Volkswagen’s smallest crossover is getting a brand new face and a brand new transmission for 2025. The Volkswagen Taos trades its large grille for one thing that appears just a little extra Vee Dub to us, its 1.5L turbo-four will get larger horsepower, and the often-maligned dual-clutch DSG is changed by a traditional automated.
There are some helpful content material adjustments too, however there’s nothing right here that may rock the subcompact crossover world.
2025 Volkswagen Taos Appears Extra Costly
The large grille on the 2024 and older Taos was not one among VW’s higher designs. It got here from a time when the model’s different small fashions, just like the Jetta and Tiguan, had been additionally a bit ungainly.
For 2025, it will get a a lot smaller opening that sits decrease within the nostril atop a second bigger grille. Very similar to the 2025 Jetta, it’s extra like older VW fashions, these from the 2000s and early 2010s.
Total, it makes the Taos appear to be it prices greater than it does, particularly since adaptive LED headlights at the moment are commonplace, and the tail will get a full-width LED gentle just like the bigger Atlas. Mix that with some new paint colours, new wheels, and even some new cabin colours, and the Taos is immediately far more engaging than earlier than.
Extra Energy, No Extra Clunky DSG
Engine updates and a brand new transmission ought to make it extra engaging as soon as VW lures consumers inside with the brand new panels. The 1.5L turbo-four has a brand new intercooler and different new components to make 174 horsepower as a substitute of the 158 it made in 2024.
All-wheel drive fashions dump the seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission in favor of a traditional eight-speed automated. VW USA says prospects right here didn’t just like the DSG’s “sportiness,” no less than not in fashions like this. It may very well be tough and clunky in regular driving, and the brand new field ought to be significantly better suited to the small crossover’s potential buyer base.
The DSG will stay in Jetta GLI and Golf GTI/Golf R fashions, the place consumers favor what VW calls “extra responsiveness.” Entrance-drive fashions already got here with the auto and received’t change.
New Infotainment, Extra Options on Decrease Trims
Very similar to the design and engine adjustments, the cabin adjustments are small however helpful. The present display built-in into the sprint is changed by one which “floats” in entrance of it. The display isn’t as fairly, nevertheless it does get new {hardware} and software program that ought to enhance its perform.
SE grade fashions and better get adaptive entrance lighting for his or her LED lamps. The system steers the lights into corners. SE can also be the place to begin for VW’s Climatronic dual-zone local weather management system that makes use of touch-sensitive sliders as a substitute of dials. The final huge function change is the addition of entrance and rear parking sensors to SE grades and better.
VW didn’t have pricing for the brand new Taos, which is able to arrive at sellers by the top of the 12 months. That mentioned, we’re not anticipating huge adjustments. If it’s something just like the Jetta, costs will probably be up lower than $1,000, that means the S ought to begin for $25k, and an SEL ought to are available in at underneath $35k.