Volkswagen goes to inject a bit extra pizzazz into the compact SUV phase with its up to date Taos. The child crossover will profit from the same old nip-and-tuck therapy we have come to anticipate from a midcycle replace — with one nice twist: The 1.5-liter engine carries over, however with some nifty upgrades that increase the output to 174 horsepower. That is a bump of 16 horses over the 2024 — not dangerous in any respect for a mere refresh. VW now pairs the all-wheel drive mannequin with a traditional eight-speed computerized transmission; the outdated seven-speed DSG is headed out to pasture.
The brand new face loses the jowly air curtains that dominated the decrease bumper extremities. This cleaner look is accentuated by the body-colored grill insert. Don’t be concerned, although; there’s loads of plastic mesh remaining within the backside half of the bumper. Kidding apart, we would name this an improve. It is excellent news out again too. Whereas the brand new steady tail gentle look might not be authentic, it does work properly right here.
Inside, there’s excellent news and dangerous, although your particular person preferences might come into play right here. Let’s begin with the dangerous: the HVAC dials are gone. Of their place, we get the touch-sensitive sliders that VW has included into lots of its new interiors. They do not do the job any higher than what they changed, however for higher or for worse, they do match the gloss black on the bezel surrounding the brand new, 8-inch infotainment setup. VW additionally gave the seats some love; the brand new distinction association fits them.
VW does not have pricing information to share on the 2025 Taos simply but. Anticipate particulars (and deliveries) earlier than the tip of the yr.