Elevate Your Expectations: 2025 Volkswagen Taos First Drive Unveiled on a Budget-Friendly Scale
Volkswagen’s Budget-Friendly SUV: 2025 Taos Review
The United States is a country that loves its SUVs. Correction: it loves its three-row SUVs, trucks, and anything that resembles brawn. Actual cars? Well, they’re just not as popular. Volkswagen, however, has taken this American sensibility to heart by developing new vehicles specifically catering to our market. And that’s where the 2025 Volkswagen Taos comes in.
The Basics
This mid-cycle refresh brings a plethora of updates to the Taos, including a sleek LED light bar front and rear, a refined front fascia, and a more organized grille. The exterior design is now more upscale, while the side profile remains unchanged, carrying over a prominently sharp character line. The interior also gets a refresh, with amenities like cooled and heated front seats, a touchscreen infotainment system, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.
The Early Verdict
In the compact SUV segment, the Taos fits squarely in the middle of the pack. It’s not the priciest, nor is it the cheapest, but it doesn’t skimp on features either. You might not get a power-adjustable front passenger seat, but at least you can get it cooled and heated. The Taos is a sub-$27,000 basic transportation crossover that just so happens to have amenities befit of bigger and better vehicles. With that in mind, the Taos meets expectations.
Specs
Here are the key specs for the 2025 Volkswagen Taos:
- Base Price (SE Black 4Motion as tested): $26,420 ($33,725)
- Powertrain: 1.5-liter turbo-four | 8-speed automatic | front- or all-wheel drive
- Horsepower: 174
- Torque: 184 lb-ft
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Cargo Volume: FWD: 27.9 cubic feet behind second row | 65.9 cubic feet behind first row; AWD: 24.9 cubic feet behind second row | 60.2 cubic feet behind first row
- Curb Weight: 3,175 pounds
- EPA Fuel Economy: FWD: 28 mpg city | 36 highway | 31 combined; AWD: 25 mpg city | 33 highway | 28 combined
- Quick Take: Significant updates give the Taos an elevated look and feel, but its lack of hustle exposes a budget-minded demeanor.
- Score: 7.5/10
Conclusion
The 2025 Volkswagen Taos is a solid addition to the compact SUV segment. While it may not be the most exciting or feature-packed option, it’s a reliable and practical choice for those on a budget. With its updated exterior design, refined interior, and impressive fuel economy, the Taos is a great option for those looking for a no-frills, budget-friendly SUV.
