2022 Volkswagen Taos

With the all-new 2022 Volkswagen Taos, VW is filling out its SUV lineup with a new entry-level model that provides more style, interior room and driving satisfaction than many rivals. Smaller and more affordable than the automaker's Tiguan, the Taos is sized and priced to compete against the likes of the Honda HR-V and Mazda CX-30.

The Taos is impressive from the moment you sit inside. All Taos models come standard with a digital instrument cluster that can be customized to display anything from the song that's playing to turn-by-turn directions, whether from the navigation system or from your phone via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone integration. There's also some nice-looking materials, roomy seating and lots of cargo space for a little SUV.

Overall, we think Volkswagen has a compelling SUV on its hands. The Taos offers comparable sophistication and not much of a trade-off in cargo space compared to its Tiguan stablemate, but at a lower price. Check out our Expert Rating below for more detail on what our test team has found to be the Taos' strengths and weaknesses

Volkswagen's smallest SUV is a big deal. The Taos packs in plenty of modern tech and safety features into a tidy package. It also has excellent passenger and cargo space. The transmission makes lazy or awkward gear shifts at times, but that's pretty much the vehicle's only weakness. Overall this is one of the most well-rounded and family-friendly offerings in the class.

How does the Taos drive? We were surprised to find the Taos, one of the larger SUVs in this diminutive class, is also one of the quickest. Credit goes to a fairly high-strung turbocharged four-cylinder engine that whooshes and hisses its way to 60 mph in a respectable 7.8 seconds. That speed, however, is only really achievable if you use the Taos' launch control, which we imagine few owners will. Launch control is a feature typically reserved for sports cars, so naturally it's a bit out of place here. We were equally surprised by how stable and confident the Taos felt under hard panic braking, yet it cruises easily to a smooth stop in less hectic situations.

The Taos handles around corners quite impressively as well, with well-controlled body roll and accurate steering. In fact, the Taos scores high marks in every driving aspect except what's possibly the most important for this class: drivability. The combination of that high-strung engine and moderately unresponsive seven-speed transmission makes for a jerky affair. Power surges and gear shifts can often feel delayed or clunky, making it difficult to enjoy driving at slow stop- and-go speeds.

How comfortable is the Taos? When it comes to cabin comfort, the Taos does it pretty well. The front seats have a sporty shape and offer surprisingly good support despite not having all the range of adjustments we would've liked. The climate control is easy to use and effective at distributing air flow to the entire cabin. We especially love the powerful ventilated front seats, which worked wonders on some warmer days.

The Taos suspension leans a little firm and doesn't isolate bumps in the road as well as some other cars we tested, but it's also not so harsh that we'd have second thoughts recommending it for that reason. We also experienced a fair amount of ambient noise, which isn't uncommon for this class.

How’s the interior? The interior is one of the best in the class, from the ease in which you can step in and out of the large door openings to the generous passenger space. The Taos almost feels like a class size up compared to its competition. Outward visibility is excellent thanks to square windows and good mirror coverage, and we had no issue reaching any of the controls from the driver's seat.

Some of Volkswagen's newest infotainment systems have been flops. Thankfully the Taos keeps things a bit simpler, limiting the touch-sensitive buttons. This approach makes a huge difference in usability. Touch controls can be great when they work, but most can't compare to good ole physical buttons and knobs when you want to minimize distraction.

How’s the tech? Thankfully, some of the latest VW touch-base controls did not make it to the Taos. What did make it is a punchy Beats sound system that delivers more bass than what we found comfortable for daily use (in a good way). Our higher trim model also had an onboard nav system that was a tad laggy but had a nice user interface. We really like that you can display the map in the center of the driver's gauge cluster as well.

Our vehicle had a total of three USB-C ports to plug devices in, plus a wireless charger and a 12-volt outlet. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration via USB is standard and steps up to wireless connectivity on the midtier SE model and above. A full suite of advanced driver aids is offered on all trims, and sensible pricing makes it a no-brainer option. Most of the aids worked well, though even the adaptive cruise control at times got tripped up at lower speeds by the clunky engine and transmission.How’s the storage? The shape and size of the Taos mean it's able to maximize interior space. With 27.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, the Taos is class-leading. The rear seats have a center pass-through and the usual 60/40 split, and they fold down mostly flat, leaving about a 2-inch level change from the cargo floor. The release levers are on the seats but are close enough to reach if you're standing at the rear hatch.

Storage options in the passenger section of the cabin are pretty good. The front door pockets are generously sized, cupholders have an anti-tip design to keep your drinks upright, and the squarish cubby under the center armrest has some depth to it to make up for its shorter length.

Because the Taos is on the larger side of the segment, there's more space for car seats. But it's the small touches we noticed too, including sleeker-looking car seat anchor covers and well-positioned top tether anchors for easy access. This is definitely one of the more family-friendly options in the class.