First Drive: 2025 Volkswagen Taos

San Antonio, TX — For VW fans, the early 2020s were somewhat sad times. Fresh off the fiasco that was dieselgate, the famous German brand had decreed that they’d all but stop building the revered Golf in anything other than GTI and Golf R performance forms. No more 4Motion Alltrack wagon, no more three-door hatch – all done. The transition to the world of full-scale CUVing and SUVing had begun at VW North America, and that was that.

Or was it?

In an effort to help ease the pain, VW released the Taos, a compact crossover that shared many bits with the much beloved Golf and you know what? It did rather well. VW estimates that a huge percentage of potential Golf buyers – when told that would no longer be a possibility – went with a Taos and it continues to be the brands second bestselling model in Canada after the larger Tiguan.

For ’25, the Taos — so named for a town n New Mexico where apparently a VW whisperer-type mechanic has a shop — is not all-new but according to the manufacturer, it has been “heavily refreshed”. Putting aside that’s the first time I’ve ever heard that phrasing – typically “refreshed” does the job just fine – what that means in practice is new styling, new detailing, more features at base and a concerted effort to address concerns that current Taos owners have expressed to VW. The manufacturer was candid about all this to the point they showed us a slide that expressed exactly what owners felt needed to change: they wanted to be rid of the old dual-clutch automatic gearbox; they wanted better usage of materials inside and they wanted more features at base. Now, that last one is probably the most obvious of the three – after all, who doesn’t want more bang for their buck? – but VW has nevertheless answered the bell in that regard by offering an 8-inch infotainment display as standard as well as standard fitment of what VW calls “IQ. Drive”.

IQ. Drive is a suite of safety features that includes features such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, front collision assist and rear cross traffic alert. You have to upgrade to Comfortline trim ($35,295) – that’s one above base Trendline ($29,795 FWD, $31,795 AWD) – for audible forward parking warnings, but otherwise it’s a very comprehensive suite of safety features. The added features mean an average price increase of $1,500 across all four trims from ’24 to ‘25.

Dual zone climate control and heated front seats are also standard for ’25 and they’ve changed the climate control themselves from a selection of buttons and knobs to a single touch panel. Which, I have to say, I’m not a huge fan of even if VW is steadfast in their claim that’s what buyers want. Traditional buttons and knobs are just so much easier to operate while on the move, especially when wearing gloves. There are more soft-touch materials on the doors and dashboard, replacing the overuse of hard plastics from years’ past. You can also have the optional leather interior finished in a new black/blue colour combo, which I rather like.

Space-wise, there is no change from last year’s model and that’s a very good thing because since its inception 2022 it’s had some of the best interior space for passengers and cargo in the segment. Even though it looks less boxy than previous, that hasn’t translated to any space lost inside. Styling additions for ’25 include new wheel choices, three new exterior colours – Sorento Green, Alpine Grey and Monterey Blue – new headlight shapes (as well as optional adaptive headlights that swivel when you turn the wheel) and a full-width taillight with an illuminated VW emblem at its centre. It’s a fine-looking vehicle, though I wouldn’t say jaw-dropping looks are a calling card it possesses.

Power comes from a single engine choice: a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 174 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. That’s a 16 hp jump over last year’s model, and it’s channeled to the wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox; the dual clutch item from last year is no more.

Truth be told, the difference can immediately be felt. The Taos’ acceleration is so much more linear than previous; there are very few peaks in the power delivery, just a nice, smooth power curve as soon as you tip in to the throttle and let the auto do its thing. Don’t think you’ll be exploding off the line like a sports car or fast hatchback, but this powertrain’s competency is such that your everyday maneuvers like high-speed passes and highway entries can be accomplished with little drama. This is not really a “get me excited car”; it’s more of a “get me there with confidence” car and its engine and transmission are well-suited for the task.

Which is just about right for a vehicle like this. The interior space, the fuel-efficient powertrain (we saw 7.3L/100 km in the combined cycle, which is actually better than what VW claims) and the new standard features all point to the Taos leaping off the sales floor once again.