2022 Volkswagen Taos SE: Test Drive Review

[@Da1Uh82Luv]

Thank you for reviewing the SE. I see alot of people reviewing the SEL. Great review!

[@drumflip1253]

Just bought one. It’s a fantastic VW for the money. Great video.

[@chrism3790]

Hey! It's been 6 months since your comment. Still happy?

[@drumflip1253]

@@chrism3790 yep, great mpg and fun to drive.

[@chrism3790]

@@drumflip1253 Thanks for the answer!

[@CollyDoo]

Me too, just bought a 2023! My wife and I love it!

[@hasandemirci6157]

@@CollyDoo Is there a sunroof?

[@hawaiihardy7285]

The Tune button works under the Radio feature, on the bottom screen select tune, and then you can manually tune the radio stations, old school !

[@dieselmutt8865]

I had a previous generation Tiguan and really liked it. Traded it because I just needed a bigger vehicle to do things the Tig couldn't. I was never impressed with the new generation Tiguan but this vehicle seems to have captured a lot of the qualities the older generation Tiguan had. I might have to check this out in person.

[@davidgood6744]

This is my new car! I had a 2017 Golf Sportwagen S with a 5 speed manual that I loved, but at 120K miles I traded in. I needed a car that could hold 4 or 5 large people. Mission accomplished. I needed all 5 people to be resonably comfortable, add this Taos SE did that. In realty, I commute 30 miles each way every day. That is boring, but I love the ability to switch to Sport Manual mode to enjoy the few curves on the way to my house. This thing is fun!

[@brenmiller9408]

If you use the quick flick sport mode on the drive lever it’ll take off much quicker

[@DIsmayedConfuse]

Thank you for the observations on the seat materials. I’ll go with the S trim because cloth is breathable.

[@Tinrs80]

Thanx for the review Sam! I like the look of the Taos

[@yvetteoregon1376]

I have still trying to get use to it 😊

[@ejfoltz2794]

Review quite complete in well spoken description. Apparent this very competent Reviewer knows -A thru Z -VWs.

[@regtheo]

Have the 4 motion trendline. only caveats are loud turn signal , roadrunner horn. meep meep. and lag when taking off . other than that, highway passing has enough power, great fuel efficiency and we have had it loaded with 2 big suitcases, golf clubs, cooler and misc bags and it fitted it all nicely and boogied down the highway. Overall like this vehicle alot. Not as quick as my 2019 gti that I traded in for it but the benefits mentioned outweigh having to use premium fuel and tight quarters for short trips as mentioned. Gets 2nd looks as well.

[@dougrogers835]

My wife wanted a new smaller SUV now that we are retired. She looked at them all and picked the Volkswagen I've never been a fan of Volkswagen but I must admit once we picked up the car and I went for a ride in it I was pleasantly surprised. If you are interested in a smaller SUV I don't think you could do better as far as room goes I'm over 6 foot 2 and 275 lb it fits perfectly. I hate the idea of the start-stop engine at red lights but so far I got admit I can't even tell it happens. I thought I would hate that but knowing that you can turn it off is a no-brainer. Besides seems all the major car companies have gone this route. We purchased it for $500 below MSRP and no dealer fee period in today's market I guess that isn't too bad. I paid cash so there was no trade or interest on pricing that affected our final sale price. We did purchase the SE model but it was pretty much loaded with every option available which brought the price up to what the top-tier model sells for. I wouldn't have purchased some of these options but Beggars can't be choosy there's not a lot of them out there

[@chocolatewheelchair]

Did you get 4Motion or FWD?

[@dougrogers835]

Front wheel drive. I don't even think they had a all-wheel drive in stock at the time. Her last vehicle had all-wheel drive but we live in Florida so not that necessary

[@chocolatewheelchair]

@@dougrogers835 that’s cool. So it’s the exact opposite here in NJ for me. NO one. Repeat no dealer here has FWD. They’re trying to upsell the 4Motion plus some imaginary “inventory” fee of $1,500. I said no way Jose. I am going to wait to the Summer / Fall and start my search again. The 4Motion and 7 speed kills this SUV’s frugality.

[@michaelsmith9308]

A SE loaded in San Diego is $25,500.00 currently................. if you buy off the lot!

[@reddevilunited77]

Seems like a decent little crossover. It would be nice if they had a version available with the 1.8t though. I agree that the fake exhausts and auto start /stop need to go as well...

[@mowcowbell]

Fortunately, VW did provide a button to turn off the Auto Start/Stop.

[@rudolphna54]

As an owner of a Taos, VW has done Auto ESS well, I never have found a time where I want to turn it off.

[@chocolatewheelchair]

@@rudolphna54 how do you like the Taos? Did you get 4Motion?

[@rudolphna54]

@@chocolatewheelchair Love it so far, and no, I went out of my way to get the FWD model. The programming on the DSG/4motion version was really terrible for some reason, and I wanted the better highway fuel economy. Not to mention multiple bad experiences with DCTs in the past turned me off them.

[@chocolatewheelchair]

@@rudolphna54 that’s cool! It’s really hard to find a FWD in my area!

[@sefyue]

Great video as usual but if I may throw an info ; the awd model has launch control 😊 which makes it much faster from stop

[@Shmoo0fDoom72]

Awesome remarks about the Taos ☯️ 👌 thank you brother 🙏 Just got one in black ⚫️ and it's very lively and "tossable" as you say in the handling department 🏬...will there be a Ltd edition TGT (Taos GT edition)😀 Super duper special edition 😎

[@w0by]

Caranddriver got like 40mpg on a trip, not bad at all.

[@RichardVac]

Update! I tried the launch control of the 7 speed DCT on the Taos it works like charm, can't belive they advertise this vehicles as a 8.4 second 0-60 when in reality it can do 6.9 secons using regulat 87 gas when using launch cont

[@5000RR]

Has it been good to you? Getting one tommorow

[@RichardVac]

@@5000RR I also added The Burger Throttle tuner ($200) it's worth it, it makes this car alive, it feels so much faster with it and it's a plug and play device, easy thing to install, I love my Taos

[@hasandemirci6157]

Is there a sunroof?

[@Rockinbiker1946]

I owned a 2019 Tiguan and loved it. I tested a Taos recently and found this: A lot of hard plastic in the interior for a car of over $30K, rougher ride than the Tiguan, noisy engine that seems to struggle getting up to speed. For a thousand or so more, you can move into the Tiguan line and end up with more room, more power and less plastic.

[@chocolatewheelchair]

so what is it made of if not plastic

[@Calwinn]

@@chocolatewheelchair diamonds apparently

[@chocolatewheelchair]

@@Calwinn forever. F o r e v e r

[@srobeck77]

Don’t really care about the easily painted over tips. In northern states, it’s very hard to get the fwd versions of SUV’s. In fact Honda told me it wasn’t even possible, awd only. VW deal didn’t say it was impossible, but very difficult.

[@texusmad6202]

Diggin the early 90's vibe with the multi coloured shirt and somewhat muffled sound and grainy dim video quality... 🏵🌳⛳☎💾📺📷🗃🏳‍🌈

[@kpmmsupervision1297]

Another great great review.

[@leedawson22]

Nice review...

[@ProtestantismLeftBehind]

What about long term reliability of the 1.5 L with a turbo?

[@niceoneman5150]

The SUPES!

[@marcosavino4181]

does the start/stop can be turned off permanently?

[@RichardVac]

Yes, you have a button to the right of the shift knob, I also like to turn it off, but it saves gas if you live it on

[@samirarockler4908]

No, you can not permanently turn it off, you have to switch it off every time you start the car up.

[@David-vz5mv]

Are those Alden 403'3 "Indies"?

[@salahbarwari2957]

How do you open the Trunk from inside? I don’t see any buttons

[@chocolatewheelchair]

you don't - it is manual

[@Mettz97]

Why this gives me redesigned Dodge Journey vibez, but I like it....... 🙂👍

[@powertools2375]

Noooo. Now when I look at our Taos Ill im gonna see is a journey!!!

[@nattga]

VW tends to have a nicer refresh; therefore, I’d like to wait for later year.

[@shekharmoona544]

People complained about the transmission and switched to an 8 speed transmission in 2023. Picture if Ford was that responsive. They'll let you drive an engine with known coolant intrusion and blame the end user.

[@yvetteoregon1376]

I dont like the turn off when stop especially when its 90 outside 😒

[@missionabandoned]

no glovebox light is strange

[@exploreandthriftwithmario]

Anyone else having occasional high pitched squeaking when accelerating. (Occurs at city and highway speeds). Seems to happen when the gears shift. Lasts about 5 or so seconds. Stops immediately when I let off accelerator. I have the 8-speed auto (about 2,000 miles on it). Happens in "D" and in "S", maybe a little less in "S". TIA!

[@tulio3571]

Hi there is this bigger than the 2022 rav4 ? thanks

[@chocolatewheelchair]

No. The Rav is longer

[@michaelsmith9308]

This is like the baby brother MUCH shorter, and in comparison looks about 40% smaller side by side, basically a crostrek size.

[@yvetteoregon1376]

That on n off it burns more gas to me n seem like it would be more tear n where on the engine 🤔

[@millwrightman99]

nice car great review . I would like to buy one but that anemic engine is a giant turn-off. A 2 liter with about 200 hp would be the ticket for me .maybe they can come up with an R line that is more than just a letter on the tail of the car . I''ll even entertain 250 ho for an autobon-bon version.

[@4730301]

Humble Mechanic recently did a video for a part to bypass auto start/stop.

[@ofcbob6391]

Don't need it for this new Taos, it comes with the button to the right of the shifter to disable it, just as almost every new car. You still must go thru the routine of hitting that button every time you crank the car up tho. Just add that step to your pre-flight routine.

[@cheongyei]

I almost like this channel, but the idea that fake exhaust-look decor could bias you away from purchase of an otherwise commendable vehicle is a bit too dogmatic.

[@toronado455]

I have no particular problem with the fake exhaust. Most styling cues are "fake" anyway. It's all just decoration. I agree on the auto stop/start. Those systems are just terrible and automakers really should stop putting those systems into non-hybrid ICE vehicles. Speaking of "fake" auto stop-start is like fake hybrid technology.

[@srobeck77]

Idk man, auto start/stop has nothing to with being a hybrid. It’s just a (lame) attempt to turn the engine off to save gas while idling at a light.

[@toronado455]

@@srobeck77 I agree. What I mean is they should _at a minimum_ be 48v mild hybrids with a starter/generator so they can seamlessly stop and start the engine and keep the A/C on at a stop light.

[@srobeck77]

@@toronado455 o that would be a much smarter idea. But even then, sometimes at a light it might only last 2-5 seconds, so idk if its ever even worth it.

[@TalismanPHX]

Nice Review. Not feeling the styling -- the Hyundai Tucson is more my style.

[@toronado455]

The Tucson is *very* nice. Plus you can get it as a hybrid.

[@powertools2375]

I was between the Taos and the Tucson. Decided on the Taos, really like the design. Simple clean elegant.... only time will tell if we made the right choice

[@voyager6576]

@@powertools2375 how do you feel about it now after driving it for 3 months?

[@powertools2375]

@@voyager6576 still love it 12k miles

[@voyager6576]

@@powertools2375 great! And thanks for the update! Hope it serves you well. Are you getting the mpg it claims? 31mpg city+highway and 28 mpg city?

[@dustinryan1336]

No electric powered hatch on any trim even the SEL 😢

[@renegarneau8956]

First!