Volkswagen Taos
6 model years from 2022 to 2027, compared on size, efficiency, safety and reliability.

- Model years
- 2022–2027
- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Latest engines
- 1.5L 4-cyl turbo
- Best MPG
- 30–31 combined, by year
- Latest rating
- ★★★★★ (2025)
- Recalls
- 8 campaigns, all years
- Most complaints
- 2022 (323)
- Fewest problems
- 2023
- Interest
- 5,271 Wikipedia views / 30 days
The 2026 Taos in brief
The 2026 Volkswagen Taos is a small SUV offered with a 1.5L 4-cyl turbo engine and front-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive.
It measures about 176 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,430 lb (4dr SUV AWD).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 31 MPG combined (28 city / 36 highway), 3% better than the 2026 small SUV average of 30.2 MPG, for an estimated $2,150 a year in fuel.
It has 1 recall campaign on file and owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the structure.
The Volkswagen Taos has 6 model years in our data, from 2022 to 2027.
Its most efficient year was 2026 at 31 MPG combined; across all years the best version ranged from 30 to 31 MPG.
Owners most often report problems with the engine (201), service brakes (114), electrical system (100).
Buying used? 2024 has the fewest problems in our data, and 2022 is the year to avoid.
2022 has the most recalls (6); all years together count 8 campaigns and 504 owner complaints.
How the 2022 Taos compares
The 2022 Volkswagen Taos is a small SUV offered with a 1.5L 4-cyl turbo engine and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 176 inches long and 73 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,430 lb (4dr SUV AWD).
About the Volkswagen Taos
The Volkswagen Taos is a compact crossover SUV marketed by Volkswagen. It was first released in October 2018 as the Volkswagen Tharu in China, while the Taos was released in October 2020 as a restyled version of the Tharu for the North American, South American, and Russian markets. As of 2025, for the South American and Chinese markets the vehicle is positioned between the T-Cross and the Tiguan in Volkswagen's crossover SUV lineup. It is not marketed in core European market.
From the Wikipedia article "Volkswagen Taos", licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
2026 Taos pros & cons
Full 2026 details →What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Best and worst years to buy used
2024 Taos
55 owner complaints · 0 recalls · 1 crash report
NHTSA overall: ★★★★★
Year to avoid2022 Taos
323 owner complaints · 6 recalls · 6 crash reports
Most reported: Engine
NHTSA recalls and complaints for 3 model years since 2015; use it alongside a pre-purchase inspection. How we calculate this →
Compare head to head
Show all 6 model years side by side
| Year | Latest engines | Best MPG / range | Length | Weight | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 30 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 31 MPG | 176 in | 3,430 lb | Not rated | 1 | 4 |
| 2025 | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 31 MPG | 176 in | 3,430 lb | ★★★★★ | 2 | 12 |
| 2024 | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 31 MPG | 176 in | 3,430 lb | ★★★★★ | 0 | 55 |
| 2023 | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 31 MPG | 176 in | 3,430 lb | ★★★★★ | 0 | 110 |
| 2022 | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 31 MPG | 176 in | 3,430 lb | ★★★★★ | 6 | 323 |
Alternatives to the 2026 Taos
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Toyota RAV4 | 43 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Honda CR-V | 40 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Hyundai Tucson | 38 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
| 2026 Subaru Forester | 35 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2026 Mazda CX-5 | 26 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2026 Kia Seltos | 29 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
Most common owner-reported problems
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Volkswagen. How we calculate this →



