Introduced a few years ago, the Taos represents the smallest crossover/SUV in the Volkswagen lineup and has revealed itself to a pretty popular choice for the German carmaker.
Part of that could be attributed to the lower price point, but also the fact that it has a nice design and comes well equipped.
For the 2024 model year, it is offered in four trims, with our Comfortline Black tester being the second-highest in the lineup.
Pricing for the base Trendline version starts around $30,000, with our ride coming it at $37,495 as tested.
The new for 2024 Comfortline Black edition includes several nice features such as a panoramic power sunroof, 19-inch black ally wheels, the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit (10.25 inches vs. 8 in the base Taos) and LED headlights with adaptive front-light system.
Powertrain: The Taos is propelled by a turbocharged 1.5-litre engine from Volkswagen.
The 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque it produces gives the Taos a pretty sprightly feeling on the road, with acceleration off the line being quite good.
Power is moved through a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission and the Black edition features VW’s 4-Motion all-wheel drive.
The small crossover also offers fairly reasonable fuel economy, with my average coming in at 9.4 litres per 100 kilometres, not too far off the estimated 8.8 L/100 km.
Exterior: The Taos is basically a smaller version of the Atlas and Tiguan, both of which are nicely designed. So, it should come as no surprise that the Taos looks equally appealing.
In the Black edition, the dark accents contrast very nicely against the bright blue exterior paint chosen. That is especially true of the front grille/fascia, which looks rather aggressive all things considered, and I like it.
A favourite design element of mine from VW was also on the vehicle we drove, which is the illuminated exterior design elements such as the front light bar and VW logo.
Interior: Much like the exterior, the interior of the Taos is unmistakably a Volkswagen. The modern and clean design is one I have long appreciated from the German brand. Well thought out and laid out, controls are easy to decipher and navigate.
The Digital Cockpit gives the Taos a modern look and feel and even if the infotainment screen is smaller, at 8 inches, it looks just right given the proportions in the cabin.
The front seats, with leatherette surfaces and accent stitching, are comfortable and heated, as is the steering wheel.
Rear passengers benefit from good head and legroom, with the Taos’s cabin showing impressive spaciousness. There is ample cargo space in the rear of the Taos, perhaps surprising given the overall size of the vehicle.
In the Black trim, you can customize the feel of the cabin through interior ambient lighting, which offers you 10 colours to choose from.
Infotainment: The infotainment system on the Taos isn’t perfect, but it’s pretty good and quite easy to navigate.
Thankfully, it retains a good mix of physical controls and touchscreen functionality, which is a much more user-friendly experience than in some other VWs tested.
The six speakers lack a little bit when it comes to sound quality, but the whole experience is otherwise quite good.
As usual these days, the system comes with satellite radio, several USB-C ports, wireless device charging, as well as wired and wireless compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Drive: While overall, the on-road performance of the Taos provides buyers with a good daily driver, it’s not perfect.
The transmission can be a little jerk-y at times, resulting in rough transitions that make the ride a little uneven.
It does make up for that in terms of handling, offering a stable feel on the road, with minimal body roll and a well-weighted feel from the steering wheel.
2024 Volkswagen Taos Comfortline Black
2024 Volkswagen Taos Comfortline Black
2024 Volkswagen Taos Comfortline Black
2024 Volkswagen Taos Comfortline Black
2024 Volkswagen Taos Comfortline Black
Conclusion: There is much more to like than not on the Taos, and it offers good value to price proposition. The new Black trim definitely ups the ante in terms of styling and overall appeal of the model in my view.
As mentioned above, though, the engine/transmission setup can be a little frustrating at times, this is a model that stacks up well against the competition.
2024 Volkswagen Taos Comfortline Black
Price as tested: $37,495.00
Freight: $2,100.00
Configuration: Front engine/All-wheel drive
Engine/transmission: 1.5-litre turbo 4-cylinder/ 7-speed DSG
Power/torque: 158 horsepower/ 184 lb-ft of torque
Fuel (capacity): Regular (55 L)
Combined fuel economy ratings (L/100 km): 8.8 L/100 km
Observed fuel economy (L/100 km): 9.4 L/100 km
Warranties: 4-years/80,000 km (basic)
Competitors: Buick Encore, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Hyundai Kona, Honda HR-V, Kia Seltos
Website: Volkswagen Canada