2022 Volkswagen Taos: Frugal Fuel Economy
The 2022 Volkswagen Taos will become VW’s smallest SUV when it hits dealerships. While it may be a bit pricier than some of its competitors, the Taos will be fairly competitive when it comes to gas mileage, according to just-released EPA estimates.
Related: Volkswagen Will Take You to Taos for $24,190
The Taos will be available in front- or all-wheel drive; FWD models will use an eight-speed automatic transmission, while AWD versions get a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. Both versions will use the same turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 184 pounds-feet of torque.
With FWD, the estimated fuel economy ratings for the Taos are 28/36/31 mpg city/highway/combined. The 31-mpg combined figure matches the highest ratings of the FWD 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer and 2022 Kia Seltos and exceeds the 28-mpg combined rating of the FWD 2021 Mazda CX-30 (the 2022 model hasn’t been rated as of this writing).
As expected, the AWD Taos has lower ratings than its FWD variant, at 25/32/28 mpg. Those figures are a little less competitive, depending on the engine choices of the other small SUVs, but are not the lowest in the class. By comparison, the AWD 2022 Seltos is rated at 27 mpg combined with its turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine and 29 mpg combined with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder. The AWD 2022 Trailblazer matches the Taos at 28 mpg combined. With optional AWD, the 2021 Mazda CX-30 is toward the bottom of the group: Its standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder is rated at 26 mpg combined, while the more powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder drops to 25 mpg.
The AWD-only 2021 Subaru Crosstrek is rated at 30 mpg combined with its standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder and continuously variable automatic transmission, and drops to 29 mpg with the more powerful 2.5-liter four-cylinder and CVT. Opt for the six-speed manual with the 2.0-liter and that rating drops to 25 mpg.
Volkswagen says the Taos will go on sale in June.
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