Don’t Sleep on the 2022 Volkswagen Taos
There is an underdog known as the 2022 Volkswagen Taos that you need to consider. My expectations for the Volkswagen Taos I had to review were blown out of the water, and it continues to be a highly impressive SUV.
Don’t miss out on the 2022 Volkswagen Taos
The 2022 Volkswagen Taos is here to replace the VW Golf hatchback, and it does so in a fun, sporty, and convenient way. If you miss the way the Golf drives, then the Taos fills that niche with sharp handling and a smooth ride.
As a compact SUV to rival the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-30, and Jeep Renegade, the Taos has been fairly impressive. It has a near-luxury feel like the Mazda CX-30, only with more passenger and cargo space.
Let’s talk about how spacious the 2022 Taos is
The 2022 Volkswagen Taos is smaller than the Tiguan, but it doesn’t feel cramped. The front and second-row have plenty of space for at least four adults. Squeezing a fifth person in there might be snug.
You can access up to 27.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats with up to 65.9 cubic feet total. I packed it up for a weekend away in the mountains and had plenty of room for all my gear. The cargo area handled firewood well.
The center console could provide a little more space, but there is a tray on top of the dashboard. There are four cup holders in the front too. You’ll find spacious door pockets and a few other storage cubbies too.
The Volskwagen Taos SEL model is about $30,000. It doesn’t include a power liftgate or power-folding seats. But an average-sized person should be able to reach the manual seat levels without a problem. At 5’1”, I had to lean across the trunk area to reach them.
The VW Taos is efficient
I’ve already covered how the 2022 Volkswagen Taos is fast and fun to drive around the city and curvy country roads. But I didn’t mention that it gets an EPA-estimated 28 mpg in the city and up to 36 mpg on the highway. It delivered on this estimate!
Also, the stop-and-go feature provides an excellent performance. You barely notice the sound of the engine restarting after being stopped. There isn’t a delay either. You can pull right off the line at red lights.
The 2022 Taos feels modern
The 2022 Volkswagen Taos is brand new, so I shouldn’t be surprised by its advanced feeling. Small touches like the flat-bottom steering wheel and massive panoramic moonroof make this ride feel like it’s from the future.
One complaint I have is about the infotainment system. The screen has crisp graphics and works quickly, but it looks a little smaller and dated. It also gets covered in fingerprints pretty quickly. An 8.0-inch screen comes standard, but you can upgrade to a 10.3-inch unit.
The Taos offers wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless phone charging, real-time traffic updates, and a digital cockpit. All of these features make up for the screen. The digital display cluster offers simple customization so you can view your speed, navigation, and more.
With more space, plenty of power, easy-to-use tech, and less body roll than competitors, the Taos really deserves a shot. Don’t ignore this compact SUV alternative.
