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2022 Volkswagen Taos first drive review: VW's little SUV is a big hit

After a brief first drive in Volkswagen's new Taos, we're pretty impressed with this compact crossover SUV.

Emme Hall Former editor for CNET Cars
I love two-seater, RWD convertibles and own a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata for pavement fun and a lifted 2001 Miata for pre-running. I race air-cooled Volkswagens in desert races like the Mint 400 and the Baja 1000. I have won the Rebelle Rally, seven-day navigational challenge, twice and I am the only driver to compete in an EV, the Rivian R1T.
Emme Hall
4 min read

Compact and subcompact crossover SUVs are red-hot right now and  arguably been a little late to the game in this regard, at least on the smaller, more affordable end of the market. But that's finally changing with the introduction of the 2022 Taos. Smaller than a , the Taos is aimed at folks who want a compact vehicle with lots of space inside, all for an affordable price.

The Taos measures 175.8 inches long, which is 9.3 inches shorter than the Tiguan. The Taos' wheelbase is 4 inches shorter than the Tiguan's and, while the two SUVs are nearly identical in width, the Taos is 2 inches shorter in height. Still, the Taos is a lot bigger than other small crossovers like the and . Instead, the Taos is closer in size to 'tweeners like the and .

Open the doors, and you'll find that the Taos is almost as roomy as its larger sibling, with 99.5 cubic feet of passenger space compared to the Tiggy's 101.1. The back seat has plenty of room for taller riders, with a 6-foot-tall passenger easily able to sit behind me when the driver seat is set for my 5-foot, 9-inch frame.

2022 VW Taos is a budget-friendly, good-looking crossover

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Overall, the cabin's design is pretty straightforward and the materials are about average for the entry-level compact SUV class, no major pluses or demerits. The Taos has 28 cubic feet of space behind its rear seats or 66 cubic feet when they're folded flat, which is more than the and Subaru Crosstrek, but less than the Hyundai Tucson.

Volkswagen's latest MIB 3 infotainment is standard, housed on an 8-inch touchscreen display, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included. A larger 10.3-inch screen is available on higher trims and here, CarPlay can run wirelessly.

Stepping outside, the Taos' face falls in line with VW's latest design trends. It gets a full-width running light bar like the one on the new ID 4 electric, bringing a little more visual interest to this otherwise staid fascia. With its short overhangs and upright design, the Taos' proportions are great. I really like it, save for the fake exhaust outlets at the rear. A quick peek under the car reveals the real outlets tucked up under the rear driver's side. Why companies continue to do this is beyond me -- the aerodynamic benefits can't be that substantial.

When it goes on sale this summer, the Taos will be offered in S, SE and SEL trims, all with front-wheel drive. An all-wheel-drive version will follow a few months later. All Taos models will be powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged I4 engine derived from the 1.4-liter engine in the . The new 1.5 has special thermal coating on the cylinders to reduce friction, as well as a variable turbocharger for more appropriate application of boost.

2022 Volkswagen Taos - interior
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2022 Volkswagen Taos - interior

Volkswagen's MIB 3 infotainment tech is housed on an 8-inch touchscreen.

Volkswagen

The end result is 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. That's an increase of 11 hp but an identical amount of torque to the Jetta's 1.4T, but in the Taos, that twist is delivered lower in the engine's rev range, for smoother and more immediate thrust.

The front-wheel-drive Taos has an eight-speed automatic transmission and less-sophisticated torsion beam rear suspension setup. On a handling course at VW's Arizona Proving Grounds, I find that the FWD Taos is... fine, completing the slalom's dry-pavement Moose Test with aplomb. But the 4Motion AWD Taos is where it's at.

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.

2022 Volkswagen Taos - rear 3/4 view
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2022 Volkswagen Taos - rear 3/4 view

The 2022 VW Taos goes on sale this summer.

Volkswagen

Will most buyers care about these sporty driving characteristics? Probably not. Instead, they'll likely be impressed with how smooth the AWD Taos feels while driving on a rough road. It's better than the FWD version here, again thanks to the better rear suspension, and while it certainly isn't what I'd call serene, the Taos has a level of composure that's hard to find in the subcompact SUV class.

Considering the breadth of this segment, that's a bold claim, but when my colleague Steven Ewing drove a Taos prototype last year, he found it quite easy to be frugal in this compact crossover.

According to EPA estimates, front-drive Tiguan models can expect to achieve up to 36 mpg freeway, 28 mpg city and 31 mpg combined. Opting for the 4Motion AWD driveline that I prefer, efficiency takes a surprisingly big hit: mpg tumbles to 32 highway, 25 city and 28 combined.

Volkswagen's new IQ Drive suite of driver-assistance features will be available on every Taos, including forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist and full-speed adaptive cruise control. The key word here is "available," however -- while some compact crossovers offer many of these features as standard equipment, they're optional on the Taos.

The company will release full pricing closer to when the Taos hits dealers in a few months, but look for it to start in the low-to-mid-$20,000 range. Sized right, priced right and remarkably nice to drive, I think VW has a real hit on its hands.