2025 Volkswagen Taos Will Debut September 12 With Revised Styling, More Tech

3 months, 1 week ago - 11 September 2024, autoevolution

Named after New Mexico's Taos, the entry compact utility vehicle from Volkswagen Group of America will be refreshed for 2025. Scheduled to premiere on September 12, the North American sibling of the Volkswagen Tharu for China rides on the MQB A1 platform of the Skoda Karoq and Jetta VS5.

As you can tell from the design teaser published by Volkswagen Group of America on social media, the front end has been modified by means of revised headlights, upper and lower grilles, and bumper. A full-width light bar can also be seen. Based on spy photos of camouflaged prototypes, there is a chance for a light bar on the liftgate as well.

Despite being a major update rather than a new generation, the 2025 Volkswagen Taos will certainly boast a slightly revised cabin with better infotainment. Speaking of tech, September 3 saw Volkswagen Group of America publish a release about bringing ChatGPT functionality to most 2025 models and certain 2024 models. Regarding the latter, only the ID.4 with the 82-kWh battery gets ChatGPT-enabled voice assistance.

Back on June 13, the North American division released information about most of the 2025 model year lineup for the US market. Unfortunately, the Wolfsburg-based automaker did not share any relevant information about the redesigned Volkswagen Taos and third-gen Tiguan, which is due by the end of 2024.

Revealed in European spec back in September 2023 as a 2024 model, the new Tiguan offers a longer wheelbase in China, where it's marketed as Tiguan L Pro. However, the long-wheelbase Tiguan for Europe and the UK will be known as the Tayron, while the long-wheelbase Tiguan for America will soldier on as the Tiguan. Just the Volkswagen Group doing Volkswagen Group stuff, right?

Turning our attention back to the Taos, the newcomer shouldn't feature any significant updates from the 2024 model. In other words, look forward to a slightly returned 1.5-liter turbo inline-four engine connected to either a torque-converter automatic or a dual-clutch box. The eight-speed automatic is exclusive to front-wheel-drive vehicles, while the seven-speed DSG is for 4MOTION vehicles.

Classified as a small SUV by the EPA, the 2024 Volkswagen Taos comes with either torsion-beam or multi-link rear suspension. As expected, the independent setup is exclusive to all-wheel-drive vehicles. The 4MOTION system in question is a Haldex design, meaning that it's better suited to driving on the road than off the beaten path.

Rated at 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet (250 Nm) of twist, the 1.5-liter engine of the Taos was developed for regular unleaded rather than premium dinosaur juice. Combined fuel economy ranges from 31 miles per gallon (7.6 liters per 100 kilometers) with front-wheel drive to 27 (8.7) when specified with the 4MOTION system.

With the changeover to the 2025 model, we look forward to slightly higher MSRPs for the Taos. For 2024, the build & price tool shows a starting price of $23,995 for the S grade. At the other end of the spectrum, the SEL is $33,515 plus the $1,425 freight charge.