2025 Volkswagen Taos Mid-Cycle Refresh Ups Compact SUV’s Game

Volkswagen may best be recognized for their Golf hatchback series and other iconic designs (the Beetle and microbuses of old, for example, the latter soon to be revived by the ID. Buzz), but the brand has come a long way with their SUV portfolio, especially in the last decade or so. Consumers have a healthy lineup to choose from, and that includes the compact Taos, receiving a mid-cycle update for 2025.

The Taos is a relatively new player in the SUV game, having arrived on the scene for 2022 as a two-row utility for those looking for something smaller and perhaps working with a smaller budget. This mid-cycle update doesn’t alter that mission, but provides the Taos with more tools to accomplish it.

VW will tout the Taos as a fun to drive compact, and that’s a sentiment we agreed with in our original Road Test while throwing it through our slalom course; however, while acceptable off the line in our acceleration tests, we did find ourselves wishing for a little extra “oomph.” This update should remedy that, as total system output from the 1.5-liter turbo-four has been upped to 174 horsepower, up from 158. The EA211 engine has seen a number of hardware changes, including new piston rings and fuel injectors, a bigger intercooler for the turbo (the housing of which has been modified), and a new particulate filter. This engine is no longer hooked up to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic on all-wheel-drive models, instead receiving a traditional eight-speed automatic.

The 2025 Taos will come flavored in four trims: S, SE, SE Black and SEL, the first three standard front-wheel drive with all-wheel drive available, the SEL being AWD-exclusive. Regardless of trim and drive configuration, VW’s IQ.DRIVE assistance suite will come standard. This bundles up a number of safety features, like forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, and so on.

New design elements gussy up the exterior, including a new grille and an available light bar upfront, flanked by connected taillights and an illuminated Volkswagen badge adorning the rear. As expected, new wheel and paint options, including “Bright Moss Green,” are thrown into the mix. As for the interior, the 8-inch infotainment screen floating on the dash is standard in all models. Expect either cloth, leather or a mixture of materials depending on the trim.

The 2025 Volkswagen Taos is expected to arrive as U.S. dealers by the end of the year. Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but we assume it won’t stray far from the mid-$20,000 mark the ‘24 model starts at now.