Those of us who either grew up with and learned on manual transmissions, or currently own one, understand the transmission and will have no problem with it. The issue with the majority of car buyers today is they've never driven a car without a true automatic transmission and couldn't drive a manual if their life depended on it. Dual clutch transmissions like this are just fine.
I've had several manual transmission cars. The best thing about a manual is having the control of when to shift and being able to put the car in neutral at times to coast - often when approaching a stop. The DSG offers none of that - it is perplexing and has a jerky feel. When coming to a stop the DSG downshifts awkwardly. In retrospect - I should of went with the conventional 8 speed transmission - just these seem to be harder to find in higher trim/premium features.
Love this car, people complaining about the transmission don't understand the dsg. Drivers better than all competitors and is faster too plus all the nice features!
I have a 2022 Taos Comfortline with 72000 kms on it. It has had the head gasket replaced under warranty. It was the gasket that was used originally, so it has been replaced with a better one. I would not say that it's been unreliable, though, it has not let me down once so far, even the amount of coolant that it leaked was very minimal. I like the DSG it's a very enjoyable drive and I consistently get under 7L/100km on the highway! Thank you for the great reviews, I purchased my VW based partly on your review of the 2022 and my own research! I love it, just wish they would include a power liftgate! Toyota and Chevy can do it in this class!
Hi, we have a 2022 Taos. The dual clutch transmission is easy to master. When pulling away from a stop, don’t just slide your foot off the brake and hit the power. Instead, release the brake and let the clutch take up on its own. Then apply power. This only takes about half a second and voila, no jerkiness. Once you get used to it, your driving is smooth as glass. Cheers, John
so put it in drive and take foot off the break but dont quite press the gas pedal? instead let the clutch take over to move the car forward before accelerating?
@@talalztubeBasically, that’s it. If you just slide from the brake pedal and hit the gas like a typical automatic, the clutches slam in hard causing the car to jerk forward when you are pulling away. However, if you release the brake and wait for the car to start to move forward, the clutches pick up the load normally. This happens in about half a second. Then when you accelerate, everything is very smooth. This transmission is a manual that is operated automatically, so when you are initially pulling away, you are kind of imitating driving a stick shift. Sounds a bit weird, but it’s about the best way I could put it. Oh, a little side benefit, when in reverse, the transmission makes life a little easier. For instance I back into my driveway which is a slight uphill grade. So when going into my driveway, I just let the car reverse on its own. A lot easier than with a normal automatic.
I’ve always been curious about VW and wanted to buy one, however listening to people deterred me. My male best friend always said I needed German engineering due to the way I drive! Recently, I promised myself I would start listening to my intuition. This past week I purchased a 2024 Taos. I am totally in love! I am a driver and love the handling, smooth ride and all the safety features!
I rented a new 2024 Taos 2 weeks ago in Dallas when I visited my Mom and I felt some jerking on the transmission when i press the gas. Feel some choke on it but not always. I recommend to test drive first before buying it
Hi Guys, I like the way it handles, acceleration is great. I pass my 2022 Taos S model to a relative. The best NO CVT Trans..wonderful, great content. Thank You GUYS and have a great day.
Although I have very limited knowledge or experience with this Volkswagen, I’ve been very impressed with these Tiguan-lites. Great size, great looks and has (most) of the qualities I love about these stoic, clearly Germanic SUVs (CUVs). Thanks for the video.
Got a Taos highline in November ‘23. Hated the jerky transmission so much, replaced that Taos with a Tiguan R-Line, a few weeks ago. What a pleasant change from the Taos…!!!
Was the Taos 4Motion AWD? If so it had the DSG transmission. FWD Taos has the Aisin 8 speed automatic same exact gearbox as your new Tiguan. My main issue with the US market Tiguan is how underpowered it is (184HP). The R-Line model sold in Europe has the same Engine but tuned to 220HP and 7-Speed DSG. Much better performing vehicle.
You mean just barely touch it? I have a '24 taos and when I'm going 5-10mph (parking lot speed) the lunging is absolutely horrendous. But if this tip helps it that'd be great
My 2022 Taos was a bit hard to handle at first, but it’s a “smart” transmission, and as I learned how best to drive it, it was learning how I drove and adapted. After a month or so, that thing was so smooth, my grandmother would think she’s riding on a cloud...well she kinda is right now, dead 40 years...but you know what I mean. Plus it’s got LAUNCH CONTROL! And it works like a charm....I was getting very low 7 second 0-60 times when I discovered it.
Can you expand on what the inputs are on how the DSG learns how a driver is driving and "adapts"? To me the DSG has 2 primary inputs - is speed = x (to check when to shift up or down) and is the break applied. If it is pulling tons more driving data and doing a deep analysis - i'd like to know what that is.
@@ericstarr3591 I don’t pretend to know technically how it all works, but when I was talking to the VW tech, he said because the DSG is essentially a manual transmission with two clutches that are computer controlled, no torque converter, sensors assess several things such as, the amount of pressure on the throttle, what mode you drive in the most,(sport/normal/eco) and uses an algorithm to “predict” what the driver inputs might be. That’s about as far as my understanding of it went. What I could understand, because most of my previous cars were manual transmissions, that the way the clutch worked was different in every car, as were the gear ratios, that until you got used to them, it could be a really jerky ride. The DSG just adds a computer and an extra clutch to the mix.
Great video. As a Taos owner I’ll say reliability has been wonderful. No problems. Can’t say enough about the space - it’s huge considering it’s a subcompact. Huge! And driving dynamics are wonderful. The 4 Motion is superb in all weather conditions. Drove back to back with a friend’s Q3 and the Taos is more fun. Audi is great too, but Taos is enjoyable!
The latest Consumer Reports VW Taos review: very good driving test results (for handling and braking), very bad expected reliability, very bad owner satisfaction ratings. I wish VW would clean up their act.
@@navoo9009Not necessarily. 1.4 tsi was proven and torquey motor. I don't get it. Why replace with 1.5 tsi that appears to be some issue right now? Or could be poor quality of assembly.
They are. Perform maintenance like changing oil every 5K miles. Don’t let small problems become big problems. These cars don’t take owner neglect and skipped oil changes kindly over the long haul.
Great video, I have had my medium blue Taos FWD for over 2 months now and I love the car! I previously had a 2021 Kia Seltos that was quite jerky with the transmission and underpowered so it's defiantly an upgrade for me. It has lots of power when I need it and it's great on gas and can handle high winds really well! The cruise control is very responsive and keeps the car within the lanes unlike my Kia used to drift and float within the lane markers on the highway. Very happy camper!
VW is not forgiven for discontinuing the base Golf. It's the only car for me. 91 Mk2 stick, then (one of the last) 21 Mk 7.5 8-speeds. Bit of a difference there.
Would be nice to have the option of the T-Roc here in North America, unfortunately only available in Europe. Any indication from VW that it might be coming here at some point?
Never. Neither T-ROC nor the T-Cross are certified by the NHTSA and EPA for sale in the US. There is also a good reason for that. Both of those small crossovers are based on the entry level VW Polo and no Polo derivatives are sold in North America either. It Makes it very difficult and costly to certify. Those models are sold a plenty in Latin America (South-Central) and some Caribbean countries. Also they are built either in Portugal, South Africa or Brazil. If you want one I am afraid you are going to have to move to another continent.
Don't have a Taos but have had VW cars since 1994. Am on my 4th now and it has the dual clutch transmission. Now I did go from a manual to this but I absolutely love the DC. The jerkiness can be eliminated by learning how to adjust the RPM's when shifting down. Suppose to do it automatically just a little off. Could be a problem with my vehicle. Live in the Rockies and have a lot of hills in my community and I can grab the gear I want for both climbing and going down hill. At 225,000K still have over 60% of the brake pads left. Average between 45 - 50,000K/year and other than routine maintenance have not put any money into the car.
I have a 2021 Tiguan and a 2022 Jetta which has the same engine as the Taos. There is a definite drop of quality from the Tiguan to the Taos. I may buy back my Tiguan but the Jetta is definitely going back - most likely early. The only reason I'm keeping it is the lease is $430 per month for a comfortline SE.
The Taos looks great. I like both the Tiguan and the Taos, but the Taos seems like the best deal. Plus, subcompacts still feel huge to me, so the Taos would be just enough car imo 👌🏾
Had a VW Golf in my youth with a manual transmission. The Taos has the same DNA and is a lot of fun to drive. My Taos does lose coolant slowly and I carry a bottle of refill coolant when the light comes on.
Most of the general public do not understand how DCT transmissions work and they complain it’s not smooth. Salespeople such as yourself do a great job of explaining how this particular transmissions behaves. It’s traditionally a sports car spec and will be more of a visceral sport experience. The torque figure really stuck out when I saw the engine specs. I love how DCT’s shift a mini kick in the back like highest end sports cars. Otherwise, they can stick with their CVT’s.😂 Btw, this car is in my wheelhouse of next cars. Do you have a coupon code when I go to VWVan?
The transmission bends time to adapt to your driving. The 8 sp allows too. When I bought my Volvo with the same 8 speed auto I hated it. Shifted at the wrong times. Now it’s normal.
@@mart0225 I didn’t think Volvo used dual clutch transmissions? It was a rental car, so maybe there’s some of that causing issues with drive ability. However, other VAG cars with dual clutches have driven great, from Audi S-Tronic to Porsche Macan PDK.
@@CalebCissnaVolvo uses the Aisin 8sp auto. My point is transmissions need time to learn the driver’s habits. Though, as Andrea said, a dual clutch will never be a smooth as a conventional automatic.
Love your reviews. You're right the Taos is very much a fat Golf, and tries it's best (but doesn't fully) replace the discontinued Golf Sportwagen. I have a 2017 Sportwagen Comfort and love it. It is the most efficient and versatile 'sports car' I have ever owned. Most impressive is how important torque is -189lb/ft @ a very impressively low 1800 rpm making it available where it's most needed while cruising. All accomplished with regular fuel and170hp. To that point, although you did mention The Taos used regular, I wish there was more emphasis in your reviews, on which vehicles NEED premium fuel. Given the Golf and now the Taos performance without premium, I suggest it would be appropriate to use this engine as a benchmark of performance so your viewers can benefit from a more economical ongoing cost of ownership.
I like your reviews, I wish whenever you mention numbers (measurements) to have the info in metric also (subtitles/cc?). Living in Canada can be quite confusing, as many things are metric but we are also expected to know imperial, which is not my case. Keep it up!
The Buick Encore GX has all the features you mentioned that were missing in the sub-compact SUV category, Zack (except heated rear seats). It has a power liftgate with foot activation, remote start, rear view mirror camera (not backup camera), 360 degree view parking, etc, etc! And you can manually shift gears too! Reliability? I owned one for six years without problems and you mentioned it was number four in JD Power reports in your review of the Encore GX. But you always recommend Honda, Toyota and Kia in your four-car comparisons. Sigh.
It’s got the fun factor alright…it was fun getting it towed because everything stopped working, even the fob. 2024 and only had it 4 mos. Lesson learned the hard way.
I had the dual clutch transmission in two vw’s and they both drove great. However at 40k miles the transmission service is close to $1,000 usd. Buy prepaid service if you can that includes this service.
I own a 2024 Taos. It surprised me with the interior space, console layout and color (no bright colors), decent acceleration, and great fuel economy. It’s packed with safety features. I just didn’t like the transmission jerks when Down shifting quickly… other than that a great vehicle. K Ok love my Black Pearl.
I purchased a 2024 VW Taos S AWD from a dealer in NY last Sunday (8/18). After picking up the car and arriving home, I noticed that the airbag warning light was on. Since yesterday, a yellow check engine light has also come on, and when I start the car, I see an "error: Airbag" message, along with a new "error: Fuel tank system" message. Although I’m scheduled to visit the service center this Saturday, I'm shocked that such issues are occurring in a brand new car with less than 100 miles on it. It makes me seriously question the build quality of this vehicle.
Have an Audi with their genuine DCT (not FWD base) and I like it very much most of the time. However is stop and go traffic, and even worse when having a series of stops to do, say every 100 ft in a residential area, it can drive me banana. You either have to come to a complete stop, pause and be very patient before resuming or the poor trans tries to slip those clutches so much resulting in jerkiness, delays and potentially lots of aggravation. Enough for me that I won't be getting another DCT; staying with Audi it would mean getting a S4 or S5 but boy they are now so expensive...
The standard Golf 8 lives on in Europe and other overseas markets. I still think it was a huge mistake in part of VW Group of America to completely eliminate the standard Golf 8 in the US and Canada. Yes you can still get the GTI and Golf R fortunately
I drove a 2022 Taos and found two things unacceptable. -1- The DCT was very jerky and -2- there was a two second turbo delay before power delivered to vehicle. This was a huge safety issue for me when turning left in front of traffic. Buyer beware!!!
It’s jerky because you have it in Eco mode. Put it in Normal mode, and drive it more like a manual, meaning, when you accelerate, keep constant power with purpose. Do not idle creep. When you take off, mean it. It will not be jerky, but a smooth power through. I also think that if it had the Tiguan 182hp engine with the DSG, it would be perfect.
Two things where VW cheaped out that bug me: No overhead grab handle for the driver (makes getting out more of a chore) and no length adjustment for the passenger sun visor. As is, it's too short to block the sun if it's coming in just to the right of the mirror. That said, I do appreciate the rear seat vents. What's the use of a generous rear seat if the passengers are roasting ?
Today I got it for rental this week, and drives nice and smooth but Reliability is a concern for me, VW Turbo burns oil and uses plastic parts that fail in cold environments in Canada, more suitable for European climate
My wife and I had a 2024 Taos loaner for six months while her 2018 Tiguan was at the dealer getting repaired. Good power, but poor execution of transmission and brakes. It was impossible to drive smoothly. BTW, the Tiguan is back in the shop.
The only problem is the dual clutch with the Taos is the lag wen downshift and wen from a stop. It could be better tuned my brother has a Audi q5 and his car is so much smoother at low speed, I hope they make the Taos smoother with software updates to the transmission
I actually am finding DCTs smoother in most situations, at least in my X1. Where every past car I’ve owned often felt like it was frequently hunting for gears especially around town, the x1 has had silky smooth and consistent coasting speeds/feel in between lights. Where I do feel weirdness in the DCT is sometimes starting from a stop though I’m getting used to how to better manage the throttle to avoid that feeling. It also somewhat often hits highs high rpm rev points when slowing down to turn that feels unusual coming from all my past vehicles being standard automatics. That said, if I were driving around big city streets with many lights and stop/go and turns, I could see the dct feeling a bit jerky.
I had a ZF 8 speed in my 2015 X1, great trans. The secret is the lock-up torque converter, locks up in 2nd, no "slippage" thereafter. Paddles helped too. I usually found it beneficial to lock it in 8th when cruising on the flat, otherwise it downshifted at the slightest provocation, not good for economy . . . gotta stay close to best BMEP.
If you are doing more highway driving what do you think performs better in terms of power ( nit worried about fuel consumption). The Tao, the crosstreck or the Subaru forester?
@2:09 I drove it...sort of...Looking closely at the TAOS because I drove the platform cousin, the SEAT ATECA over in Europe a few weeks ago, and yes it was in manual and it was great. on a side note on that same trip I drove the Ford Puma ST Line, what a little rocket, cant understand why Ford doesn't sell them in north America.
I’ve just seen and known a few people that had major engine issues which leads to a lot of complaints and issues. So not sure if this has been fixed. But not sure if I would be on board to buy it.
I have a (Cobb tuned) 2017 Golf Alltrack that I like quite a bit. In my family there's also a 2019 Tiguan SE that I've driven quite a bit. I actually prefer the DSG transmission in the Alltrack as well as the more car like driving dynamics. The Tiguan has a nicer interior and was more comfortable, but is wallowy and slow. Is the Taos closer to being a "fat Golf" as you call it or is it closer to the Tiguan in driving dynamics? Or does it somehow manage to adequately split the difference between the two?
In Summer of 2021, we shopped the loaded AWD Taos. Everything felt nice, tight, and compatible, except the DSG in city driving. Taos’ transmission wasn’t as bad as my 2012 Jetta TDI, but still unnerving with its lack of smoothness. It’s a shame that after all these years, this clunkiness is “good enough for the customer” and nobody can engineer a DSG that doesn’t shudder or lurch.
The dnka 1.5 litre is a wonderful engine, yes is has issue with the head gasket but it got resolve and really doesn’t cause damage. Brakes on all vw wears fast so no big deal really
The DSG is not bad. I have no idea what people are talking about. Maybe their first DSG? I love my 2024 SEL. I hate these new fake suvs but this Taos I find it enjoyable. Complaint? I wish it had launch control. Needing to move from 0 in a urgent moment feels sluggish
it does - turn off asr, enter sport mode, apply brake, rev up to 3000rpm ("entering launch program" will appear on screen) release brake. it's in the manual.
I have had a 2024 taos since December. No the delay still sucks. It is improved when you switch modes (Eco, Normal, Sport) but obviously the tradeoff is worse gas mileage
Here is my theory…. I believe DSG transmissions are best suited for larger displacement engines with more generous torque power bands (2 liters and above). Both of my VWs (MK8 GTI and Arteon SEL Premium) have 2 liter turbos EA888 gen 4 with generous HP and torque power bands (241HP/273TQ and 300HP/295TQ respectively) and the DSG operation from standstill and shifting is imperceptible and silk smooth. I wonder if the rather small displacement 1.4L 4cyl turbo used in the Taos (And Jetta) is really not well suited to interact with a DSG gearbox? Note the FWD Taos comes fitted with the Toyota sourced 8-Speed Aisin as well as all trim Levels of the standard Jetta (Or a manual transmission not offered in the Taos). Jetta has no 4Motion AWD model so no DSG offered in that sedan outside of the GLI (Which comes with a larger displacement 2 liter 228HP EA888 gen 3 engine). Thoughts?
I have a 2022. Problem is it’s a car frame. So the brakes were never upgraded for this cuv, or suv weight. Horrible navigation system. But the cargo room is great.
The engine in this thing is a menace. I used as a rental and I swear it almost killed me twice the acceleration lag is so so bad. I compare it to the engine in my Toyota Yaris Cross and its horrifically bad.
It's going on my nerves saying couple of times that they get rid of the Golf.... If they don't sell it on American continent it doesn't mean did they get rid of the Golf
VW could have done so much more with this car… I do look forward to the next gen, but this car could’ve been less plain on the inside, even for VW (which I enjoy, I’ve owned two).
You certainly couldn’t get away with the “GTF” in this day and age. But, you’d score super high points for inclusion if you called it the “GTBP” BP for body positivity, of course! That being said, if you count the European market, does the T-roc R count as a Taos that’s been on Ozempic? 🤔
Did you guys know that the Taos is not really that new of a model? It started life in China as the VW Tharu first released back in 2018. So this is actually a pretty old car. The Taos didn’t come into the North American market until 2022, 4 years after its China market debut. This explains why the Taos interior is Golf/GTI MK7.5 in look and feel because it is from that era of VW. The Taos is also sold as the Tharu in some south East Asian countries (Philippines, etc) as well as Mexico (Where is made for NAFTA and Latin American countries). Taos is really nothing new.
The infotainment looks like it’s the same from the mk7.5 golf. Is this a sign of VW admitting mistakes with the golf 8 infotainment? Does it feel dated with the smaller screen (by today’s standards)?
Wrong. The Taos is an older Chinese market VW Tharu (Look it up) first introduced there back in 2018. That car predates the MK8 updates so as expected you will find MK7.5 era interior configuration, rotary knobs, 8 inch MiB3 Panasonic glass top infotainment, hard buttons and real gear shifter. As the older MK7.5 models are updated or migrated over to the 8 and 8.5 platforms you will see buttons, mechanical gear shifters all disappear.
Those of us who either grew up with and learned on manual transmissions, or currently own one, understand the transmission and will have no problem with it. The issue with the majority of car buyers today is they've never driven a car without a true automatic transmission and couldn't drive a manual if their life depended on it. Dual clutch transmissions like this are just fine.
I've had several manual transmission cars. The best thing about a manual is having the control of when to shift and being able to put the car in neutral at times to coast - often when approaching a stop. The DSG offers none of that - it is perplexing and has a jerky feel. When coming to a stop the DSG downshifts awkwardly. In retrospect - I should of went with the conventional 8 speed transmission - just these seem to be harder to find in higher trim/premium features.
@ericstarr3591 8 speed are less reliable and keeps changing gears hence will wear off thr transmission faster.
Love this car, people complaining about the transmission don't understand the dsg. Drivers better than all competitors and is faster too plus all the nice features!
I have a 2022 Taos Comfortline with 72000 kms on it. It has had the head gasket replaced under warranty. It was the gasket that was used originally, so it has been replaced with a better one. I would not say that it's been unreliable, though, it has not let me down once so far, even the amount of coolant that it leaked was very minimal. I like the DSG it's a very enjoyable drive and I consistently get under 7L/100km on the highway! Thank you for the great reviews, I purchased my VW based partly on your review of the 2022 and my own research! I love it, just wish they would include a power liftgate! Toyota and Chevy can do it in this class!
Team Taos! Love my 2024 Highline
Hi, we have a 2022 Taos. The dual clutch transmission is easy to master. When pulling away from a stop, don’t just slide your foot off the brake and hit the power. Instead, release the brake and let the clutch take up on its own. Then apply power. This only takes about half a second and voila, no jerkiness. Once you get used to it, your driving is smooth as glass. Cheers, John
Exactly, if you drive stick, you’ll understand
so put it in drive and take foot off the break but dont quite press the gas pedal? instead let the clutch take over to move the car forward before accelerating?
@@talalztubeBasically, that’s it. If you just slide from the brake pedal and hit the gas like a typical automatic, the clutches slam in hard causing the car to jerk forward when you are pulling away. However, if you release the brake and wait for the car to start to move forward, the clutches pick up the load normally. This happens in about half a second. Then when you accelerate, everything is very smooth.
This transmission is a manual that is operated automatically, so when you are initially pulling away, you are kind of imitating driving a stick shift. Sounds a bit weird, but it’s about the best way I could put it.
Oh, a little side benefit, when in reverse, the transmission makes life a little easier. For instance I back into my driveway which is a slight uphill grade. So when going into my driveway, I just let the car reverse on its own. A lot easier than with a normal automatic.
I’ve always been curious about VW and wanted to buy one, however listening to people deterred me. My male best friend always said I needed German engineering due to the way I drive! Recently, I promised myself I would start listening to my intuition. This past week I purchased a 2024 Taos. I am totally in love! I am a driver and love the handling, smooth ride and all the safety features!
I have a 2022 Taos, I love it, you can’t beat the gas mileage!
How much are you getting?
My 2022 Jetta with the same engine gives me less than 5ltr per 100km / highway
I rented a new 2024 Taos 2 weeks ago in Dallas when I visited my Mom and I felt some jerking on the transmission when i press the gas. Feel some choke on it but not always. I recommend to test drive first before buying it
Hi Guys, I like the way it handles, acceleration is great. I pass my 2022 Taos S model to a relative. The best NO CVT Trans..wonderful, great content. Thank You GUYS and have a great day.
Love your show. Excellent review as always. Very funny when Andrea started to accelerate and you got scared and said there is a car in front of us.
Although I have very limited knowledge or experience with this Volkswagen, I’ve been very impressed with these Tiguan-lites. Great size, great looks and has (most) of the qualities I love about these stoic, clearly Germanic SUVs (CUVs). Thanks for the video.
Got a Taos highline in November ‘23. Hated the jerky transmission so much, replaced that Taos with a Tiguan R-Line, a few weeks ago. What a pleasant change from the Taos…!!!
Was the Taos 4Motion AWD? If so it had the DSG transmission. FWD Taos has the Aisin 8 speed automatic same exact gearbox as your new Tiguan. My main issue with the US market Tiguan is how underpowered it is (184HP). The R-Line model sold in Europe has the same
Engine but tuned to 220HP and 7-Speed DSG. Much better performing vehicle.
Sorry you can't learn to drive
I really like both of your car review styles; it feels relaxed and natural.
Position your foot on top of the accelerator pedal to help reduce the annoying lunging. It’s weird but it helps a lot.
You mean just barely touch it? I have a '24 taos and when I'm going 5-10mph (parking lot speed) the lunging is absolutely horrendous. But if this tip helps it that'd be great
My 2022 Taos was a bit hard to handle at first, but it’s a “smart” transmission, and as I learned how best to drive it, it was learning how I drove and adapted. After a month or so, that thing was so smooth, my grandmother would think she’s riding on a cloud...well she kinda is right now, dead 40 years...but you know what I mean. Plus it’s got LAUNCH CONTROL! And it works like a charm....I was getting very low 7 second 0-60 times when I discovered it.
I went from a Taos to a Q5. The Taos was actually better in almost every way. It was noticeably smoother. My badge envy killed me.
@@johntaylor1145To me the Q5 needs major updating. Nice vehicle but long on the tooth
@@Pamlicojdjdj1487 I didn’t end up keeping it. I drive a Hyundai. I probably won’t keep that long either. 😂
Can you expand on what the inputs are on how the DSG learns how a driver is driving and "adapts"? To me the DSG has 2 primary inputs - is speed = x (to check when to shift up or down) and is the break applied. If it is pulling tons more driving data and doing a deep analysis - i'd like to know what that is.
@@ericstarr3591
I don’t pretend to know technically how it all works, but when I was talking to the VW tech, he said because the DSG is essentially a manual transmission with two clutches that are computer controlled, no torque converter, sensors assess several things such as, the amount of pressure on the throttle, what mode you drive in the most,(sport/normal/eco) and uses an algorithm to “predict” what the driver inputs might be.
That’s about as far as my understanding of it went. What I could understand, because most of my previous cars were manual transmissions, that the way the clutch worked was different in every car, as were the gear ratios, that until you got used to them, it could be a really jerky ride. The DSG just adds a computer and an extra clutch to the mix.
Great video. As a Taos owner I’ll say reliability has been wonderful. No problems. Can’t say enough about the space - it’s huge considering it’s a subcompact. Huge! And driving dynamics are wonderful. The 4 Motion is superb in all weather conditions. Drove back to back with a friend’s Q3 and the Taos is more fun. Audi is great too, but Taos is enjoyable!
As for the DSG transmission - drive it for yourself. It’s better than any CVT, plus you can master it. It’s a great SUV. Wish we had a manual 🤣
Do you sell “one up from the base” t-shirts? Great review 😊
The latest Consumer Reports VW Taos review: very good driving test results (for handling and braking), very bad expected reliability, very bad owner satisfaction ratings. I wish VW would clean up their act.
I wouldn't even bother to listen consumer reports completely. They will always recommend something else then the something else isn't always better.
Had 2 VWs in the past, never again…..utter junk unreliable 💩
That's typical of VW in the U.S. They drive well, but are piles of rubbish to own.
I've had two Golfs, a Tiguan and now an Arteon. Nothing's ever failed and only one recall (a reflash) on the Tiguan. I'm touching wood right now 😂
I have a 2015 golf that still feels new. Has been good to me.
I like it but I’ve read the Taos is plagued with issues.
*like everything from VAG*
@@navoo9009Not necessarily. 1.4 tsi was proven and torquey motor. I don't get it. Why replace with 1.5 tsi that appears to be some issue right now? Or could be poor quality of assembly.
It’s mostly VW, not just this model
Head gaskets blowing with recalls and brakes wearing out recalls
Honestly, seems to be the 2022 models and the First half of 2023. First year issues as always for any company
0:40 - the yellow VW bus in the background ☺
Zach @ 4:31 had me on the floor laughing 😂 😂😅
I love you guys 😅😊😊
Great review guys, as usual. Love VW. Just wish they were more reliable on a long run.
They are. Perform maintenance like changing oil every 5K miles. Don’t let small problems become big problems. These cars don’t take owner neglect and skipped oil changes kindly over the long haul.
Great video, I have had my medium blue Taos FWD for over 2 months now and I love the car! I previously had a 2021 Kia Seltos that was quite jerky with the transmission and underpowered so it's defiantly an upgrade for me. It has lots of power when I need it and it's great on gas and can handle high winds really well! The cruise control is very responsive and keeps the car within the lanes unlike my Kia used to drift and float within the lane markers on the highway. Very happy camper!
I'm going to buy this 2024 Taos for my son who plays Alto and Tenor in High School Marching Band
VW is not forgiven for discontinuing the base Golf. It's the only car for me. 91 Mk2 stick, then (one of the last) 21 Mk 7.5 8-speeds. Bit of a difference there.
Would be nice to have the option of the T-Roc here in North America, unfortunately only available in Europe. Any indication from VW that it might be coming here at some point?
Never. Neither T-ROC nor the T-Cross are certified by the NHTSA and EPA for sale in the US. There is also a good reason for that. Both of those small crossovers are based on the entry level VW Polo and no Polo derivatives are sold in North America either. It Makes it very difficult and costly to certify. Those models are sold a plenty in Latin America (South-Central) and some Caribbean countries. Also they are built either in Portugal, South Africa or Brazil. If you want one I am afraid you are going to have to move to another continent.
You guys have a good dynamic and are very fluid. Great content.
Don't have a Taos but have had VW cars since 1994. Am on my 4th now and it has the dual clutch transmission. Now I did go from a manual to this but I absolutely love the DC.
The jerkiness can be eliminated by learning how to adjust the RPM's when shifting down. Suppose to do it automatically just a little off. Could be a problem with my vehicle.
Live in the Rockies and have a lot of hills in my community and I can grab the gear I want for both climbing and going down hill. At 225,000K still have over 60% of the brake pads left. Average between 45 - 50,000K/year and other than routine maintenance have not put any money into the car.
I have a 2021 Tiguan and a 2022 Jetta which has the same engine as the Taos. There is a definite drop of quality from the Tiguan to the Taos. I may buy back my Tiguan but the Jetta is definitely going back - most likely early. The only reason I'm keeping it is the lease is $430 per month for a comfortline SE.
The Taos looks great. I like both the Tiguan and the Taos, but the Taos seems like the best deal. Plus, subcompacts still feel huge to me, so the Taos would be just enough car imo 👌🏾
Had a VW Golf in my youth with a manual transmission. The Taos has the same DNA and is a lot of fun to drive. My Taos does lose coolant slowly and I carry a bottle of refill coolant when the light comes on.
Most of the general public do not understand how DCT transmissions work and they complain it’s not smooth.
Salespeople such as yourself do a great job of explaining how this particular transmissions behaves. It’s traditionally a sports car spec and will be more of a visceral sport experience. The torque figure really stuck out when I saw the engine specs. I love how DCT’s shift a mini kick in the back like highest end sports cars.
Otherwise, they can stick with their CVT’s.😂
Btw, this car is in my wheelhouse of next cars. Do you have a coupon code when I go to VWVan?
I drove a 23 or 24 Taos at work last night and hated it. The transmission is that bad. The rest of it was nice enough but that ruined the experience.
The transmission bends time to adapt to your driving.
The 8 sp allows too. When I bought my Volvo with the same 8 speed auto I hated it. Shifted at the wrong times. Now it’s normal.
@@mart0225 I didn’t think Volvo used dual clutch transmissions?
It was a rental car, so maybe there’s some of that causing issues with drive ability. However, other VAG cars with dual clutches have driven great, from Audi S-Tronic to Porsche Macan PDK.
@@CalebCissnaVolvo uses the Aisin 8sp auto. My point is transmissions need time to learn the driver’s habits.
Though, as Andrea said, a dual clutch will never be a smooth as a conventional automatic.
Was it the AWD 4Motion model (DSG) or the standard FWD Taos (Toyota-Aisin 8 speed automatic torque converted)?
@@Pamlicojdjdj1487 4Motion
This could be a great small suv if it was more reliable. Consumer Reports rated it horrible, 1 of the worst for reliability. 😢
Stick to 2024 model year and up.
C R is owned by Japan. They trash every vehicle that isn't made in Japan.
Love your reviews. You're right the Taos is very much a fat Golf, and tries it's best (but doesn't fully) replace the discontinued Golf Sportwagen. I have a 2017 Sportwagen Comfort and love it. It is the most efficient and versatile 'sports car' I have ever owned. Most impressive is how important torque is -189lb/ft @ a very impressively low 1800 rpm making it available where it's most needed while cruising. All accomplished with regular fuel and170hp. To that point, although you did mention The Taos used regular, I wish there was more emphasis in your reviews, on which vehicles NEED premium fuel. Given the Golf and now the Taos performance without premium, I suggest it would be appropriate to use this engine as a benchmark of performance so your viewers can benefit from a more economical ongoing cost of ownership.
I like your reviews, I wish whenever you mention numbers (measurements) to have the info in metric also (subtitles/cc?). Living in Canada can be quite confusing, as many things are metric but we are also expected to know imperial, which is not my case. Keep it up!
What do they say, you only buy a Volkswagen once. Wonder why ?
Because they are junk
@@christinemercer8891🤡
The Buick Encore GX has all the features you mentioned that were missing in the sub-compact SUV category, Zack (except heated rear seats). It has a power liftgate with foot activation, remote start, rear view mirror camera (not backup camera), 360 degree view parking, etc, etc! And you can manually shift gears too! Reliability? I owned one for six years without problems and you mentioned it was number four in JD Power reports in your review of the Encore GX. But you always recommend Honda, Toyota and Kia in your four-car comparisons. Sigh.
Yes, we really liked it too.
Buick Encore, as most GMs, are manufactured in China. No thanks!
The Golf GTD disappeared from the model range with the 8.5 update.
Loved my 20’ Jetta- I would dig this! Thx you 2
Andrea is wearing that blue 💙 🎯🤩
Easy there fella, she is taken already..
It’s got the fun factor alright…it was fun getting it towed because everything stopped working, even the fob. 2024 and only had it 4 mos. Lesson learned the hard way.
The CloudTex seats in the SE trim are a lot more comfy than the SEL leatherette.
I had the dual clutch transmission in two vw’s and they both drove great. However at 40k miles the transmission service is close to $1,000 usd. Buy prepaid service if you can that includes this service.
I own a 2024 Taos. It surprised me with the interior space, console layout and color (no bright colors), decent acceleration, and great fuel economy. It’s packed with safety features. I just didn’t like the transmission jerks when Down shifting quickly… other than that a great vehicle. K Ok love my Black Pearl.
I purchased a 2024 VW Taos S AWD from a dealer in NY last Sunday (8/18). After picking up the car and arriving home, I noticed that the airbag warning light was on. Since yesterday, a yellow check engine light has also come on, and when I start the car, I see an "error: Airbag" message, along with a new "error: Fuel tank system" message.
Although I’m scheduled to visit the service center this Saturday, I'm shocked that such issues are occurring in a brand new car with less than 100 miles on it. It makes me seriously question the build quality of this vehicle.
Have an Audi with their genuine DCT (not FWD base) and I like it very much most of the time. However is stop and go traffic, and even worse when having a series of stops to do, say every 100 ft in a residential area, it can drive me banana. You either have to come to a complete stop, pause and be very patient before resuming or the poor trans tries to slip those clutches so much resulting in jerkiness, delays and potentially lots of aggravation. Enough for me that I won't be getting another DCT; staying with Audi it would mean getting a S4 or S5 but boy they are now so expensive...
Hey guys love your channel but where is the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid?
Base model has everything I need except speakers. But for the price, I can live with that. Reliability is the only issue
The standard Golf 8 lives on in Europe and other overseas markets. I still think it was a huge mistake in part of VW Group of America to completely eliminate the standard Golf 8 in the US and Canada. Yes you can still get the GTI and Golf R fortunately
I drove a 2022 Taos and found two things unacceptable. -1- The DCT was very jerky and -2- there was a two second turbo delay before power delivered to vehicle. This was a huge safety issue for me when turning left in front of traffic. Buyer beware!!!
It’s jerky because you have it in Eco mode. Put it in Normal mode, and drive it more like a manual, meaning, when you accelerate, keep constant power with purpose. Do not idle creep. When you take off, mean it. It will not be jerky, but a smooth power through.
I also think that if it had the Tiguan 182hp engine with the DSG, it would be perfect.
Two things where VW cheaped out that bug me: No overhead grab handle for the driver (makes getting out more of a chore) and no length adjustment for the passenger sun visor. As is, it's too short to block the sun if it's coming in just to the right of the mirror. That said, I do appreciate the rear seat vents. What's the use of a generous rear seat if the passengers are roasting ?
I think it has about the same power as the 1.3L turbo in the Trailblazer. How does it compare to GM's engine?
Can you guys do a review on 2204 VW Jetta?
Today I got it for rental this week, and drives nice and smooth but Reliability is a concern for me, VW Turbo burns oil and uses plastic parts that fail in cold environments in Canada, more suitable for European climate
I do a double take every time I see that blue. Beautiful! :)
My wife and I had a 2024 Taos loaner for six months while her 2018 Tiguan was at the dealer getting repaired. Good power, but poor execution of transmission and brakes. It was impossible to drive smoothly. BTW, the Tiguan is back in the shop.
The wheels should have a machined face highlight. The design is completely lost, especially with the bright body colour.
The only problem is the dual clutch with the Taos is the lag wen downshift and wen from a stop.
It could be better tuned my brother has a Audi q5 and his car is so much smoother at low speed, I hope they make the Taos smoother with software updates to the transmission
I actually am finding DCTs smoother in most situations, at least in my X1. Where every past car I’ve owned often felt like it was frequently hunting for gears especially around town, the x1 has had silky smooth and consistent coasting speeds/feel in between lights. Where I do feel weirdness in the DCT is sometimes starting from a stop though I’m getting used to how to better manage the throttle to avoid that feeling. It also somewhat often hits highs high rpm rev points when slowing down to turn that feels unusual coming from all my past vehicles being standard automatics.
That said, if I were driving around big city streets with many lights and stop/go and turns, I could see the dct feeling a bit jerky.
I had a ZF 8 speed in my 2015 X1, great trans. The secret is the lock-up torque converter, locks up in 2nd, no "slippage" thereafter. Paddles helped too. I usually found it beneficial to lock it in 8th when cruising on the flat, otherwise it downshifted at the slightest provocation, not good for economy . . . gotta stay close to best BMEP.
If you are doing more highway driving what do you think performs better in terms of power ( nit worried about fuel consumption). The Tao, the crosstreck or the Subaru forester?
Get rid of any VW suv before 60K, and you're fine.
As the former owner of 1 Audi and 3 VW’s, i concur.
Hahahahahah
Is the engine direct injection only?
@2:09 I drove it...sort of...Looking closely at the TAOS because I drove the platform cousin, the SEAT ATECA over in Europe a few weeks ago, and yes it was in manual and it was great.
on a side note on that same trip I drove the Ford Puma ST Line, what a little rocket, cant understand why Ford doesn't sell them in north America.
I’ve just seen and known a few people that had major engine issues which leads to a lot of complaints and issues. So not sure if this has been fixed. But not sure if I would be on board to buy it.
these kids both have nice tastes in watches
As Taos has less power than Crosstrek (2.5L), but with DSG, would it be felt more "responsive" than crosstrek?
I wish all mainstream car companies had the 4 year 50K mile warranty.
Good to know about this option when it comes time to replace the 14 year old manual transmission Subaru Forester.
I have a (Cobb tuned) 2017 Golf Alltrack that I like quite a bit. In my family there's also a 2019 Tiguan SE that I've driven quite a bit. I actually prefer the DSG transmission in the Alltrack as well as the more car like driving dynamics. The Tiguan has a nicer interior and was more comfortable, but is wallowy and slow. Is the Taos closer to being a "fat Golf" as you call it or is it closer to the Tiguan in driving dynamics? Or does it somehow manage to adequately split the difference between the two?
In Summer of 2021, we shopped the loaded AWD Taos. Everything felt nice, tight, and compatible, except the DSG in city driving. Taos’ transmission wasn’t as bad as my 2012 Jetta TDI, but still unnerving with its lack of smoothness. It’s a shame that after all these years, this clunkiness is “good enough for the customer” and nobody can engineer a DSG that doesn’t shudder or lurch.
The dnka 1.5 litre is a wonderful engine, yes is has issue with the head gasket but it got resolve and really doesn’t cause damage. Brakes on all vw wears fast so no big deal really
Brakes wear fast? Depends on how you drive. My 2019 Golf wagon has 60K miles and original brakes have plenty of pad left.
They do. So much so they have a warranty extension 2y/40k km on pads.
Disagree with the brakes wear
The DSG is not bad. I have no idea what people are talking about. Maybe their first DSG? I love my 2024 SEL. I hate these new fake suvs but this Taos I find it enjoyable. Complaint? I wish it had launch control. Needing to move from 0 in a urgent moment feels sluggish
it does - turn off asr, enter sport mode, apply brake, rev up to 3000rpm ("entering launch program" will appear on screen) release brake. it's in the manual.
Do you not recommend the Mazda CX-30?
I Love this car but didn’t get it because of the horrific turbo lag, have they improved it?
I have had a 2024 taos since December. No the delay still sucks. It is improved when you switch modes (Eco, Normal, Sport) but obviously the tradeoff is worse gas mileage
Here is my theory…. I believe DSG transmissions are best suited for larger displacement engines with more generous torque power bands (2 liters and above). Both of my VWs (MK8 GTI and Arteon SEL Premium) have 2 liter turbos EA888 gen 4 with generous HP and torque power bands (241HP/273TQ and 300HP/295TQ respectively) and the DSG operation from standstill and shifting is imperceptible and silk smooth. I wonder if the rather small displacement 1.4L 4cyl turbo used in the Taos (And Jetta) is really not well suited to interact with a DSG gearbox? Note the FWD Taos comes fitted with the Toyota sourced 8-Speed Aisin as well as all trim
Levels of the standard Jetta (Or a manual transmission not offered in the Taos). Jetta has no 4Motion AWD model so no DSG offered in that sedan outside of the GLI (Which comes with a larger displacement 2 liter 228HP EA888 gen 3 engine). Thoughts?
I have a 2022. Problem is it’s a car frame. So the brakes were never upgraded for this cuv, or suv weight. Horrible navigation system. But the cargo room is great.
The engine in this thing is a menace. I used as a rental and I swear it almost killed me twice the acceleration lag is so so bad. I compare it to the engine in my Toyota Yaris Cross and its horrifically bad.
Reminds me of the Skoda Kodiaq
Is it true FWD SE will get 28 mpg in the city ?
A great looking Volkswagen Taos...but not dependable according to it's track record.
@ 4: 36 you got to edit out the part were you had zero confidence in your wife driving. LOL 🤪
It's going on my nerves saying couple of times that they get rid of the Golf.... If they don't sell it on American continent it doesn't mean did they get rid of the Golf
VW could have done so much more with this car… I do look forward to the next gen, but this car could’ve been less plain on the inside, even for VW (which I enjoy, I’ve owned two).
How about GTP for phat? 😊
Nearly as powerful as my mower!
whats the name this is colors?
You certainly couldn’t get away with the “GTF” in this day and age.
But, you’d score super high points for inclusion if you called it the “GTBP”
BP for body positivity, of course!
That being said, if you count the European market, does the T-roc R count as a Taos that’s been on Ozempic? 🤔
Are they planning on re designing it? It’s been out for some time now
It’s getting a mild refresh in 2025.
@@Ulvaeus has it been unveiled yet?
Came out just 2 years ago😂
@@Pamlicojdjdj1487 came out in 2020… 😹😹😹
@@mathislaplante5271 Introduced in China back in 2018 as the VW Tharu. Introduced in NA in 2021 as the 2022 Taos.
Seems VW is delivering good products recently
did you say 4 spearkers audio?? that isn't much. And piano black....no thanks
Attractive car but just can't do a VW....
Did you guys know that the Taos is not really that new of a model? It started life in China as the VW Tharu first released back in 2018. So this is actually a pretty old car. The Taos didn’t come into the North American market until 2022, 4 years after its China market debut. This explains why the Taos interior is Golf/GTI MK7.5 in look and feel because it is from that era of VW. The Taos is also sold as the Tharu in some south East Asian countries (Philippines, etc) as well as Mexico (Where is made for NAFTA and Latin American countries). Taos is really nothing new.
The infotainment looks like it’s the same from the mk7.5 golf. Is this a sign of VW admitting mistakes with the golf 8 infotainment? Does it feel dated with the smaller screen (by today’s standards)?
The Taos hasn't had any large updates, so it kept the smaller screen. VW has greatly improved the new infotainment system, after a lot of backlash.
Wrong. The Taos is an older Chinese market VW Tharu (Look it up) first introduced there back in 2018. That car predates the MK8 updates so as expected you will find MK7.5 era interior configuration, rotary knobs, 8 inch MiB3 Panasonic glass top infotainment, hard buttons and real gear shifter. As the older MK7.5 models are updated or migrated over to the 8 and 8.5 platforms you will see buttons, mechanical gear shifters all disappear.
I didn't know Zack had a daughter.
First wife?
If you want one of these just lease it.
I've driven the Taos and wanted to love it but it feels like the Taos was made by the bean counters at VW. I expect more personality from a VW.
It’s like Tiguan but is much cheaper!👍👍👍👍👍
"Blue piping"...
Looks like blue stitching to me, but I'm not a professional upholsterer.
😎🤓