2025 Volkswagen Taos Eliminates Flaws

Earlier this year we held an 11-vehicle small SUV shootout. In the end, the Volkswagen Taos finished a close 4th place, held back due to a few areas that required improvement. 

Today, Volkswagen has just introduced the heavily refreshed 2025 Taos, addressing many of these key areas. In fact, the brand has made more changes in this refresh than some manufacturers to during a model’s generational change. 

See Ya Later DSG

The biggest news lies under the SUV’s sheet metal. Gone is the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, replaced by a conventional eight-speed automatic. The jerkiness of the dual-clutch was one of the key factors that kept the Taos off the podium in our comparison: maybe even from winning it all. 

We look forward to trying the new vehicle as everything else about the way the Taos drives, we’re fans of. That includes the engine, which Volkswagen seemed fit to update anyway. Plenty of hardware changes are made, including revised piston rings, revised fuel injectors, a larger intercooler, and more. This helps the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder now produce 174 hp instead of last year’s 158 hp. Already a torquey engine that seemed more powerful than the numbers suggest, the new unit should be even better.

New Look, Same Taos

On the outside, the most noticeable changes happen up front. There is a new bumper design, a new grille, and standard LED projector headlights with available AFS. Volkswagen’s goal here is to have the Taos better resemble its SUV siblings, specifically the Atlas. So, of course, there is an available light bar that stretches the width of the vehicle. 

In the back, there is another light bar, which Volkswagen calls connected taillights. Like the Atlas, the Volkswagen badge is illuminated. 

Other new bits include additional color choices: Bright Moss Green, Monterey Blue Pearl, and Monument Gray. The wheels are also new, 17-inch on front-wheel drive S models, while the SE receives 18-inches and the SEL 19-inch alloys. The SE Black trim returns, complete with a black roof, trim, and unique wheels.

Fresh Cabin

We were already a fan of the Taos’ conservative, upscale interior. Volkswagen though went ahead and put in a new dashboard design, along with new materials and colors. The infotainment screen was an area of concern, and it too is updated to a standard 8-inch touchscreen. Best of all, unlike some other recent Volkswagen products, the infotainment system has a volume and tuning knob, as well as shortcut buttons. Huzzah! There still is a touch control Climatronic HVAC system, but at least it’s laid out a bit clearer. 

Seat choices depend on trim, with cloth seats in S models while a combination of CloudTex and cloth are in the SE. Stepping up to the SEL model nets customers leather seats, which can be had in a new dark blue color. 

The 2025 Volkswagen Taos features the IQ.DRIVE driver assistance technology includes items like travel assist front assist active blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and more. To make the driving experience even more pleasant, there are new acoustic dampening materials that should help better keep outside noise from penetrating into the cabin. 

Expect the updated 2025 Volkswagen Taos in dealership showrooms before the end of 2024. Pricing will be announced closer to the vehicle’s availability.

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