It was drizzling when I picked up the keys to the 2025 Volkswagen Taos SEL 4Motion, the kind of dreary Pacific Northwest morning that makes you appreciate good windshield wipers and a reliable defroster. The Atlantic Blue metallic paint caught what little light filtered through the clouds, giving the compact SUV a more premium appearance than its price tag might suggest.
“They’ve refreshed the front end a bit,” mentioned Karen, the fleet manager, as she handed over the key fob. “Not dramatic, but you can tell they’re trying to keep up with the Koreans.”
She wasn’t wrong. The 2025 model year brings subtle but noticeable updates to VW’s smallest SUV offering in North America. The front fascia sports a slightly more aggressive look with redesigned LED headlights that now come standard across all trim levels. The grille has been tweaked to better align with VW’s current design language – more horizontal elements that emphasize width rather than height.
Walking around the vehicle, I noticed how the 18-inch alloy wheels on the SEL trim (up from 17-inch on the previous model) fill the wheel arches more confidently. The slightly wider stance – VW has added about 0.8 inches to the track width – gives the Taos a more planted look without changing the overall dimensions that make it so city-friendly.
Slipping into the driver’s seat, I immediately noticed the improved materials. My last encounter with a Taos was a 2023 model, and the difference is tangible – literally. The dash now features more soft-touch surfaces, and the leather-wrapped steering wheel feels properly premium. VW has clearly been listening to feedback about interior quality.
Living Space: Compact Outside, Expansive Inside
One of the Taos’s strongest selling points has always been its incredible space efficiency, and the 2025 model doubles down on this strength. Despite competing in the subcompact SUV segment, the Taos continues to offer interior volume that rivals vehicles a class above.
After adjusting the driver’s seat to my 6’1″ frame, I climbed into the back seat and found – to my continued amazement – that I could sit behind “myself” with several inches of knee room to spare. This isn’t just good for the class; it’s genuinely impressive for any vehicle this size.
My neighbor Tom, who owns a Honda CR-V, couldn’t believe the back seat space when I showed him. “My CR-V costs five grand more, and I’m not sure it’s any roomier back there,” he remarked, shaking his head.
The cargo area maintains its generous 27.9 cubic feet behind the second row – enough room that I could fit two large suitcases, a duffel bag, and my camera equipment without playing Tetris. Fold the seats down, and you get 65.9 cubic feet, which proved sufficient for a spontaneous IKEA run that included a bookshelf and side table.
What impresses me most about the Taos’s packaging isn’t just the raw numbers – it’s how usable the space is. The rear seats fold nearly flat, the load floor is at a convenient height, and there’s minimal intrusion from the wheel wells. These are the details that make living with a vehicle day-to-day either a pleasure or a pain, and VW has clearly sweated the small stuff.
Tech Talk: Finally Up to Speed
If there was one area where previous Taos models felt behind the curve, it was technology. The 2025 refresh addresses this head-on with several meaningful upgrades.
The most obvious change is the new infotainment system. Gone is the somewhat laggy 8-inch display, replaced by a more responsive 10.3-inch touchscreen running VW’s latest software. The graphics are sharper, the menus more intuitive, and – hallelujah – physical volume and tuning knobs have returned after customer feedback.
“We heard you,” said Mark, the VW product specialist I spoke with at a local event. “People want screens, but they also want to adjust their volume without taking their eyes off the road.”
The digital cockpit display (standard on SEL models) has also been upgraded to a 10.25-inch unit with better resolution and customization options. You can now configure it to show navigation, media, driver assistance, or traditional gauges in various combinations.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across all trims, and they worked flawlessly during my week with the car. I particularly appreciated the wireless charging pad, which has been repositioned and now includes a cooling function to prevent phone overheating during extended navigation sessions – a small but thoughtful upgrade.
The SEL trim includes a 9-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, new for 2025, which represents a significant improvement over the previous model’s somewhat tinny-sounding setup. It won’t blow away audiophiles, but it handles everything from podcast voices to bass-heavy tracks with clarity and reasonable punch.
One tech feature that remains frustrating is the touch-sensitive climate controls. While they’re better integrated into the dashboard design for 2025, they still require you to look down to adjust temperature or fan speed. On a bumpy back road, I found myself accidentally cranking the heat when I meant to increase the fan speed. Some functions are better served by physical knobs, and climate control is definitely one of them.
Under the Hood: Evolution, Not Revolution
Pop the hood of the 2025 Taos, and you’ll find a familiar face: the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that’s been powering the model since its introduction. Output remains at 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque – perfectly adequate numbers for this class, if not particularly exciting.
What has changed is the transmission in the 4Motion all-wheel-drive models like my test vehicle. Previously paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, the AWD Taos now uses an eight-speed traditional automatic that VW claims improves both efficiency and refinement.
During my week with the car, I found the new transmission to be a mixed bag. It’s certainly smoother in stop-and-go traffic, eliminating the occasional hesitation that the dual-clutch exhibited at low speeds. However, it’s also less responsive when you want immediate acceleration, taking a beat longer to downshift when you put your foot down.
Fuel economy has improved slightly, with the AWD model now rated at 25 mpg city, 32 highway, and 28 combined – up 1 mpg across the board from last year. During my testing, which included a mix of city driving, highway cruising, and some spirited back-road exploration, I averaged 27.3 mpg according to the trip computer – impressively close to the EPA combined figure.
The 4Motion all-wheel-drive system remains one of the more sophisticated setups in this class, able to send power to the rear wheels proactively rather than waiting for the front wheels to slip. On a muddy forest service road, the Taos maintained traction where some competitors might have struggled, though it’s still no proper off-roader.
Perhaps the most noticeable mechanical improvement for 2025 is the retuned suspension. VW has stiffened the front anti-roll bar and adjusted the damping rates, resulting in more controlled body motions without sacrificing ride quality. The Taos now feels more composed on winding roads while still soaking up potholes and expansion joints with German thoroughness.
Behind the Wheel: The Daily Grind and Weekend Fun
Living with the Taos for a week gave me ample opportunity to experience it in various conditions. For daily commuting duties, it’s hard to fault. The seating position is spot-on – high enough for good visibility but not so tall that you feel perched atop the vehicle. Outward visibility is excellent thanks to reasonably slim pillars and large side mirrors.
The engine’s modest output numbers don’t tell the whole story. With peak torque available from just 1,750 rpm, the Taos feels peppy around town, with enough grunt to dart into gaps in traffic or merge onto highways without drama. It’s only at highway passing speeds where you might wish for a bit more power.
Highway cruising reveals one of the Taos’s most improved aspects: noise isolation. VW has added more sound deadening for 2025, and it shows. Wind noise is well-controlled, and road noise, while still present on coarse surfaces, is less intrusive than before. At 70 mph, conversation is easy, and you don’t have to crank the audio system to hear podcasts or music.
When the road turns twisty, the Taos reveals a playful side that belies its practical nature. The steering is light but precise, and the chassis responds willingly to inputs. It’s no GTI, but there’s a hint of that VW DNA in the way it handles. Push too hard, and you’ll find understeer, but driven at seven or eight-tenths, it’s genuinely entertaining.
“It doesn’t beg you to drive it hard,” I explained to my car-enthusiast friend Alex after a spirited drive through the hills, “but it rewards you when you do.”
The brakes deserve special mention – they’re nicely calibrated with a progressive pedal that makes smooth stops easy. Some competitors in this class have grabby, on-off brake feel that makes smooth driving a challenge. The Taos gets this fundamental aspect right.
The Competition: Standing Out in a Crowded Field
The subcompact SUV segment has become fiercely competitive, with strong entries from nearly every manufacturer. The Taos goes up against the likes of the Mazda CX-30, Kia Seltos, Honda HR-V, and Subaru Crosstrek – all worthy competitors with distinct personalities.
What sets the Taos apart? Its trump card remains its exceptional spaciousness. It’s essentially a class-straddler, offering subcompact SUV pricing with compact SUV interior space. For young families or anyone who regularly carries passengers and cargo, this is a compelling proposition.
The Taos also brings a certain European solidity to the segment. The doors close with a satisfying thunk, the controls have a precision that some competitors lack, and there’s a substantial feel to the vehicle that belies its size and price point.
Where it falls short is in outright performance (the CX-30 offers up to 250 horsepower) and some advanced features that competitors have made standard. The Seltos and Crosstrek, for instance, offer more advanced driver assistance systems in their base models than the Taos does in its mid-tier trims.
Value is another consideration. My SEL 4Motion test vehicle came in at $35,745 including destination – not unreasonable for what you get, but firmly in compact SUV territory price-wise. A similarly equipped Mazda CX-30 or Kia Seltos offers more power and some additional features for similar money.
The Ownership Experience: What to Expect
Potential Taos buyers should note that Volkswagen has improved its warranty coverage for 2025. The basic warranty remains 4 years/50,000 miles (better than many mainstream competitors), but VW now includes 3 years/36,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance – a nice perk that takes some of the sting out of the premium pricing.
Reliability has been a concern for some VW products historically, but the Taos has proven relatively trouble-free since its introduction. The 1.5-liter engine and its supporting components have been in the VW parts bin long enough to work out the early bugs, and the switch to a conventional automatic in AWD models should improve long-term reliability further.
Something I noticed during my week with the car was the attention it received from other drivers. Despite being on the market for several years now, the Taos still turns heads – particularly in the Atlantic Blue of my test vehicle. It has a presence that belies its accessible price point, projecting an upscale image without shouting about it.
At a coffee shop in Portland, I overhead a couple eyeing the Taos in the parking lot. “Is that the new Audi?” one asked. It’s not quite at that level, but the fact that the question could even be asked speaks to VW’s success in creating a premium-feeling product in an accessible package.
The Right Tool for the Job?
After a week and over 500 miles with the 2025 Volkswagen Taos SEL 4Motion, I’ve developed a genuine appreciation for this cleverly packaged SUV. It doesn’t excel in any one area enough to dominate its class, but it offers an extremely well-rounded package with few significant weaknesses.
For urban dwellers who occasionally escape to the countryside, the Taos makes a compelling case for itself. It’s small enough to maneuver and park in tight city spaces but roomy enough to handle weekend getaway gear. The 4Motion system provides all-weather confidence, and the refined road manners make long drives pleasant rather than punishing.
The improvements for 2025 address most of the previous model’s shortcomings, particularly in terms of interior materials and technology. The new transmission in AWD models is a step forward in some ways and a small step back in others, but overall, the driving experience is more refined.
Is it worth the premium over some equally capable competitors? That depends on how much you value the Taos’s particular combination of strengths. If maximum space efficiency, European driving dynamics, and subtle style are high on your priority list, the Taos delivers these in spades. If you’re seeking the absolute most feature content for your dollar or class-leading performance, your money might be better spent elsewhere.
As I reluctantly returned the keys to the fleet manager, she asked what I thought of the updates. “They’ve fixed almost everything that needed fixing,” I told her. “It’s not perfect, but it knows exactly what it wants to be.”
And perhaps that’s the Taos’s greatest strength. In a market segment full of vehicles trying to be all things to all people, the little VW has a clear identity and sense of purpose. It’s the German engineer of the class – methodical, efficient, and quietly confident in its capabilities.
For the right buyer, that’s exactly what the doctor ordered. The 2025 Volkswagen Taos may not be revolutionary, but it’s thoughtfully evolved into one of the most well-rounded choices in its increasingly crowded segment.
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