VW Taos vs. Toyota RAV4

When you’re looking for the right crossover SUV, you have a lot of options. Consider your driving style, budget, and amenity preferences to help you narrow down your choices. You’re sure to be left with two of the top crossover models available on your list — the Volkswagen Taos and the Toyota RAV4. But choosing between these vehicles can be tough, as they both offer a comfortable ride with style and flair. That’s why we’ve broken down your options into a handy comparison to help you decide which model is right for you and your lifestyle.

Comfort

The Volkswagen Taos and the RAV4 both share some of the same cabin features. They both have room for up to five passengers, and front bucket seats offer a comfortable place for everyone. Depending on the trim level you opt for, you’ll also find common upgraded features, such as a panoramic sunroof, wireless charging capabilities, a six-way power adjustable driver’s seat, and a 12-volt power outlet.

Thanks to conveniences such as center and overhead consoles, you’ll have no problem finding places to keep your things. Although these two vehicles have a lot of similarities, you’ll also notice some differences between them.

In the RAV4, you can get fabric-trimmed seats that look and feel superb as you drive. However, if you want to up the comfort level, go with the Taos. It features CloudTex and cloth seating surfaces. Plus, you can upgrade to leather seating surfaces to add even more luxury to the cabin. Leather isn’t available for the RAV4. Both crossovers offer heated front seats as an option, but you’ll only get ventilated seating as an upgrade if you choose the Taos. Taller passengers may also appreciate the extra headroom in the Taos, which has a clearance of 40.7 inches.

Performance

To get you where you need to go, the RAV4 has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood. It produces 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. For your other option, the Taos has a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine that provides it with all the power you’ll need to get you anywhere you want to go. This block delivers 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. Both of these engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that helps to smoothly glide the transition between gears.

You can choose the top-of-the-line Taos to get 4MOTION. This incredible feature will help provide improved traction and stability when road conditions get a little challenging by distributing power between the front and back wheels. When you take the Toyota RAV4 out on the highway, you’ll get about 35 mpg, while city driving will get you 27 mpg. If you want to eke that mpg up by a bit, go with the Taos. This crossover gets 36 mpg out on the highway and up to 28 mpg in the city.

Safety

While many automakers today offer a range of safety technologies for their products, Toyota and Volkswagen each receive high safety ratings on their popular crossover SUVs. Some of the safety features you’ll find regardless of which of these cars you fall in love with include:

• Back-up camera.
• Tire-pressure monitor.
• Traction control.
• Driver air bag.
• Passenger air bag.
• Front and rear head air bags.

The Taos and the RAV4 both have keyless entry and remote start options as well. Additional safety features that are available for the Taos include:

• Dynamic road sign display.
• Blind-spot monitor.
• Travel assist.
• Lane assist.

Appearance

From any angle, the 2022 Taos or RAV4 is sure to catch some eyes when you drive by. They both have sleek angles, available rear spoilers off the roofline, and a bold yet not intimidating stance. But, while either ride is slick, they do have some differences to be aware of before deciding which one is right for you. For example, if color is a feature at the top of your list, knowing that your paint options vary and which model offers your favorite is vital. With the Taos, you can choose from:

• Deep Black Pearl.
• Dusk Blue Metallic.
• Platinum Gray Metallic.
• Pure White.
• Pyrite Silver Metallic.

For the RAV4, you have the option of these colors:

• Lunar Rock.
• Lunar Rock body / Ice Edge roof.
• Midnight Black Metallic.
• Ruby Flare Pearl.
• White.

Wheels come in 17-, 18-, and 19-inch sizes for the Taos. If you a want RAV4, you’ll only have 17- or 19-inch wheels to choose from. Roof rails come standard on the Taos and are available on the RAV4, and they’re perfect for taking extra stuff on a long getaway.

Price

It’s true that both the 2022 Volkswagen Taos and the 2022 Toyota RAV4 are reasonably priced. When purchasing a new vehicle, however, it’s important to go over your budget to ensure you can afford the payments if you’re financing. Even if you’re paying cash, you’ll need to know what your insurance premium will be for your new vehicle as well as any other fees for things such as routine maintenance.

The starting MSRP for the Volkswagen Taos is $24,155, and from there, it goes up depending on the features you add. You can get the Toyota RAV4 for a base MSRP of $26,975. Of course, you could treat yourself to a top-tier trim for just a little more. The base MSRP for the highest Taos trim is only $33,645. If you want the top-of-the-line RAV4, you’ll pay a base MSRP of $36,875.

Warranty

Another area where you’ll notice a difference between the Taos and the RAV4 is in their warranties. The Taos comes with a four-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, while the RAV4’s basic warranty coverage is only for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. The corrosion warranty for the Taos is seven years, and for the RAV4, this warranty is good for five years.

If you’re ready to come test drive a 2022 Taos, stop by Capistrano Volkswagen. We’d love to answer any questions you have and take you out for a spin. You’ll discover why so many people love the versatility of a crossover after you take the Taos out on the road.