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!
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!
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.
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!
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.
I just rented one of these, awd version. Outside temp was -25c , equipped with snow tires. Was a competent vehicle in the snow, good abs braking. Didn’t like the touchy gas pedal causing car to lurch unless I feathered the pedal. Good gas mileage. Felt safe and comfortable. Smooth at highway speeds.
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!
@@SyrupCanuck it was in the summer, but I can't achieve that in colder weather. Now that we have ethanol in our gasoline here, it has increased my fuel consumption as well, so I'm running around 7.1/7.2L per 100km.
@@russellcaldwell5942 Ya just the rates were nice and I mean for what little of a test drive it seemed decent but looking to save fuel from my 2019 KIA sorento ex v6 awd. So trying to find owners reviews.
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.
I rented a Taos this year from Vancouver to Seattle and back last May, and it was a pleasing ride, and mileage is good. Its android auto is good as I used my navigation thru it very minimal lag.
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.
I have had my 2024 Nline Kona Ultimate for about 1 month so far in Toronto Canada and I am loving it! The big screen/ Ventilated seats and the cameras are fantastic. Really happy with my purchase
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
The seltos is smaller annnnd read reviews on their warranty coverage from owners. I would personally stay with Vw due to their customer service and solid car. Great video
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.
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!
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.
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.
I hired a Taos and drove it over 4k kms across BC and Alberta. Solid performance, comfort, fun to drive, great takeover power, and, 6.3 l/100 km economy. TARDIS-like space... swallowing 4 adults and luggage. Wish we had these in Australia!
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.
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 review! I have a '24 Q3 but 1 of my kids is about to pop on a '24 Taos. Reference the piano black comments you both have... I could not agree more & that's certainly a big issue with not just VW, but with most if not all the German brands. I have way too much of it in a BMW, & certainly the Taos has too much of it. One of the BMW bosses was just challenged with that comment at a press event for the 2025 X3 & basically blew it off as being a classy element in the design. Also FWIW, big flat glass areas (such as in the Subaru) & shiny aluminum/chrome bits tons of manufacturers put inside cabins nowadays are right there as major annoyances as well.
Great video! Thank you for all of the great information. I have a 202 Taos SE FWD. Love the car but it's the lack of some of the safety features what I have an issue with. For an SE in this price range and category it lacks standard safety features like lane department and monitoring, lane assist and integrated turn signals (in mirrors). Also lacking ACC, Adaptive Cruise Control and rear cross traffic alert. There are other issues that drives me crazy, the cheap plastic on the dash and doors. Really VW? On a positive note, the vehicle drives really nice on the freeway. Very quiet and comfortable ride. Another "annoying" issue is that crazy beeping alarm sound when you open the driver door while the engine is running and also the turn signal sound, WTH!! It makes it feel cheap. I also had the issue with the engine light coming on the day after I bought the car. Dealer had to replace the "head gasket". :O
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.
Thanks for another great review! I like the design of the taos and as a manual driver, dual clutches are my preferred alternative when I can't get a manual anymore (but hopefully at least one car maker will keep a manual option in some cars).
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.
@@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.
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 FWD uses an 8 speed automatic sourced from Aisin (Toyota group of companies). That bodes well for reliability. Living in Florida I wouldn't bother with the AWD, especially since the FWD is supposed to get close to 40 MPG on the highway.
@@palebeachbum They use the same Aisin transmission in the Taos as they do in the Camry and RAV4. Check the Consumer Reports reliability ratings on those two for transmission issues (major and minor). Nothing but solid "green" for years. As far as the Taos goes, the main CR issue was with the DCT and both they and subscribers didn't like the way it performed more than it was breaking down. There was a fuel line problem and head gasket issue, but those were corrected. Plus they only have ratings for the launch year (2022). There weren't enough from 2023 or 2024 to give a reliability rating, just "expected". It wouldn't matter if the Taos now has stellar reliability with the current year, CR will never know and will continue to use the 2022 submissions by subscribers forever as their basis for ratings.
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 👌🏾
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.
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 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.
Nice review, but with some Rose Colored glasses on. The head gasket recall on 2022 & 2023 models was a major PITA for many owners, and require engine replacement in some cases. The rear brake pad wear is terrible, and has been addressed by a recall. I have a troblefree 2023 , but hesitate to take it on long trips due to the head gasket issue. My wife hates the DCT, I actually like it a lot. On balance, it was a lease that will be returned. VW should really issue a head gasket recall instead of waiting for engines to implode.
The head gasket issue was resolved for 2024. Also the same exact engine is used on the standard trim levels of the Jetta sedan (GLI uses a completely different engine and transmisión)
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.
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.
What do most people want in a vehicle. Reliability , Safety and dependability. Most of these reviewers recommend vehicles based on looks , driving dynamics and interior. So besides the west coast where do we.really get to enjoy driving dynamics when summer is always construction season in a Canada and remaining months you have snow. These same reviewers complain about the cost of vehicles. What they dont tell you is that if you add things like leather, panaromic roof, ventilated seats etc it adds thousands to the cost. Why?
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 have a 2017 Sportwagon 4 motion which adds up to 315 000km now. Still love to drive it. Never had a problem with the DSG. What a shame they discontinued it because I would have bought another one for another 300K km! I'm going to try the Taos and I believe I'm going to buy one soon.
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.
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.
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 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
I wouldn’t count on it. Adding the 2 liter EA888 gen 3 or 4 and DSG would not only increase its price substantially but would compete even more for the Tiguan sales and possibly GTI sales too. The Tiguan in the US market is very underpowered (184HP and 8-Speed Aisin Automatic) whereas the European MK2 Tiguan was fitted with the same Engine tuned to a proper 220HP and 7-Speed DSG. I don’t see the Taos adopting the 2 liter turbo. Would love to be proved wrong.
@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.
Before I decided to get the GTI I assumed I’d get a small crossover thing. The Taos was my favorite with regard to driving & visibility & huge sunroof with a shade. The Mazda CX30 has a much prettier interior but not great visibility. Maybe a little better to drive in some ways, but just didn’t like the large blind spot. Anyway, the GTI is a better choice over both of them in my opinion.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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!!!
How is the view out the front for a tall driver? I test drove the Crosstrek recently and the rearview mirror obstructed about 25% of my view through the windshield even with the seat at its lowest. I am 6’4” but was surprised by this as I have driven small cars in the past without encountering this issue.
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 ?
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
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...
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?
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.
Test drove one at the dealership in 2022. The blind spot sensors had an error and shut down mid-drive. Crazy but I didn't end up buying one! Also the throttle is really touchy, very annoying to drive.
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.
The Transmission tuning is absolutely horrible, I had this as a loaner and it was the worst vehicle I’ve driven because of that. Now, there may be a software update like a recall?
I don’t understand why they tuned it like that. My 2023 A4 has the same transmission and it’s buttery smooth. Overall it’s smoother than our Highlanders 8sp Aisin transmission.
@@JoeCole12Is a small displacement 1.4L turbo in that Taos. Note the standard Jetta uses the same exact engine as the Taos, but unlike the crossover, the Jetta does not offer a 4Motion AWD model and hence only offered with the Toyota sourced 8-Speed Aisin automatic. The only way to get a Jetta sedan with the DSG transmission is to go with the top trim GLI that comes with the 228HP EA888 gen 3 2 liter turbo. Seems to me the DSG is better suited for vehicles with larger displacement engines, 2 Liters and above. That may explain why the DSG 7-Speeds on my MK8 GTI and Arteon SEL Premium (As well as your A4)work so well and Smooth. Both cars have the EA888 gen 4 2 liter turbo (241HP on the GTI and 300HP in the Arteon) which translates on cars with better torque powerband to handle the DSG shifting characteristics. Thoughts?
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
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 🤣
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'm glad to hear it! I'm in the market for a car in this price point, and this car is on my shortlist.
@@ecclairmayo4153yes i say go for it!! i wish i would’ve went with the sel model though. but the base model it still great too 😊
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.
Have a 2023 FWD Taos love it!!
I got this car and was excited to see your review. It’s big enough for a small family - love the real buttons and the moonroof.
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!
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.
Team Taos! Love my 2024 Highline
I just rented one of these, awd version. Outside temp was -25c , equipped with snow tires. Was a competent vehicle in the snow, good abs braking. Didn’t like the touchy gas pedal causing car to lurch unless I feathered the pedal. Good gas mileage. Felt safe and comfortable. Smooth at highway speeds.
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!
Is yours an awd and getting sub 7 L per 100?
@@SyrupCanuck it was in the summer, but I can't achieve that in colder weather. Now that we have ethanol in our gasoline here, it has increased my fuel consumption as well, so I'm running around 7.1/7.2L per 100km.
@@russellcaldwell5942 nice. I wonder how the 24 model is. They have 1.99 percent on to 60 months and 1000 rebate
@@SyrupCanuck Idk, I see the 2025 is getting a refresh with a little more power and they're putting the 8 speed auto in all models now, no more DCT
@@russellcaldwell5942 Ya just the rates were nice and I mean for what little of a test drive it seemed decent but looking to save fuel from my 2019 KIA sorento ex v6 awd. So trying to find owners reviews.
This Taos is pretty good. 2 things I rather have are larger touchscreen and get rib of piano black. The gas mileage is good! Good show Andrea! ☕️☕️
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.
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
I own a 2023 top of the line VW Taos and very satisfied with its performance
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.
I rented a Taos this year from Vancouver to Seattle and back last May, and it was a pleasing ride, and mileage is good. Its android auto is good as I used my navigation thru it very minimal lag.
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.
I really like both of your car review styles; it feels relaxed and natural.
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
Have a 2022 Taos (FWD). Has been great. We regularly get 40+ mpg on non-interstate highways.
We rented one of these and I really liked it. Its a nice smooth ride. I liked it so much Im looking at videos haha
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
Amazing video. I love how you discuss everything in a smooth easy to follow manner, and most importantly very informative. Great job guys!!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I have had my 2024 Nline Kona Ultimate for about 1 month so far in Toronto Canada and I am loving it! The big screen/ Ventilated seats and the cameras are fantastic. Really happy with my purchase
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
The seltos is smaller annnnd read reviews on their warranty coverage from owners. I would personally stay with Vw due to their customer service and solid car. Great video
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.
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
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.
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.
I hired a Taos and drove it over 4k kms across BC and Alberta. Solid performance, comfort, fun to drive, great takeover power, and, 6.3 l/100 km economy. TARDIS-like space... swallowing 4 adults and luggage. Wish we had these in Australia!
We say "rented" here in Canada. 😁
@anthonystagliano9795 I've heard both used across my extensive Canadian experience...will check the Canadian Oxford dictionary for reference.
You guys have a good dynamic and are very fluid. Great content.
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 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 review! I have a '24 Q3 but 1 of my kids is about to pop on a '24 Taos. Reference the piano black comments you both have... I could not agree more & that's certainly a big issue with not just VW, but with most if not all the German brands. I have way too much of it in a BMW, & certainly the Taos has too much of it. One of the BMW bosses was just challenged with that comment at a press event for the 2025 X3 & basically blew it off as being a classy element in the design. Also FWIW, big flat glass areas (such as in the Subaru) & shiny aluminum/chrome bits tons of manufacturers put inside cabins nowadays are right there as major annoyances as well.
If this had the GTI powertrain, it would be perfect!
Get the GTI then. That’s what I did (MK8 GTI SE DSG)
That’s literally what a Q3 45 is 😂
Do you sell “one up from the base” t-shirts? Great review 😊
Great video! Thank you for all of the great information. I have a 202 Taos SE FWD. Love the car but it's the lack of some of the safety features what I have an issue with. For an SE in this price range and category it lacks standard safety features like lane department and monitoring, lane assist and integrated turn signals (in mirrors). Also lacking ACC, Adaptive Cruise Control and rear cross traffic alert. There are other issues that drives me crazy, the cheap plastic on the dash and doors. Really VW? On a positive note, the vehicle drives really nice on the freeway. Very quiet and comfortable ride. Another "annoying" issue is that crazy beeping alarm sound when you open the driver door while the engine is running and also the turn signal sound, WTH!! It makes it feel cheap. I also had the issue with the engine light coming on the day after I bought the car. Dealer had to replace the "head gasket". :O
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!
Thanks for another great review! I like the design of the taos and as a manual driver, dual clutches are my preferred alternative when I can't get a manual anymore (but hopefully at least one car maker will keep a manual option in some cars).
Zach @ 4:31 had me on the floor laughing 😂 😂😅
I love you guys 😅😊😊
0:40 - the yellow VW bus in the background ☺
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.
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
I always find it interesting how there are different names for the trims in Canada vs. USA. I'd like to see the marketing research behind that
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!
I just bought one, switch to Eco Mode, better fuel economy, the turbo charger gives you that extra torque, no sudden jerkiness
I have the 2023 Taos SE, love it! My only complaint, the stop/start feature.
Very educativ i just bought one after the video and i really like it
The FWD uses an 8 speed automatic sourced from Aisin (Toyota group of companies). That bodes well for reliability. Living in Florida I wouldn't bother with the AWD, especially since the FWD is supposed to get close to 40 MPG on the highway.
Thank goodness I got a FWD!
Taos reliability is rated very poor. Toyota has been having transmission issues for the last few years, which doesn't help the Taos.
@@palebeachbum They use the same Aisin transmission in the Taos as they do in the Camry and RAV4. Check the Consumer Reports reliability ratings on those two for transmission issues (major and minor). Nothing but solid "green" for years. As far as the Taos goes, the main CR issue was with the DCT and both they and subscribers didn't like the way it performed more than it was breaking down. There was a fuel line problem and head gasket issue, but those were corrected. Plus they only have ratings for the launch year (2022). There weren't enough from 2023 or 2024 to give a reliability rating, just "expected". It wouldn't matter if the Taos now has stellar reliability with the current year, CR will never know and will continue to use the 2022 submissions by subscribers forever as their basis for ratings.
Loved my 20’ Jetta- I would dig this! Thx you 2
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 👌🏾
i just got me a 2024 S and i love it¡
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.
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 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.
Nice review, but with some Rose Colored glasses on. The head gasket recall on 2022 & 2023 models was a major PITA for many owners, and require engine replacement in some cases. The rear brake pad wear is terrible, and has been addressed by a recall. I have a troblefree 2023 , but hesitate to take it on long trips due to the head gasket issue. My wife hates the DCT, I actually like it a lot. On balance, it was a lease that will be returned. VW should really issue a head gasket recall instead of waiting for engines to implode.
The head gasket issue was resolved for 2024. Also the same exact engine is used on the standard trim levels of the Jetta sedan (GLI uses a completely different engine and transmisión)
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.
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.
What do most people want in a vehicle. Reliability , Safety and dependability. Most of these reviewers recommend vehicles based on looks , driving dynamics and interior. So besides the west coast where do we.really get to enjoy driving dynamics when summer is always construction season in a Canada and remaining months you have snow. These same reviewers complain about the cost of vehicles. What they dont tell you is that if you add things like leather, panaromic roof, ventilated seats etc it adds thousands to the cost. Why?
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 have a 2017 Sportwagon 4 motion which adds up to 315 000km now. Still love to drive it. Never had a problem with the DSG. What a shame they discontinued it because I would have bought another one for another 300K km! I'm going to try the Taos and I believe I'm going to buy one soon.
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 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
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 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
Looks like 2025 will have a big update year for the Taos also I agree the 2.0liter with the dsg would make this way better
I wouldn’t count on it.
Adding the 2 liter EA888 gen 3 or 4 and DSG would not only increase its price substantially but would compete even more for the Tiguan sales and possibly GTI sales too. The Tiguan in the US market is very underpowered (184HP and 8-Speed Aisin Automatic) whereas the European MK2 Tiguan was fitted with the same
Engine tuned to a proper 220HP and 7-Speed DSG. I don’t see the Taos adopting the 2 liter turbo. Would love to be proved wrong.
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.
Beautiful color
You only get the piano black on the comfortline Black Edition, the regular comfortline is more of a blue ish dash
@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.
Before I decided to get the GTI I assumed I’d get a small crossover thing. The Taos was my favorite with regard to driving & visibility & huge sunroof with a shade.
The Mazda CX30 has a much prettier interior but not great visibility. Maybe a little better to drive in some ways, but just didn’t like the large blind spot.
Anyway, the GTI is a better choice over both of them in my opinion.
4:35 I don't think I've ever seen a more terrified face in my life
Would LOVE a GTF. Have a 7.5 GTI here
The Golf GTD disappeared from the model range with the 8.5 update.
The CloudTex seats in the SE trim are a lot more comfy than the SEL leatherette.
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.
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.
As Taos has less power than Crosstrek (2.5L), but with DSG, would it be felt more "responsive" than crosstrek?
Hey guys love your channel but where is the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid?
Andrea is wearing that blue 💙 🎯🤩
Easy there fella, she is taken already..
Base model has everything I need except speakers. But for the price, I can live with that. Reliability is the only issue
I think it has about the same power as the 1.3L turbo in the Trailblazer. How does it compare to GM's engine?
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.
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?
60month 1.99 rate atm. Thinking about it
Great deal
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!!!
When does the radio start playing " Am i blue"....🧐🤣🤣🤣
How is the view out the front for a tall driver? I test drove the Crosstrek recently and the rearview mirror obstructed about 25% of my view through the windshield even with the seat at its lowest. I am 6’4” but was surprised by this as I have driven small cars in the past without encountering this issue.
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 ?
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
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...
Can you guys do a review on 2204 VW Jetta?
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?
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.
Test drove one at the dealership in 2022. The blind spot sensors had an error and shut down mid-drive.
Crazy but I didn't end up buying one! Also the throttle is really touchy, very annoying to drive.
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.
What do they say, you only buy a Volkswagen once. Wonder why ?
Because they are junk
@@christinemercer8891🤡
The Transmission tuning is absolutely horrible, I had this as a loaner and it was the worst vehicle I’ve driven because of that. Now, there may be a software update like a recall?
I don’t understand why they tuned it like that. My 2023 A4 has the same transmission and it’s buttery smooth. Overall it’s smoother than our Highlanders 8sp Aisin transmission.
@@JoeCole12Is a small displacement 1.4L turbo in that Taos. Note the standard Jetta uses the same exact engine as the Taos, but unlike the crossover, the Jetta does not offer a 4Motion AWD model and hence only offered with the Toyota sourced 8-Speed Aisin automatic. The only way to get a Jetta sedan with the DSG transmission is to go with the top trim GLI that comes with the 228HP EA888 gen 3 2 liter turbo.
Seems to me the DSG is better suited for vehicles with larger displacement engines, 2 Liters and above. That may explain why the DSG 7-Speeds on my MK8 GTI and Arteon SEL Premium (As well as your A4)work so well and
Smooth. Both cars have the EA888 gen 4 2 liter turbo (241HP on the GTI and 300HP in the Arteon) which translates on cars with better torque powerband to handle the DSG shifting characteristics. Thoughts?
@@Pamlicojdjdj1487 Interesting, I never considered the smaller displacement engine being a factor. Wonder why they didn’t put an Aisin 8sp in it?
@@JoeCole12 Good point. The 4Motion Tiguan in the US and Canada offers the 8 speed Aisin so I don’t think is a limitation on that gearbox.
I do a double take every time I see that blue. Beautiful! :)
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