It looks like Volkswagen has been taking our advice. The subcompact Volkswagen Taos crossover is getting a refresh that fixes a couple of our biggest gripes, keeps the things we liked, improves the styling, and adds to the already comprehensive driver assistance suite.
Our expert reviewers have spent time with the VW Taos on multiple occasions. Our biggest issues were under the hood, where we didn't like the dual-clutch automatic or the lack of horsepower. "Caught flat-footed," "jerky," "annoying." You get the picture.
For 2025, the seven-speed dual-clutch, or DSG, transmission is gone. VW said that buyers like its "sportiness" in the Golf GTI, but crossover buyers want something more conventional. Something that feels like everything else. So that's what it has delivered: a conventional eight-speed automatic that should feel smoother and more like everything else. The change only applies to 4Motion all-wheel drive models, because front-drive Taos (Taoses?) had the eight-speed all along.
The 2025 Taos still has a 1.5L four-cylinder turbocharged engine, but Volkswagen has beefed it up. Changes to the fuel injection and turbocharger systems mean the horsepower climbs from 158 hp to a more competitive 174. Fuel economy figures weren't released but they should stay close to the old engine's slightly below-class-average 9.5 L/100 km city, 7.4 highway as long as you don't spend too much time using every pony.
When the Taos first launched a few years back, Volkswagen was in the middle of a strange era of design. Huge grilles dominated the noses of their cars and crossovers. The Taos looked more like that final era of Passat than it did the old VW we expect. The facelift for 2025 changes that, giving it a closed-in upper nose and a lower grille that's still smaller-looking than before. It gives the 2025 Taos the sharper looks of the latest Golf GTI and Jetta models, which helps it look like it's a more expensive vehicle than it is. New and standard LED headlights help the effect and a new full-width rear LED light bar like the one on the Atlas doesn't hurt either.
A new 8.0-inch center screen is standard across the board. It's the same size as last year on high-grade models but an upgrade for the basic Trendline. The floating look won't win over everyone, but it's what VW did on the new Jetta as well. Dual-zone climate control is also standard, with VW's touch-sensitive sliders instead of real physical controls.
Travel Assist, VW's highway driving assistant, is now standard, so it has adaptive cruise and lane keeping. That joins Front Assist automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear traffic alert, and Emergency Assist.
Volkswagen hasn't announced pricing for the new model, which will arrive at dealers in early 2025. Expect it to stay close to the $27,395 (plus destination) cost of the 2024 model.
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