Quickies: 2025 Volkswagen Taos

When it first arrived into Volkswagen showrooms, there was a question whether the small Taos SUV was for loyal owners or for new-to-the-brand consumers. 

At first, we did not get the impression that it did. It took a second time around to warm up to the idea that the Taos represents a reality check of the marketplace for the German brand. 

We understand that not every Volkswagen SUV has the soul of a Golf GTI or R. Or, even a Jetta. They do offer some of the tenets that brand loyalists enjoy. 

For 2025, Volkswagen worked on the Taos to give it a new look, improved performance, and a few more tweaks where it was needed. The result is a small SUV that has Wolfsburg’s DNA while maintaining its primary mission as a spacious offering in a key segment. 

The first thing you will notice is the front clip design. It follows the latest brand design language by emphasizing the LED lighting signatures above the bumper line and increased airflow through the lower grille. In the case of this SE Black test vehicle, you will find a lightning strip across the upper fascia bridging both headlamp units with the Volkswagen logo. 

The rear treatment also follows brand design tenets, with a horizontal LED lighting signature across the liftgate. The logo is also lighted in red. The front and rear updates elevate the Taos towards a more premium look and feel. 

The rest of the 2025 Taos has not changed. That means a good roofline with a nice angle at the rear. It also sports a signature glasshouse along the side and nice opening doors for both rows of seats. 

The SE Black trim level offers plenty of darker finishes that make it stand out. The front lower grille trim, door handles, roof, window frames and pillars, and a set of 18-inch alloy wheels wear a glossy shade of black. While it is on trend, the darker trim doesn’t feel overpowered. Maybe it’s the Pure White primary paint color?

Inside, the 2025 Taos has a very practical cabin. The eight-inch Digital Cockpit instrument cluster is very straightforward and can be changed to another view. Information is clear and concise. Tactile controls and an easy-to-throw shifter make for a wonderful driving environment. Only the climate control is haptic touch, but easy to use. 

Infotainment comes from an eight-inch touchscreen complimented by buttons and knobs; all housed in a new “floating” panel. You can mirror your smartphone wirelessly through App-Connect, while charging it in the center console cubby on the wireless pad. Six speakers emit solid sound throughout the cabin. 

The SE trim uses a mix of CloudTex and cloth for its seat upholstery. They make for a comfortable set of seats both front and back. The driver seat has full power adjustments. Rear seat room is great for adults. You start with 27.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 65.9 cubic feet. 

Where the 2025 Taos has really improved lies underneath the hood. The turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine has been raised to 174 horsepower – a 16-horsepower improvement from last year. Torque remains the same at 184 pound-feet. The 4Motion all-wheel drive appears on the test vehicle, along with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The DSG is no longer available on the Taos. 

This improved driveline now offers better performance overall. The increased horsepower made a difference in terms of highway cruising and scampering around town. It was poised where it needed to be. In turn, we averaged 31.9 MPG in our time behind the wheel of the 2025 Taos. 

The one thing we appreciated in the 2025 Taos was its overall driving experience. The ride quality was very smooth with solid absorption of rougher pieces of tarmac. We also found the Taos handled better than before. There was a lot of control in the turns, which inspired confidence over every mile. 

It also came down to a better steering system. It was responsive and had a great on-center feel. Turns were tight with smooth effort. Brake pedal feel was very good. That returned solid response to the wheels, while turning in normal and panic stops with ease. 

You have a choice of four trim levels on the updated 2025 Volkswagen Taos. Pricing starts from $25,495. This SE Black 4MOTION test vehicle came with a sticker price of $33,770.

It is definitely a good sign that Volkswagen went back to the drawing board to improve on their Taos small SUV. This is a good effort worth saluting, thanks to a more distinctive design, more power under the hood, improved driving manners, and a better cabin environment. 

Will all of these improvements be enough for you to put the 2025 Taos on your shopping list? Give it a go and see for yourself how it stacks up with the rest of the segment. You might be charmed by it.

DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by Volkswagen of Inver Grove, Inver Grove Heights, MN – our opinions are of our own.

All photos by Randy Stern