Expert Reviews

2024 Volkswagen Taos Review

7.9
10
AutoTrader SCORE
This score is awarded by our team of expert reviewers after extensive testing of the car
  • STYLING
    8.0/10
  • Safety
    7.0/10
  • PRACTICALITY
    8.0/10
  • USER-FRIENDLINESS
    9.0/10
  • FEATURES
    8.0/10
  • POWER
    8.0/10
  • COMFORT
    8.0/10
  • DRIVING FEEL
    8.0/10
  • FUEL ECONOMY
    8.0/10
  • VALUE
    7.0/10

Without a wagon in its Canadian lineup, the 2024 Volkswagen Taos is the closest substitute.

It’s the smallest of VW’s crossovers, and the name rhymes with “house.” A redesigned version is coming for 2025, but in the meantime this version remains fun despite a couple of annoying habits.

It comes in the choice of four trims starting at $29,495 for the Trendline, including a non-negotiable delivery fee of $2,100. That base trim and the next-step-up Comfortline come in front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD), while the Comfortline Black Edition tested here comes only in the latter at $37,990 before tax. Finally, the lineup tops out with the Highline at $40,095.

Styling: 8/10

The Taos is a well-proportioned and handsome little thing; and while it might not be as noticeable as some of the sharp-angled models out there, its styling is likely to age more gracefully. The Comfortline rides 18-inch wheels that are sized up to 19 inches on the Black Edition, which makes the ride firmer. Inside, there’s too much gloss-black plastic for my liking — its main functions are to collect fingerprints and glare in the sun — but the design is sweet and solid, with a nice sweep to the dash and integration of the centre touchscreen.

Safety: 7/10

The 2024 Volkswagen Taos earned four out of five stars in crash-testing by the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). At the non-profit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), it earned “Good” in the original front moderate overlap and side tests, and the next-step-down “Acceptable” for the small front overlap crash. But it did much worse for its emergency front braking, earning “Marginal” for detecting pedestrians and “Poor” for a vehicle in front.

All trims include blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and the back-up camera that’s mandatory on all new vehicles sold in Canada. You have to move up to the Comfortline to get adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and automatic high-beam control. The Black Edition and Highline further add steering-responsive headlights.

Features: 8/10

The entry Trendline includes a 6.5-inch centre touchscreen with smartphone connectivity, eight-inch digital instrument cluster, push-button start, USB-C charging ports, heated seats and steering wheel, heated washer nozzles, and space-saver spare tire. The Comfortline adds tinted windows, remote starter, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone climate control, wireless phone connectivity,a  wireless charger, power driver’s seat, auto-dimming mirror, and faux-leather upholstery; and a panoramic sunroof can be added optionally.

In addition to the blacked-out trim accents as its name suggests, the Black Edition further includes that sunroof plus a 10.25-inch digital cluster and ambient interior lighting. The Highline tops it off with leather-clad ventilated sport seats, rear parking sensors, navigation, and a premium audio system.

User-Friendliness: 9/10

We’ll have to see if the upcoming makeover adds some of the annoyingly fiddly controls that Volkswagen has been putting into its vehicles, but for now the 2024 Taos remains refreshingly simple, and that helps reduce distraction. The climate system and other functions are handled by dials and buttons; and the touchscreen has simple menus and icons, along with a dial for stereo volume.

Practicality: 8/10

With 790 L of cargo volume, and up to 1,866 L when the 60/40 rear seats are folded down, the Taos outranks many of its competitors, where the Hyundai Kona has 723 L; the Toyota Corolla Cross offers 609 L; and the Subaru Crosstrek has a mere 564 L. Small-item space up front includes large door pockets and a shallow cubby on top of the dash.

Comfort: 8/10

The Comfortline trim lives up to its name. Although front-seat legroom isn’t as generous as some, and rear-seat space is about average, the Taos feels spacious enough. This tester’s ride was firm, and much of that was likely due to the Black Edition’s 19-inch wheels; I’d prefer the plain Comfortline with its 18-inch rims.

Power: 8/10

All Taos trims are powered by a turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder engine that makes 158 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. On FWD models, the transmission is an eight-speed automatic, while with AWD it’s a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. That’s an automatic unit that, as soon as it shifts into a gear, sets up the next one for quicker and more efficient shifts.

While that horsepower number isn’t huge, that’s more torque than many of its rivals, and that’s what gets a vehicle moving. The Taos feels peppy from a stop and has enough grunt to get around traffic at highway speeds. The AWD system primarily powers the front wheels, but can send up to 50 per cent of power to the rear as needed for traction.

Driving Feel: 8/10

The Taos has sharp, well-weighted steering and agile handling, and it’s a fun vehicle to take either on a twisty road or just through everyday traffic. However, I did find a couple of annoying habits. For one, the throttle is too twitchy, and it’s hard to move smoothly away from a stop. That dual-clutch transmission also has a tendency to be jerky, especially when it downshifts while you’re braking. That can often be inherent to these transmissions, no matter what auto brand it is. It didn’t happen all the time during this test, but it was annoying when it did.

Fuel Economy: 8/10

For the Taos in FWD, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) assigns a rating of 8.4 L/100 km in the city, 6.5 on the highway, and 7.5 in combined driving. For the AWD version, that increases to 9.9 city, 7.5 highway, and 8.8 combined. With a lot of highway driving, I averaged a respectable 8.1 L/100 km. It takes regular-grade gas.

The Taos is a bit thirstier than some of its AWD rivals but the difference isn’t huge. In combined driving, the Hyundai Kona rates 8.5 L/100 km; the Subaru Crosstrek is 8.5; and the Toyota Corolla Cross, in non-hybrid form, is 7.8.

Value: 7/10

The Taos is a fun little driver, but it’s not inexpensive. Models with FWD run from $29,295 to $33,495; and from $32,095 to $40,095 with AWD. 

By comparison, the Hyundai Kona starts at $27,949 in FWD and at $30,980 in AWD for its 169-hp version; and if you go to the N Line, in AWD only and 190 hp, it’s $37,499. The Toyota Corolla Cross, in non-hybrid, starts at $29,580 in FWD and $30,980 for AWD, and goes to $37,880. The Subaru Crosstrek, in AWD only, runs from $31,290 to $40,290.

The Verdict

A made-over Taos is coming for 2025, but in the meantime, the 2024 is a fun driver, and with a cargo-practical side despite its small size. It’s good-looking and comfortable, but it does have a couple of blips. You’ll have to test-drive it thoroughly to see if it’s going to work for you.

Competitors
Specifications
Engine Displacement 1.5L
Engine Cylinders Turbo I4
Peak Horsepower 158 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Peak Torque 184 lb-ft @ 1,750 rpm
Fuel Economy 9.9/7.5/8.8 L/100 km city, highway, combined
Cargo Space 790 / 1,866 L seats up/down
Model Tested 2024 Volkswagen Taos Comfortline Black Edition
Base Price $35,890
A/C Tax $100
Destination Fee $2,100
Price as Tested $38,090
Optional Equipment
None