Consumer Reports Was Less Than Impressed With the 2022 Volkswagen Taos
Lisa Steuer McArdle
· 5 min read
According to a review from Consumer Reports, the 2022 Volkswagen Taos has some strengths, but may have too many weaknesses that outweigh the good on the
new car.
Consumer Reports admits that the Taos, which is the latest model from Volkswagen’s SUV line, has good SUV functionality and handling demeanor. But the review also says that the all-wheel drive version especially has an "obstreperous" powertrain with dual-clutch transmission—and an overly firm ride that could make you think twice before buying.
Here’s a summary of what Consumer Reports concluded after test driving the 2022 Volkswagen Taos 1.5T SEL FWD and the 1.5T SEL 4Motion (all-wheel drive).
Strengths of the 2022 Volkswagen Taos
The Taos reportedly has a spacious and comfortable cabin, with a cargo area that is a lot of room for a small vehicle.
The review noted that there is a lot of headroom in both the front and the rear, and also plenty of knee room and foot space in the back, and that the seats are comfortable.
The vehicle was also noted to have good outward visibility, with the driver having airy views around most of the cabin, which is pretty rare in vehicles today.
There are also plenty of user-friendly controls in the Taos that for the most part are easy to use. Consumer Reports also liked that the content of the fully digital instrument cluster can be chosen via the infotainment screen, rather than with often harder-to-use steering wheel controls.
The Taos is also said to have agile handling with quick and responsive steering and a quiet cabin. It did well on a road-course test track.
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Weaknesses of the 2022 Volkswagen Taos
But even with the positives, Consumer Reports also had plenty of negative things to say about the 2022 Volkswagen Taos.
For instance, the review pointed out that front-wheel drive models come with a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive models have a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic due to the "sportier demeanor," but reviewers didn’t notice such a benefit.
The all-wheel drive version reviewers tested also had a big initial delay when trying to accelerate from a stop. This was followed by an abrupt burst of power as the vehicle got going. This meant there was a near-inability to take off from a stop promptly and in a smooth fashion.
Reviewers also were not crazy about the fact that the cabin was filled with plastic pieces, even though the Taos seems to be put together well.
Reviewers also did not think that Taos’ ride quality was very good, which might have to do with the 19-inch wheels that come on the top-trim SEL all-wheel drive. It was noted that the 18-inch wheel-and-tire combo on the front-drive SEL helped to soften the ride experience a little bit, but it was still reportedly stiff compared to competitors.
Comparable vehicles to the 2022 Volkswagen Taos
Another negative aspect was the price. With the midlevel SE base price being $27,245, reviewers wondered why consumers wouldn’t just buy the larger Tiguan, which is priced at $27,395.
In fact, there are a few other similar alternatives that Consumer Reports ranked better. The Taos is about the same size as the Subaru Crosstrek.
To compare, Consumer Reports gave the Subaru Crosstrek an Overall Score of 84 out of 100, with high road test, predicted reliability, and predicted owner satisfaction ratings.
While the 2022 Volkswagen Taos did not yet have an Overall Score from Consumer Reports, the review noted that the Taos’ lack of safety features on the base model, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, and rear cross traffic warning, will ultimately hurt its score.
Meanwhile, Consumer Reports noted that the Subaru Crosstrek has responsive handling with a comfortable and controlled ride. In addition, emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance and adaptive cruise control are available as part of the Subaru EyeSight suite of safety features.
In addition, the Volkswagen Taos’ size does give buyers a choice, as it is larger than subcompacts like the Ford EcoSport, Hyundai Kona, and Mazda CX-30. But it is smaller than popular compact models such as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.
Overall feelings about the new SUV
In the end, Consumer Reports wasn't exactly thrilled with the 2022 Volkswagen Taos due to its unrefined powertrain and stiff ride.
However, this was only an initial expert assessment, and Consumer Reports plans to purchase a Taos for a full review.
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