonable value if you don't cheap out on that safety package, and the front-drive Taos SE provides a nice level of equipment, though it's pretty pricey compared to its rivals. If you're looking for all-wheel drive or top-end trim, though, both you and your bank balance will likely be happier with one of the Taos' competitors. The 2022 Volkswagen Taos has size on its side, but it's not quite the subcompact SUV we expected."

— Aaron Gold, Motor Trend

"Powering the Taos is a new 1.5-liter version of the EA211 turbocharged inline-four — a 1.4-liter EA211 is found in the Jetta sedan. Aided by the boost of a variable-geometry turbocharger, the engine purrs willingly to its 6000-rpm redline and produces a respectable-if-not-quite-spirited 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, the latter from just 1750 rpm. That's less grunt than you'll get from a top-spec 175-hp Seltos 1.6T or a 250-hp Mazda CX-30 Turbo, but it's perfectly adequate for casually merging onto highways. Standard front-wheel-drive models pair the turbo-four with a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel-drive versions get a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, which VW calls a direct-shift gearbox (DSG). The company says this split allowed it to focus both on greater fuel efficiency with the eight-speed and a sportier driving character with the dual clutch.
"Indeed, the front-driver is the fuel miser's choice, earning an EPA combined estimate of 31 mpg, versus 28 mpg for all-wheel-drive models. But the DSG isn't as convincing in its role as a sporty transmission. While its shifts are generally quick and well-coordinated at speed, it lacks the eight-speed's unobtrusive smoothness, being relatively clumsy around town and under quick on-off-on throttle applications. Only all-wheel-drive variants get a drive-mode selector with Normal, Eco, Sport, and Individual settings, but even in its most aggressive mode the dual clutch hesitates between upshifts when accelerating briskly. There are no steering-wheel paddle shifters, so we mostly let the DSG pick its own gears rather than use the shifter's sluggish manual gate."

— Mike Sutton, Car and Driver

"Beyond its highly functional interior, the Taos has an impressive list of standard and optional equipment across all three trim levels. The base S model comes with front-wheel drive, the aforementioned torsion beam rear suspension, 17-inch wheels, a 6.5-inch central display screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a digital gauge cluster. The front-wheel drive S starts at $24,090 (or a $199 monthly lease option), with an all-wheel-drive version with heated seats and multiple driving modes offered for $26,135. The mid-level SE adds 18-inch wheels, an 8-inch central display, wireless phone charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 6-speaker audio system, remote engine start, leatherette seating, SiriusXM radio and a power driver's seat for $28,340 with FWD or $29,790 with AWD. ...
"As a Golf replacement, the 2022 Volkswagen Taos' SUV styling, combined with a spacious and functional interior, will offer greater appeal to U.S. buyers. We wish it had a bit more power, and some of the interior surfaces felt a little low cost, but its feature list, price and driving dynamics make it an appealing candidate in the ever-popular small SUV segment. Volkswagen's fortunes have increased with each new SUV introduced over the past few years, and the Taos will continue that trend."

— Karl Brauer, Forbes.com

brk"With its multilink rear suspension, the all-wheel-drive Taos has a much more composed ride. An extra Sport mode also switches up the logic of the seven-speed DCT that really perks up the powertrain. All told, I have to say, the AWD Taos is surprisingly fun to drive. So much so that it might be my new favorite model in the affordable compact space.
"VW's handling course is best handled in third gear and Sport mode keeps the transmission from upshifting while braking for a turn. The AWD system sends power to the rear to give the back wheels extra grip and the more advanced multilink design means the suspension keeps body motions largely in check. I mean, sure, there's some body roll, but really just to show you where the Taos' limits are. The quick steering has instant response and the brakes feel solid and linear, allowing me to brake fairly late before entering hairpin turns."
— Emme Hall, Road Show by CNET