What Is the Smallest Volkswagen SUV?
The subcompact Taos is the smallest SUV that Volkswagen currently offers.
Written by Amber Reed
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
With seating for five and plenty of cargo room, the Volkswagen Taos is the smallest SUV made by the German automaker.
SUVs and SUV-styling may be all the rage now, but let’s face it: not everybody needs a big vehicle. In fact, there are definite advantages to a smaller ride, particularly if you live in a crowded city. The Volkswagen Taos is a subcompact SUV that affords plenty of space for an individual, couple, or small family, but still keeps a small enough profile so that you can snag one of those smaller parking spots with ease.
That said, the Taos isn’t the only minnow in the pond. Here to take a look at the Taos and a few other smaller SUVs is
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What’s the smallest SUV Volkswagen makes?
Weighing in at a curb weight of 3,244 pounds and measuring 176 inches long, 73 inches wide, and 64 inches tall, the Taos is the smallest entry among the 5 SUVs that Volkwagen currently offers. This unassuming little guy was rated an 8.5/10 by Car and Driver and selected as an Editors’ Choice for features like its generous cargo and passenger room and good fuel efficiency, at a combined EPA rating of 32 mpg.
With a wheelbase of 105.9 inches, leg room in the rear is just slightly less than its larger cousin the Tiguan, and it offers plenty of cargo space as well. There are 28 cubic feet of room with the seats up, and an ample 66 cubic feet is available with the seats down.
Buyers will be pleased to see that the Taos is on the small end of the spectrum when it comes to the price tag as well—the Taos starts at between $23,495 to $33,385, depending on which of the three trim levels you choose. Under the hood, you’ll find a serviceable 1.5-liter inline-four engine that’s capable of 158 horsepower and 184 lb/ft of torque.
If there’s any real downside to the Taos, it’s that it’s not super exciting to look at or to drive. But that being said, the better-than-average cargo room and fuel economy make a strong argument for substance over style.
Other small Volkswagen SUVs
Of the five SUVs total in Volkwagen’s lineup, four of them are in the small-to-medium range. Only the Atlas offers three rows of seating standard, so let’s take a quick look at the three other VW SUVs that are in the five-seater category.
It’s electric!: 2022 Volkswagen ID.4
Starting price: $37,495
Wheelbase: 108.9 inches
Seating capacity: Five
Not only is it just a hair larger than the Taos, the
ID.4
is also Volkswagen’s only currently-available electric vehicle. With room for five and a maximum range of 280 miles on a charge, the ID.4 will allow you to have more than one kind of small footprint.Middle of the pack: 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan
Starting price: $26,490
Wheelbase: 109.9 inches
Seating capacity: Five to seven
The
Volkswagen Tiguan
has a reputation for being a little more sporty and stylish than the Taos, and it also has a little bit more room in the back seat and the cargo area. The Tiguan is available in three trim levels and has a combined fuel economy of 28 mph. It’s interesting to note that the lowest trim level offers the option for a folding third row of seats, but the higher two levels don’t. Almost the biggest: 2022 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Starting price: $33,635
Wheelbase: 117.3 inches
Seating capacity: Five
The smaller version of its namesake, the
Atlas
, the Atlas Cross Sport
is a two-row SUV with room for five. It’s far more stylish than its big brother, and almost just as practical in terms of cargo space. However, some reviewers found the Atlas Cross Sport’s driving mannerisms to be less than stellar—especially when compared to rivals. RECOMMENDED
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The best alternatives to Volkswagen’s smallest SUV
If you’re not sure that one of Volkswagen’s small wagons is for you, there are plenty of other options in the subcompact/compact SUV sphere. Let’s take a look at three highly-rated rivals and see how they measure up.
Happy little Hyundai: 2022 Hyundai Kona
The value-packed
Hyundai Kona
has a starting price between $22,595 and $29,895, and it consistently ranks high on the list of small SUVs. The Kona has quite a bit less cargo room than the Taos—19 cubic feet with the seats up and 45.8 cubic feet with the seats down. But what it lacks in space, it can make up for in spice: the higher trim levels have the option to upgrade to a turbocharged inline-four engine that kicks out 195 horsepower, making for some delightfully zippy driving. If sportiness is more of a priority than cargo room for you, the Kona is definitely one to consider.
There’s always a Mazda: 2022 Mazda CX-30
There’s a reason why Mazdas appear on so many “best of” lists: they’re affordable, reliable, feature-rich, and have an overall feel that’s way posher than the price tag would suggest. The Mazda CX is no exception—even the base level model is nicely equipped at $23,725.
All-wheel drive is standard across the board, which makes this a good choice for drivers who actually need some SUV functionality in a vehicle. The upper trim levels have an option to upgrade the engine as well, so those who want a bit more oomph can have it. The highest trim level starts at $35,925 and comes loaded with features to let you live large in your little Mazda.
Feel the funk: 2022 Kia Soul
Another highly ranked entry is the
Kia Soul
, whose boxy profile kind of falls in the “love it or hate it” category. The cargo space is good and the passenger space is generous, and at a starting price of $20,585, it’s certainly big on value. It should be noted that the rear seats don’t fold flat, which may or may not be an issue depending on what you plan on toting around. There are six trim levels available, and the highest one starts at just under $30,000, so you can maximize your options and performance here without overextending your budget. On the other hand, four-wheel drive is not available, and driver assistance features don’t come standard, so if those are important to you in an SUV, you probably won’t be feeling the Soul.
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