The Volkswagen Taos, which is the smaller of these two vehicles, is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that outputs 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. This engine is mated to either front-wheel drive and a slick eight-speed transmission or all-wheel drive and a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Front-wheel drive models earn an EPA-estimated 28/36/31 MPG (City/Highway/Combined)1 while all-wheel drive versions get an EPA-estimated 25/32/28 MPG (City/Highway/Combined).1 Volkswagen leaves it to drivers to decide whether to prioritize a stronger connection with the road or fuel economy.
As we move on with the Tiguan vs. Taos comparison, we reach the VW Tiguan specs. This bold SUV is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that outputs 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. As with the VW Taos, you can choose between front- or all-wheel drive.
The front-wheel drive (FWD) models score an EPA-estimated 23/30/26 MPG (City/Highway/Combined),1 and the all-wheel drive (AWD) iterations enjoy an EPA-estimated 22/29/25 MPG (City/Highway/Combined).1 As we compare Taos vs. Tiguan, we see that the VW Taos has a more efficient engine but that the VW Tiguan has more power. Drivers can choose which suits their needs best.