2022 Volkswagen Taos

2022 is the Taos's US launch year (first generation, which runs until the 2025 refresh). Every trim (S, SE, SEL) uses the same turbocharged 1.5-liter four rated at 158 hp; the 174-hp engine arrived only with the 2025 facelift.

184 lb-ft arrives low in the rev range, giving the Taos stronger around-town response than its horsepower suggests.

Instrumented tests of the 2022 Taos put FWD versions at 7.6–7.7 s and 4Motion versions at 7.9–8.1 s, with Car and Driver's best run 7.4 s; 7.7 s represents the FWD SE volume configuration. Competitive for a subcompact SUV but not quick.

The 1.5T is smooth with minimal turbo lag thanks to its low torque peak and feels peppy in town, but runs short of breath for highway passing, and 4Motion models suffer hesitant launches from their DSG. Mid-band for the segment.

The FWD volume Taos uses a conventional 8-speed automatic that shifts smoothly, but 4Motion models use a 7-speed dual-clutch criticized for jerky low-speed behavior — the unit VW dropped in the 2025 refresh. Mixed lineup lands mid-band.

Volkswagen publishes no US tow rating for the 2022 Taos and offers no factory hitch; towing buyers are steered to the Tiguan or Atlas.

4Motion AWD is available on every 2022 trim (S, SE, SEL) with selectable drive modes including Off-Road and hill-descent control, but it is an on-demand clutch-based system without low range or torque vectoring.

4Motion versions get about 7.6 in of ground clearance (vs ~6.5 in FWD) and an Off-Road mode with descent control, adequate for dirt roads. No off-road trim, skid plates, locker or low range.

One engine and no electrification: every 2022 Taos is the 158-hp 1.5T, differing only in FWD/8-speed automatic vs 4Motion/7-speed DSG.

The FWD volume configuration earns an EPA 31 MPG combined — strong for a non-hybrid subcompact SUV; 4Motion drops to 28.

EPA city rating for the FWD 2022 Taos.

EPA highway rating for the FWD 2022 Taos, at the top of the gas SUV band.

Range computed from the FWD Taos's 13.2-gallon tank and 31 MPG EPA combined rating; the small tank holds range to segment-average despite good economy.

EPA estimated annual fuel cost on regular gasoline at 15,000 mi/yr for the FWD 2022 Taos.

Every 2022 Taos runs on regular unleaded; no premium fuel recommendation.

NHTSA rates the 2022 launch-year Taos 4 stars overall: 4 stars for driver and passenger frontal, 5 stars for side and side pole, and 4 stars for rollover. Same first-generation structure as the 2023, which also carries a 4-star overall rating.

No Top Safety Pick or TSP+ for 2022. IIHS rated four of six crash tests Good — driver small overlap, moderate overlap, side and roof — but passenger-side small overlap and head restraints were only Acceptable, which ruled out an award. That is mostly Good with some Acceptable, the mid band.

In 2022, automatic emergency braking was not standard across the range. The base S lacked Front Assist and Blind Spot Monitor unless you bought the $995 IQ.DRIVE package. The volume SE adds Front Assist AEB and Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert as standard, but adaptive cruise and lane keeping (IQ.DRIVE) stayed optional below the SEL. For 2023 the suite became standard on more trims.

In IIHS testing, the AEB system (optional on the base S) rated Superior at avoiding other vehicles but only Basic for pedestrian detection, day and night. That is weak pedestrian AEB.

Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert is standard from the volume SE up, and with IQ.DRIVE it becomes Active Blind Spot Monitor with countersteer. It is optional on the base S. There is no safe-exit alert.

Travel Assist centers the car smoothly, and reviewers rate it well for the class. However, in 2022 Lane Assist and Travel Assist were standard only on the top SEL and optional via IQ.DRIVE on the S and the volume SE, and Travel Assist works only with adaptive cruise on.

Full-speed ACC with Stop and Go and Travel Assist comes with IQ.DRIVE, which is standard only on the SEL and optional on the S and SE. Reviewers find it dependable but less smooth than the best systems when slowing and re-accelerating.

No 2022 Taos trim offers hands-free driving. Travel Assist is hands-on and requires steering input.

Only the SEL's curve-adaptive LED projectors rate Good. The LED reflectors on the S and volume SE rate Marginal with or without high-beam assist.

Sightlines are good for the class: upright seating, thin pillars and large rear-quarter windows. A rearview camera is standard, but no surround-view camera is available.

IIHS rates the LATCH hardware Good for ease of use, and rear legroom is generous for a subcompact SUV. The narrow cabin makes three-across tight.

The 2022 Taos, the nameplate's first US model year, is a two-row, five-passenger SUV on every trim.

Generous front headroom for a subcompact SUV; the panoramic sunroof was an option rather than standard on the 2022 SEL.

Front legroom sits at the bottom of the SUV band.

Rear headroom is excellent for the class thanks to the tall, upright roofline.

Rear legroom of 37.9 in is near compact-SUV levels and a class strength.

No third row is offered on any 2022 Taos; two-row, five-seat layout only.

Class-leading for a subcompact but low against the fleet-wide SUV band; AWD models lose 3 cu ft to the multilink rear suspension.

Max cargo is large for a subcompact SUV but modest on the all-SUV band.

Competitive but unremarkable storage: a deep console, door pockets and a ski pass-through in the rear seat, with no standout clever features or onboard power.

Supportive front seats and a commanding position; the volume SE gets cloth/leatherette upholstery, heated fronts and an 8-way power driver seat, and the rear bench suits adults.

Firm but reasonably well isolated; CarPro found the SE smooth, while other testers note 18/19-in wheels transmit more of the road than softer rivals.

Average-at-best refinement: road and wind noise and a buzzy engine under load keep it mid-pack.

The volume SE gets heated front seats and remote start but manual climate; dual-zone automatic climate and a heated wheel are SEL-only, and ventilated seats were limited to the 2022 SEL 4Motion.

In its launch year, the 2022 Taos S FWD listed at $22,995 plus a $1,195 destination charge, which put it among the cheapest subcompact SUVs on sale.

The SE is the volume trim. For 2022 it adds the 10-inch touchscreen, heated seats, keyless access and Front Assist AEB with blind-spot monitoring. It costs $27,245 plus $1,195 destination, and IQ.DRIVE adaptive cruise is still a $895 option.

Scheduled maintenance alone runs about $2,500 over five years. Volkswagen's above-average repair costs, and a launch-year model's exposure to early issues such as the 7-speed DSG on 4Motion models, put the combined figure at about $6,000.

KBB has the 2022 Taos down about 37% over three years (63% retained). Extended along the typical curve, that leaves roughly 51% at five years, below average for subcompact SUVs.

Volkswagen's New Vehicle Limited Warranty covers the 2022 Taos for 4 years or 50,000 miles. That is a year longer than most mainstream rivals, though the mileage cap is tight.

Volkswagen has offered no separate, longer powertrain warranty since the 6-year/72,000-mile program ended after MY2020. The engine and transmission fall under the single 4-year/50,000-mile warranty, short of the 5-year/60,000-mile mainstream norm.

Carefree Maintenance covers scheduled service for 2 years or 20,000 miles, roadside assistance runs 3 years or 36,000 miles, and five years of Car-Net Remote Access come at no charge. That beats most mainstream rivals but falls short of multi-year luxury programs.

$28,440 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (51% retained, or about $14,504) leaves about $13,936 in depreciation. Add the projected $6,000 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $19,936 in total.

The 2022 Taos is the generation's launch year, and Consumer Reports rates it much less reliable than other 2022 vehicles (its lowest reliability mark), with owner complaints centered on engine stalling, loss of power and launch lag. J.D. Power owners give it only a 72/100 quality & reliability score, below the 77 the 2023 earned, so both sources point below average.

Volkswagen has sat in the bottom third of dependability studies across this generation's life, finishing last among brands in J.D. Power's 2025 and 2026 VDS, with Consumer Reports placing VW mid-to-low and flagging below-average new-car reliability.

The 2022 model year absorbed all six of the generation's early recalls, several of them serious: an underhood fuel-supply quick-connector that could detach and leak fuel, a fuel pump that could fail and stall the engine, two AWD ECU-software stall-at-stop campaigns, and rear suspension knuckles that could corrode and crack. That is repeated powertrain/fuel and safety-system recall activity, squarely in the low band; later model years carry none of these.

The 158-hp 1.5-liter EA211 evo TSI is a widely deployed engine family with no systemic mechanical failure, but the launch-year Taos drew the generation's heaviest stalling and loss-of-power complaints (partly fixed by recall software), and AWD models use the seven-speed DQ381 dual-clutch criticized for delay-then-surge launches; FWD models get a conventional eight-speed automatic. VW replaced the DSG with the eight-speed across the line in the 2025 refresh.

The pre-refresh Taos cabin was widely criticized for extensive hard plastics on the dash and door tops, and Consumer Reports owners specifically rated interior material quality below average; clean design and decent seat fabrics keep it just in the competitive band, with the SEL adding nicer surfaces.

Puebla-built assembly is generally tight, with owner complaints skewing toward electronics (infotainment and camera software, addressed by recall 22V514) and brake noise rather than panel gaps, but the launch-year J.D. Power quality score of 72/100 and VW's below-average initial quality hold it in the lower middle.

Volkswagen's roughly 600–640 US dealers provide adequate national coverage but about half the footprint of Toyota, Honda or Chevrolet, and VW is not among the mass-market leaders in J.D. Power service satisfaction.

A high-volume MQB-platform vehicle with broad parts availability and a large VW aftermarket; Taos maintenance costs run low, but VW brand repair costs sit above the industry norm and AWD models' DSG needs periodic fluid service.

The volume SE gets an 8-in touchscreen, small by current standards; base S makes do with 6.5 in.

Easy to use with physical knobs, but slower and less modern than rivals, and the tuning knob only works for AM/FM.

Wireless App-Connect on SE and SEL (the volume trims); base S is wired-only.

Native navigation is limited to the SEL and voice control is basic; most owners rely on phone projection.

Base S has four speakers, the volume SE six; the SEL adds an eight-speaker BeatsAudio system with subwoofer, a modest but well-reviewed upgrade.

An 8-in Digital Cockpit is standard on every 2022 Taos, and the SEL gets the configurable 10.25-in Digital Cockpit Pro.

VW says most 2020-and-newer models can receive OTA software updates via myVW, but for the MIB-based Taos these are occasional and infotainment-focused, not feature-adding.

VW Car-Net/myVW provides remote lock, locate and remote start (SE+) through a trial-then-subscription Remote Access plan; no digital key.

USB-C ports front and rear (two on S, three on SE/SEL) plus wireless charging on SE and up; no household outlet.

Proximity entry with push-button start and remote start come on the volume SE; no phone-as-key, and the hands-free liftgate is upper-trim only.

Rear camera is standard, but Park Distance Control is SEL-only for 2022 and no 360-degree camera is offered.

No head-up display is offered on any 2022 Taos.

Roomy rear seat, easy LATCH access and a large cargo area make it family-friendly for its size, though it is still a subcompact.

For 2022 AEB and blind-spot monitoring are standard only from the SE up and IQ.DRIVE is optional on the SE, while crash results are middling: NHTSA 4-star frontal, IIHS Acceptable passenger small overlap and no award.

Adult-friendly rear seat and big cargo hold suit trips, but rear amenities are thin and refinement is average.

Easy to see out of and park, with peppy low-end torque, but the FWD 8-speed shifts abruptly at low speed and the 4Motion DSG is jerky in traffic.

31 MPG combined on regular fuel (FWD) is good for a non-hybrid small SUV; 4Motion drops to 28 MPG.

Compact footprint, upright seating and thin pillars aid city use, but the 37.6-ft turning circle is only average and parking sensors are SEL-only.

VW publishes no US tow rating for the Taos, leaving only its cargo hold for work duty.

A light-duty commuter crossover with no fleet or hard-use track record; DSG drivability complaints on 4Motion do not inspire confidence under abuse.

Cargo tie-down hooks and a pass-through, but no onboard power, no tow hitch and little upfit ecosystem.

Over 400 miles per tank helps, but adaptive cruise (IQ.DRIVE) is optional on the volume SE in 2022, and a firm ride with average noise isolation limits long-haul comfort.

4Motion with an off-road drive mode and about 7.6 in of clearance handles gravel roads, but no tow rating rules out trailering gear.

Big cargo hold for the class, a 60/40 split rear seat with a center pass-through and available roof rails; AWD models lose some floor depth.

Responsive, secure handling with decent grip for the class, though not athletic.

Quick and accurate but light and short on feedback.

Short instrumented stops for the class with a reasonably firm pedal.

Strong low-end torque, but the FWD 8-speed shifts abruptly at low speed and the 4Motion 7-speed DSG lurches and hesitates in traffic.

The 1.5T is quiet cruising but becomes buzzy and strained under hard acceleration.

An average turning circle for a small SUV.

Upright seating, thin pillars and good sightlines with logically placed physical controls; minor quirks like the AM/FM-only tuning knob.

Peppy and nimble around town but ultimately a pleasant, forgettable commuter.

LED lighting, the Digital Cockpit and Car-Net Wi-Fi are standard on the 2022 Taos S. Forward collision warning with AEB and blind-spot monitoring, however, are a $995 IQ.DRIVE option on the S, where rivals such as the Corolla Cross, HR-V and Kicks include AEB on every trim. Adaptive cruise is optional even on the SE.

About $24,000 buys one of the roomiest rear seats and cargo bays in the subcompact class, plus a 158 hp turbo that outpaces most rivals. Optional safety tech on the S and an SEL that climbs past $34,000 dilute the value.

Three trims (S, SE, SEL) span $22,995 to $33,045, and in 2022 each was offered in FWD or 4Motion. The single 1.5T engine pairs with an 8-speed automatic on FWD models or a 7-speed DSG on 4Motion models, with IQ.DRIVE and sunroof packages. That covers the budget range, with limited powertrain choice.

US sales rose from 31,682 in its partial 2021 launch year to about 50,000 in calendar 2022, despite chip-shortage supply limits. That is a solid riser for VW but well behind subcompact leaders such as the Crosstrek, HR-V and Trax.

In the US, Volkswagen's image is neutral. The German driving feel and styling give it some showroom appeal, but middling reliability and dealer reputations, plus resale that trails the class, offset that.

The 2022 model year sold during the semiconductor shortage, when incentives largely disappeared. Typical deals were limited to subvented financing of about 4.5% APR for 60 months, and transactions ran close to MSRP.

2022 is the debut US model year of the first-generation Taos, on VW's current MQB A1 platform. It was brand new, with its first refresh not due until 2025.

Reviewers liked the 2022 Taos for its space, ride and value, but it collected no major awards. Acceptable ratings in IIHS's passenger-side small-overlap and head-restraint tests shut it out of Top Safety Pick, while the Trailblazer, Bronco Sport and Crosstrek earned TSP+.