Taos Stands Out In A Crowded Field

The VW Taos offers a European take on the sub-compact SUV. Coming from a place where smaller vehicles are the norm, the Taos stands out in the U.S. market with a timeless appearance.  Its practical proportions provide more room and cargo space in a category where both are often in short supply. It is a lot of vehicle for the money, which you can find in plentiful supply at Volkswagen of Duluth.

Small with Honor

There is a dignity about the Taos that is often lacking in this category, which tends toward youthful flights of fancy. You find cleverness in the SEL trim and how the grille’s lower and middle chrome trim transforms into LED daytime running lights once they pass through the headlight lenses. All models display a rectilinear design exterior theme that promises to age well while creating plenty of space and a high driving position inside. Just a hair under 38 inches of rear legroom allows plenty of daylight between an adult’s knees and the front seatbacks. Further back, its 27.9 cubic feet of cargo space exceeds that of rivals from Honda, Toyota, Kia, Chevrolet, and others. With the rear seatbacks down, the space expands to 66 cubic feet. 

Notable Performance and Efficiency

Unlike some 3-cylinder models in the category, the Taos is powered by a proper 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 with 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. As Cars.com  describes it: “The drivetrain displayed a welcome responsiveness that was lacking in many of the other subcompact SUVs we tested, both off the line and at midrange speeds. Acceleration in the Taos was much brisker than in the lethargic Subaru Crosstrek or lifeless Honda HR-V.”

It is also thrifty with an EPA-estimated 28 city and 36 highway rating for FWD models and a corresponding 25 / 32 for AWD models, which beats the estimated efficiency of its Honda, Kia, and Chevrolet competitors.

Grace Under the Roof

The quality continues inside with a straightforward and businesslike dash design that features an integrated touchscreen as well as a Volkswagen’s Digital cockpit as standard on all trim levels. The standard cloth seating surfaces are heated for the front seats, with both vegan and cow-sourced leather available as an option. Other available features include an 8-way power driver’s seat, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof, configurable ambient lighting, wireless smartphone charging, and an 8-speaker Beats Audio system. All Taos models assist the driver with adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and blind spot monitoring. 

The best news for the budget-minded is that the Taos has a starting MSRP of $23,995, putting the Taos well within the reach of anyone shopping for a new vehicle. If that is you, check out the many Taos models available at Volkswagen of Duluth.