2023 Volkswagen Taos

While the USA might prefer its vehicles large and in charge, small crossover SUVs are remarkably popular, and the 2023 Volkswagen Taos hopes to carve out a portion of this market segment. Just like its competitors, the Honda HR-V and Subaru Crosstrek, the Taos is quite spacious and offers a commanding view of the road, all at an affordable price tag in the region of $25k. This also gets you a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine that makes 158 horsepower and a good smattering of tech, especially with the recent safety updates. However, in its haste to rush it to market, Volkswagen seems to have cut some corners, and it shows. Some American buyers may be willing to overlook this just to drive a car with a German badge, but savvy shoppers should take a closer look before deciding.

Don't let the fact that the 2023 Volkswagen Taos is German scare you off. The premium family SUV is competitively priced and won't completely ruin your bank balance. The base model will set you back $24,155, excluding tax, registration, and a destination fee of $1,295. That's only a few hundred dollars more than the Subaru Crosstrek and about $500 more than the Kia Seltos. The mid-range SE costs $28,925, and the range-topping AWD SEL goes for an MSRP of $35,830. Going for the AWD version with the seven-speed DSG transmission will add $2,340 to the asking price of the base model and $1,450 to the SE.

Modern subcompact SUVs have to be a lot of things in order to garner attention, considering how popular the segment is right now. Fun, comfort, and practicality need to be balanced out perfectly to earn a top spot in the rankings, but the Taos isn't quite as well-rounded as some of the competition. Where it does deliver is its comfortable ride quality and good road manners. The compact SUV is a people mover first and foremost, and this is where it shines.

Once it gets up to cruising speed on the highway, it is comfortable and easy to manage. Though that's not to say it can't be fun at times, and if you get the AWD model, you'll notice a marked improvement in traction and control. You can also shift to Sport mode to tighten up responses a bit. However, the suspension just isn't precise enough to deliver any real thrills, which is a pity since the Taos could have been the Golf of subcompact SUVs if Volkswagen had put in the effort.

It's clear that Volkswagen was careful to review its rivals when making the Taos, but it may have paid so much attention to what they were doing that it forgot what it is good at. After all, VW gave us one of the most enjoyable small cars on the road. The Taos, however, is somewhat forgettable. That's not to say that it's a bad car. In fact, it is quite good, with a spacious interior that is well-built and plenty of standard safety tech. It can even be a little spirited at times. However, it lacks a strong engine option to really capitalize on this, and it's not as much fun to drive as the Golf it effectively replaces. Perhaps a hybrid powerplant might solve some of these problems in the future. All in all, it's a nifty little car that has some good value, but it hasn't come into its own in the market just yet, and established rivals such as the Mazda CX-30 are still doing what it does better than the Taos can, for now.

If we had to choose, we'd go for the mid-range SE. It blends the best features into a single and affordable package. We'd stick with the standard FWD system unless you require more traction for inclement weather. Not only does this trim add luxuries such as an eight-way power driver seat with lumbar support and wireless phone charging, it also gives you upgraded headlights and rain-sensing front wipers. And for this model year, it includes the contents of the IQ.Drive package as standard.