2023 Volkswagen Taos

SUV · 1.5L Turbo TSI I4 · FWD

70/100

AutoVault's overall score, weighted for what a suv is actually for — performance, technology, comfort, reliability, safety and value.

Specifications

Engine	1.5L Turbo TSI I4
Horsepower	158 hp
Torque	184 lb-ft
0–60 mph	8.3 sec
Top speed	122 mph
Drivetrain	FWD
Seats	5
Combined MPG	29 mpg (26 city / 33 hwy)
Range	470 miles
MSRP	$25,195
Body style	SUV

The verdict

What's good

Rear legroom for a subcompact crossover beats several larger-looking competitors
Interior materials and switchgear feel a tier above the price point
Rear seat folds to a genuinely flat load floor, uncommon in the class
Turbocharged engine delivers smooth, relaxed cruising without feeling strained

What's not

Reliability score trails class leaders like Mazda CX-5 and Kia Seltos
FWD-only on base/mid trims requires upgrade for all-weather confidence
Infotainment touch-sensitive controls replace physical buttons, frustrating in motion
Dealer network thinner than Honda or Toyota in rural areas, affecting service access

The engine

EA211 evo

1.5L Turbo I4

A high-tech, efficiency-minded turbo-four that feels punchier than its size suggests, with strong low-rpm torque and seamless, refined power delivery.

Volkswagen's EA211 evo is the latest evolution of the EA211 family that replaced the older 1.4 TSI, engineered as a high-volume global engine for the Golf, Jetta, Taos and many other VW Group cars.

It runs a Miller combustion cycle with an unusually high 11.5-to-1 compression ratio, paired with a variable-turbine-geometry turbo that is rare on a gasoline engine.
Its cylinder bores are coated using an APS plasma process that sprays iron powder onto the aluminum block to cut friction, eliminating heavy cast-iron liners.
High-pressure direct injection runs at up to 350 bar for finer fuel atomization and lower particulate emissions.

See the rest in AutoVault

The six sub-scores behind the 70 — performance, tech, comfort, reliability, safety and value
Market value today and year-by-year value history
All 4 trims with pricing
Studio photography — exterior, rear and interior
Side-by-side comparison with up to four cars

Open in AutoVault