Volkswagen is one of the best-selling automakers in the world, and that’s because the German automaker makes a lot of great cars. One of the best cars in VW’s lineup is its smallest SUV option. Here’s a look at the 2023 Volkswagen Taos and why, despite its size, it’s a big deal.

How the 2023 Volkswagen Taos stacks up against its segment rivals

SUVs are exploding in popularity, and as a result, automakers are introducing many new SUV models. This has also made every SUV segment highly competitive, and one of the most competitive segments is the subcompact crossover segment. Edmunds refers to this category as the extra small SUV category, including great options like the Kia Soul and the Subaru Crosstrek.

A handful of high-quality cars were recently introduced to the segment, such as the Toyota Corolla Cross and the Kia Seltos. That being said, as far as their overall scores go, the third-best extra small SUV right now is the Mazda CX-30, which had an overall score of 7.9 out of 10. The second best extra small SUV is the Chevy Trailblazer, introduced in the 2021 model year. The Chevy SUV received an overall score of 8.0 out of 10.

The Volkswagen Taos is the best extra small SUV of the year, and it’s also a reasonably new entry into the segment. The German automaker introduced the car in the 2022 model year. Despite that, it beat out its rivals with its overall score of 8.1 out of 10.

Why the 2023 Volkswagen Taos is such a big deal

Edmunds wrote that the small Volkswagen SUV is a big deal because it packs a lot of features and specs into a small and affordable package. It starts at a price tag of about $25,500, which is about average for the segment. VW has one engine option for the SUV, and it’s a 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder that gets 158 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. 

That isn’t an exceptionally powerful engine, but it delivers enough power to make the Taos fun to drive. The best part about the SUV, however, is what’s inside. Despite being a smaller SUV, it has a good amount of cargo capacity. It has 27.9 cu-ft of cargo capacity without folding any seats down, which is the best in the class. With the seats folded down, its cargo capacity tops out at 65.9 cu-ft.

The German auto giant also gave the small SUV a lot of tech and safety features. It starts with a 6.5-inch touchscreen and has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility as standard. In terms of safety features, the Taos comes with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and a rear-cross traffic alert system. These smart safety systems also work well, according to Edmunds.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos has few flaws

Another great area about the Taos is its cabin comfort, and it’s also one of the best in the class in that regard. The seats are spacious for a small SUV, and the doors are large, allowing folks to enter and exit the Volkswagen easily. That said, it’s not a perfect vehicle, and the car critic wrote that the Taos has two flaws. 

The first flaw has to do with its cabin noise levels. When the Taos is at highway speeds, drivers and passengers can notice some engine and road noise. Another minor issue is that its transmission can be frustrating to use.