Twenty years ago, you could count on Volkswagen to deliver a car that just felt a cut above most of the mainstream competition when it came to composure and luxury, a touch of European sophistication on the North American landscape. Now though, casual observers might draw the conclusion that the brand’s entirely different. Or is it? It seems that VW still makes a small car that feels nicer than much of its immediate competition, it’s just not a Golf. It’s the Volkswagen Taos, and this mature, refined subcompact crossover is getting a facelift
It turns out that the audacity of the Big Three around the time of the fuel crisis was half-right — given the choice, Americans simply won’t buy hatchbacks in massive numbers. However, lift that hatchback up, stick on some cladding, and call it a crossover utility vehicle, and you’ll be pretty much printing money. That’s why America doesn’t get a regular Golf anymore, but we do get the Volkswagen Taos, and it’s just been updated for 2025 to offer an even better showroom impression.
Approaching the updated Volkswagen Taos, you’ll find a new face with less of a void than the outgoing model. Don’t get me wrong, the new lower grille is large enough to qualify as a studio apartment, but the addition of some painted space to break up the upper and lower elements is welcome, more angular headlights add a bit of purpose, and the whole fascia’s been cleaned up to appear less busy. Even with the somewhat tacky optional full-width light bar, this new front end works. Sometimes, rhinoplasty is for the best.
Other exterior changes are more moderate but also definite improvements. The Taos wordmark on the lower edge of the tailgate always struck me as odd, but Volkswagen’s now distracted the eye with a new full-width taillight that works pretty well. Speaking of eye-catching, how about that Serrano Green paint? Isn’t it excellent? A bold metallic green that pops like sparkling water in the sunlight is just what we need to cleanse our palate of all-grey everything.
Under the hood, you’ll still find a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, although Volkswagen’s turned some work on it. New piston rings and fuel injectors combine with a new turbocharger housing, a larger intercooler, and a planet-friendly gasoline particulate filter to boost output from 158 horsepower to 174. Yep, that’s an upgrade. The switch from a seven-speed DCT to an eight-speed conventional automatic on all-wheel-drive models will likely be more controversial, although DCT servicing can get expensive, so for the average buyer, a regular automatic is likely a better, simpler option.
On the inside, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. The capacitive-touch climate controls have the potential to be a bit aggravating, but Volkswagen is making a fuss about more sound insulation, and considering the outgoing Taos was already quite refined for its class, these new acoustic upgrades sound tantalizing. Also exciting? You’ll be able to spec the Taos with blue leather. Blue!
Overall, the Volkswagen Taos seems to be entering 2025 in a better position than it’s leaving 2024 in, thanks to a sharper face, more power, and some great new shades. Expect the updated model to arrive on dealer lots early in the new year, with pricing to roll out between now and then.
(Photo credits: Volkswagen)
Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member.
-
The 2025 Volkswagen Jetta: Are We Sure This Is An Improvement?
-
Volkswagen Atlas Owners Are Suffering Weird ‘Static’ Screen Failures
-
The Retro Volkswagen ID. Buzz Starts At $61,545 And Overall, That Ain’t Too Bad
-
Volkswagen Is Running Zero Percent Financing For 72 Months On Its ID.4 Electric Crossover, But There’s A Catch
-
For Two Years Only, Volkswagen Turned The Arteon Sedan Into A 300-Horsepower Rocketship With The Golf R’s DSG Transmission
Got a hot tip? Send it to us here. Or check out the stories on our homepage.
The paint and the bump in power genuinely interested me, until I saw the capacitive HVAC controls. Behind the turn signal, steering wheel, and volume controls, by far the thing I touch the most is the HVAC. There’s no reason for it not to be a knob.
I can’t believe how bad these look. I keep thinking they’re cheap aftermarket parts, and then realize they’re factory. I think the problem is they’re not continuous so they look like someone slapped a couple of LED light strips on the front of the car as opposed to professionally designing the car for them. In fact, I’m curious if Adrian has any thoughts about that.
This is the last time you’ll see one of these in that green because dealers won’t order them in that color.
Are gas particulate filters a thing now? Are they going to be as problematic as diesel ones? Recently the recommendation has been to get gas instead of diesel if you make a lot of short trips because when you don’t get the engine up to temp it tends to clog DPFs. If that becomes an issue on gas engines too I don’t know what we’re going to do. Go PHEV, I guess?
The capacitive controls make this a hard pass anyway.
Love the green. And the power bump.
Now give us a Taos GTI, cowards.
I was just thinking “This would be a pretty rad GTI model”!
I want that paint. Not the vehicle at all, but the paint. More green is always appreciated.
The green is great too bad it’s on a VW.
I am all for the new color options. I do wish they’d be more widely available on anything but subcompact cars, but at least it is a start. Too bad about the climate controls – it’s the same unit as in the Tiguan now, and it used to be the really decent old-school one that VW put in all their cars 10 years ago.
I’ve never driven a Taos but I always hated the front and rear styling. This is certainly an improvement over the outgoing design. I’m still bitter about VW not selling the “normal” golf in the USA, as my family has had three generations of them, including a wagon version.
I’m not usually a fan of green cars, but I have to say that colour looks fantastic on that thing. Just picture the sun hitting it while it’s parked on the side of the road waiting for the tow truck. Beautiful
It really needs less shiny on the dashboard. If they replaced that silver/piano black crap with some nice fabric it would instantly look $10k more expensive.
I like the green color… unlikely that you’ll be able to find one at a dealership. Also unlikely that I would drive past the Honda with the a row of CRVs out front to purchase a Taos.
The Taos competes against the HRV
Honda dealerships are adding $6,000 markups to HRVs and CRvs. If VW was not adding a markup that would be enough for me to consider one.
The problem is that it’s still a boring, tame crossover, just a nicer color.
I’m most certainly pro-blue leather, and maybe the switch from DCT to torque converter will nudge that pesky Consumer Reports reliability ranking up from second-worst, just ahead of the Pacifica Hybrid.
It’s also going to come in Monterey Blue Pearl like the new Jetta, which looks like a shade between the old VW Silk Blue and current Blue Dusk.
The switch to a conventional automatic is a great decision. DCTs have no place in commuter cars. They’re clunky in stop and go traffic, more complex, and you really only reap the benefits of them when driving at 7/10ths or beyond which will literally never happen in a Taos. Hopefully Hyundai and Kia get their DCT out of the damn Santa Fe/Sorento, because it’s causing a world of issues.
I also see steering wheel BUTTONS! WOW VW, I didn’t think you had it in you. The haptic climate bullshit sucks but at least it has its own dedicated panel. It seems like we’re never escaping this nonsense because it pleases the bean counters with MBA brain rot, so I think having its own separate panel is a decent compromise since you don’t have to go poking through the damn infotainment screen.
The light bars are stupid as hell but it’s what the normies want so what can you do. Honestly as far as VW goes this seems like a halfway decent update. I still wouldn’t buy one or recommend one…because VW, but for the people that like the brand this is probably appealing.
And like many VWs, wll be a pain in the ass in 50k or less.
I’d take the under on that. Mine was a pain in the first 3,000 miles and my sister had to get out of hers before it even hit 30k. My mom’s EA888 powered Allroad proved to be the stalwart of the family’s VAG products. It made it to 65,000 miles before the engine seized and it mechanically totaled itself.
Every one of mine was a continuous pain from leaving the dealership to dropping it off at end of lease. Never ever again.
I think VW makes some handsome SUV’s. I think the Atlas is pretty good looking and this certainly isn’t bad especially in green. Their SUV’s look tough without being overly aggro like a Kia or Toyota.
Except they’ve cheapened out on interior materials and added frustrating complexity when simple, clean ergonomics had always been their thing…
I agree. I’ve seen a few Atlases on the highway and I think 1–rare awesome VW car model name, and 2–wow, that looks surprisingly simple, direct, and overall good.