The roller slip test failure wasn’t just the tire, it was also due to the very limited suspension travel. The fact that three wheels were slightly elevated unloaded the fourth wheel too much, further reducing the traction.
@@rich_svoboda- this Taos is a bit too much though. We have cabins up a 3 mile trail of rather rutted 2 track. I drive my 4x4s in there and most are pretty high level with all having rear lockers at least. My wife, with farm driving experience in the foothills of the Rockies drive in without effort in her 2024 Crosstrek Limited with some aggressive all weather tires (not all seasons) drives in there effortlessly. We had 8 inches of snow last week and she had no issues. I even met her half way as I was already out there expecting to have to tow her. No problems. I had the tractor with the snow blower on it so the road was sorta clear by the time I got to her. It was easier for her but the ruts were still snow filled and she straddled them in until the slick tracks sucked her in. She still just drove in using X-mode. Next year I will spend the $$ to build the road in. It has to be elevated with ditches the entire length to control the several feet of snow melting we typically get there each year. It’s really expensive!!! About $380K more if I pave it of course. You climb about 1100 vertical feet on the hilly trail in. It’s not easy. Even with getter tires, the Taos has no chance.
I have the 2024 version 4motion w/ dsg transmission and it is not the smoothest but it’s sporty and has smoothed out. The kumho tires are garbage, but it’s a great car so far. I especially recommend the Taos if you’re tall or have tall people in your family. The cabin is huge for a small vehicle.
Several snarky comments below. Probably wannabe's with jealousy issues. Don't let them diminish your positive attitudes and obvious great work ethic. Just keep on pursuing excellence as you all have in the past. I Enjoy your reviews and the addition of Jen. Viewers should remember the context of this video: this is an introduction review, not a Consumer's Report reliability survey or IIHS crash test. Are TFL productions perfect? Probably not - but they are among the best on the internet. Thank you for the pleasant diversions from my high stress life. I very much look forward to many more great TFL productions in 2025 and beyond. Happy New Year!!!!!
We bought a 24 recently and it is incredible on snow and especially deep snow-- the combination of the 8" under the car and the awd system did things i really was not expecting in a couple of big snowstorms last year, one of which was 2 feet.
I have a 23 Taos se black 4 motion I bought for my daughter. I immediately switched out the tires to some Bridgestone Weatherpeaks had zero issues in the snow.
Solid Review you two, Good value but vw is in the bottom 5 of reliability out of 30 manufactures , That’s an issue I would feel for a lot of new buyers. From a viewer since day 1, Happy Holidays to the whole TFL family, your humor& content is second to none !
Lol tells me you’ve never owned one. The thing that gets most people on cars is looking up what things cost before they buy them. Otherwise you get surprise bills, and think quirks are lemons. I never believed reliability survey, every one I’ve bought is “low scoring” all have made it into 100k plus miles basic upkeep. We have lemon laws for a reason, sure design defects happen. Look what’s happening at Toyota and Honda right now, but people keep buying them. Yikes. Every manufacturer has issues.
Not the tires that are the problem, no weight on them because the suspension does not let it drop enough. If the tires were all at the same height, it could have done it easier. But as you have mentioned previously, that is part of the test.
@volvo09 it's just enough weight for the for it to not be able to pull the vehicle up and over the rollers. If the rollers were flat(tires didn't sink into) it would have easily done it.
Not gonna lie I am not a big VW person but the fact that it did that off road test without over heating is really kind of impressive, it’s better result than more “reliable” vehicles have done.
It's going to be the perfect car to buy one year old. $26-27k with low miles. VW undersized its tires, for rolling resistance and gas mileage. If you go to a 225 60 or 65 you will have better results off-road. It made a huge difference on my Tiguan.
The problem was grip compared to other vehicle tests it couldn't move. But on a flat surface like dirt or snow it doesn't have to push the tires out, which are sunken in the rollers.
VW makes great-looking vehicles that drive well...when they're drivable. Bottom of the list for reliability, routinely. The AWD system did terribly in this test compared to other CUVs they've tested in this segment. It's a shame because VW otherwise appeals to my senses.
Im pretty sure it was having such a hard time with the traction test because it didnt have enough articulation to put weight down on the wheel. Pretty bad considering its only 2 inches up on each wheel.
It bottomed out at the end of the trenches; the bumper was on the ground, and that’s why it wasn’t moving. It had to drag the bumper on the ground to get out. I guess if you are looking for good departure angle, keep looking.
If this car was even average reliability, it would be one of the best cars on the market. The size is almost perfect. Huge inside for its class with rear seat room approaching “compact suv” territory, a giant trunk for its class, compact dimensions for parking, all the tech, and decent power. It is a little expensive but I’ve seen huge discounts on these that help bring price down. It’s like the size of a first gen CRV or first gen Tiguan, and those were nice size cars imo.
It's not a manual shifter. Automatic lever stick also it's not a she. Other than that, it's a good review. Also, how does this compare to the entry-level S model?
The difference at least for Toyota is they have real 4x4s you can buy. So they don’t need their Toyota Highlander to have a capable AWD system tuned for off road use. If you want that, get a 4Runner.
VW has edible soy wire coatings and biodegradable foam which is also edible. We were told to spray wd40 all over every exposed wire or go buy the pepper infused wrapping tape to prevent further animal damage. The jetta we leased was parked on a busy street yet was eaten by some critter. Seems the wires smell good when warm. Also biodegradable means the wiring is going bad before you buy. I loved old bugs and owned a gen1 vr6 gti but so very happy when we turned the jetta back in to the dealer. Thanks
I suggest becoming a horsepower junkie, or at least more knowledgeable, because that amount is actually towards the most in the segment and combined with its ample torque, acceleration is more than adequate for the size of vehicle.
This VW brand is a disastrous brand to own. You mentioned about improvements in this vehicle? How do you know that 😂. Is she claiming this false claim just like what she did on her BMW 😂😂 The only good thing about this VW is that it is slightly better than taking a bus but eventually these VW engines will bankrupt the middle class. The VW engines are garbage. Off-roading like that on that angle you starving the engine without oil. You just killed off half the life on that engine 😂 People are not mindful of fuel economy, they are concerned about reliability.
@@vicariousity3046without reliable engine and plastic components in the engine…does that equate to improvements? 🤦🏻♂️ A Mercedes 300D from the 80s that’s the benchmark for German reliability, how about Volvo 240 from the 80s that’s the benchmark for Swedish reliability….these New 2025 VWs are disastrous.
The roller slip test failure wasn’t just the tire, it was also due to the very limited suspension travel. The fact that three wheels were slightly elevated unloaded the fourth wheel too much, further reducing the traction.
That's pretty piss poor suspension if it can't articulate 2" without wanting to lift a tire.
@@volvo09 All cross-overs are piss poor when it comes to articulation.... You'll have to move up to a Bronco or Wrangler if you want that feature.
@@rich_svoboda- this Taos is a bit too much though. We have cabins up a 3 mile trail of rather rutted 2 track. I drive my 4x4s in there and most are pretty high level with all having rear lockers at least. My wife, with farm driving experience in the foothills of the Rockies drive in without effort in her 2024 Crosstrek Limited with some aggressive all weather tires (not all seasons) drives in there effortlessly. We had 8 inches of snow last week and she had no issues. I even met her half way as I was already out there expecting to have to tow her. No problems. I had the tractor with the snow blower on it so the road was sorta clear by the time I got to her. It was easier for her but the ruts were still snow filled and she straddled them in until the slick tracks sucked her in. She still just drove in using X-mode.
Next year I will spend the $$ to build the road in. It has to be elevated with ditches the entire length to control the several feet of snow melting we typically get there each year. It’s really expensive!!! About $380K more if I pave it of course. You climb about 1100 vertical feet on the hilly trail in. It’s not easy. Even with getter tires, the Taos has no chance.
Bring back the Golf wagon
I have the 2024 version 4motion w/ dsg transmission and it is not the smoothest but it’s sporty and has smoothed out. The kumho tires are garbage, but it’s a great car so far.
I especially recommend the Taos if you’re tall or have tall people in your family. The cabin is huge for a small vehicle.
Looks like a pretty decent little SUV for someone on a budget. Good review as always.
Several snarky comments below. Probably wannabe's with jealousy issues. Don't let them diminish your positive attitudes and obvious great work ethic. Just keep on pursuing excellence as you all have in the past. I Enjoy your reviews and the addition of Jen. Viewers should remember the context of this video: this is an introduction review, not a Consumer's Report reliability survey or IIHS crash test. Are TFL productions perfect? Probably not - but they are among the best on the internet. Thank you for the pleasant diversions from my high stress life. I very much look forward to many more great TFL productions in 2025 and beyond. Happy New Year!!!!!
We bought a 24 recently and it is incredible on snow and especially deep snow-- the combination of the 8" under the car and the awd system did things i really was not expecting in a couple of big snowstorms last year, one of which was 2 feet.
I have a 23 Taos se black 4 motion I bought for my daughter. I immediately switched out the tires to some Bridgestone Weatherpeaks had zero issues in the snow.
At 3:36... Maybe if there was a passenger in the front seat, the extra weight would help
Solid Review you two, Good value but vw is in the bottom 5 of reliability out of 30 manufactures , That’s an issue I would feel for a lot of new buyers. From a viewer since day 1, Happy Holidays to the whole TFL family, your humor& content is second to none !
Lol tells me you’ve never owned one. The thing that gets most people on cars is looking up what things cost before they buy them. Otherwise you get surprise bills, and think quirks are lemons. I never believed reliability survey, every one I’ve bought is “low scoring” all have made it into 100k plus miles basic upkeep. We have lemon laws for a reason, sure design defects happen. Look what’s happening at Toyota and Honda right now, but people keep buying them. Yikes. Every manufacturer has issues.
Not the tires that are the problem, no weight on them because the suspension does not let it drop enough. If the tires were all at the same height, it could have done it easier. But as you have mentioned previously, that is part of the test.
Must have a SUPER stiff anti roll bar to take that much weight off the tire from a 2" articulation.
@volvo09 it's just enough weight for the for it to not be able to pull the vehicle up and over the rollers. If the rollers were flat(tires didn't sink into) it would have easily done it.
Not gonna lie I am not a big VW person but the fact that it did that off road test without over heating is really kind of impressive, it’s better result than more “reliable” vehicles have done.
I find it amusing that Jen buckled up to be safe, but the videographer leaned forward against the dash (unbuckled) for the whole ride 😂
Great job Tommy and Jen, happy New Year
It's going to be the perfect car to buy one year old. $26-27k with low miles. VW undersized its tires, for rolling resistance and gas mileage. If you go to a 225 60 or 65 you will have better results off-road. It made a huge difference on my Tiguan.
The problem was grip compared to other vehicle tests it couldn't move. But on a flat surface like dirt or snow it doesn't have to push the tires out, which are sunken in the rollers.
Great video esp with Jen 😍
VW makes great-looking vehicles that drive well...when they're drivable. Bottom of the list for reliability, routinely. The AWD system did terribly in this test compared to other CUVs they've tested in this segment. It's a shame because VW otherwise appeals to my senses.
do a drag race between the 2024 and 2025 taos. lets see if dct is faster than 8 speed slush box
Im pretty sure it was having such a hard time with the traction test because it didnt have enough articulation to put weight down on the wheel. Pretty bad considering its only 2 inches up on each wheel.
Is this 1.5 turbo 4 and 8 speed shared with the 2025 Chevy Equinox? The power seems really close.
No, different powertrains
5:08 to skip the slip and get right to Jen. 😘
7:47
14:40
16:59 🤣
It bottomed out at the end of the trenches; the bumper was on the ground, and that’s why it wasn’t moving. It had to drag the bumper on the ground to get out.
I guess if you are looking for good departure angle, keep looking.
Hal-i-dex? Is that like holodeck?
You know, I will like to see how a Mazda cx5 perform before a buy that VW and the Mazda looks better
Completely different class of cars. Why would anyone cross shop the two?
Interior is bright and 2 tone seats looks expensive. .
I would definitely not want a car that struggles this much on the slip test considering where I live and the weather we get.
Did they test your current vehicle on the TFL Slip Test yet?
Comes down to tires in the real world.
I didn't know Doug DeMuro had a son.
is Taos = T- Cross in other countries?
T-Roc
Not a good test, there is not enough weight on the front tire
Would've rather had the cloth in the center and leatherette on the sides to hold me in place better. And to not burn my cheeks in the Texas summer.
The SE trim has a neoprene material in the middle not a full leatherette. It’s quite nice, and has held up well in my 2022.
Crash test results could be better
There is a frame. It is incorporated into the structure of the vehicle.
Kumho tires? serious???
If this car was even average reliability, it would be one of the best cars on the market. The size is almost perfect. Huge inside for its class with rear seat room approaching “compact suv” territory, a giant trunk for its class, compact dimensions for parking, all the tech, and decent power. It is a little expensive but I’ve seen huge discounts on these that help bring price down. It’s like the size of a first gen CRV or first gen Tiguan, and those were nice size cars imo.
MSRP means nothing 😢
Sold VWs. If they came with Kumho?!, well, no duh. Michelin Tires make all the difference.
It's not a manual shifter.
Automatic lever stick also it's not a she. Other than that, it's a good review.
Also, how does this compare to the entry-level S model?
I think she meant mechanical or traditional or both. All I know is I also appreciate and approve of the shifter.
Useless awd🤦♀️🤦♂️🤦♀️🤦♂️🤦♀️🤦♂️🤦♀️🤦♂️🤦♀️🤦♂️🤦♀️
Still better than Toyota and Hyundai/Kia's systems.
The difference at least for Toyota is they have real 4x4s you can buy. So they don’t need their Toyota Highlander to have a capable AWD system tuned for off road use. If you want that, get a 4Runner.
Real world is about tires, and the awd functions better than some other manufacturers. Plenty of split and torque vectoring to get you places.
@@MichaelMiller-rg6orridiculous comparison. Just silly.
@@Nickeltoe77 i never made a comparison. Your comment is just silly. I was responding to yissibiiyte. Not you. Now move along
VW has edible soy wire coatings and biodegradable foam which is also edible.
We were told to spray wd40 all over every exposed wire or go buy the pepper infused wrapping tape to prevent further animal damage. The jetta we leased was parked on a busy street yet was eaten by some critter.
Seems the wires smell good when warm.
Also biodegradable means the wiring is going bad before you buy.
I loved old bugs and owned a gen1 vr6 gti but so very happy when we turned the jetta back in to the dealer.
Thanks
VW=. Das ist Kaput
Will never ever buy another VW horrible car
Taos!??😂😂😂 Tiguan, arteon, Touareg. What bizarre names for cars!
Touareg is named after the tribe in West Africa..the others are weird combinations (tiger and iguana for the Tiguan)
@vicariousity3046 , i know but it's ugly for a car.
Tiguan is a weird one, for sure. It's actually the combination of tiger and iguana.
At least they're still names, not some alphanumeric soup.
Too many compliments for something that dealers are charging the same price as Tiguan
They just don't hold up. I need a dependable vehicle.
5:20 174 horsepower? I'm not a horsepower junkie but good lord that's gonna struggle getting on the free especially short onramps
Go drive one and floor it, you’ll be doing atleast 85-100 mph at the end of most on ramps in an old one with 158hp. Hi owner here.
174 is plenty, its not gonna struggle one bit.
Most cars in the 1970’s through the 1990’s had way less horsepower than this, and we managed just fine.
I suggest becoming a horsepower junkie, or at least more knowledgeable, because that amount is actually towards the most in the segment and combined with its ample torque, acceleration is more than adequate for the size of vehicle.
??? What are you like 12?
This VW brand is a disastrous brand to own. You mentioned about improvements in this vehicle? How do you know that 😂. Is she claiming this false claim just like what she did on her BMW 😂😂
The only good thing about this VW is that it is slightly better than taking a bus but eventually these VW engines will bankrupt the middle class. The VW engines are garbage. Off-roading like that on that angle you starving the engine without oil. You just killed off half the life on that engine 😂
People are not mindful of fuel economy, they are concerned about reliability.
most people would call more horsepower and better fuel economy with a smoother torque converter automatic and a better made interior "improvements"
@@vicariousity3046without reliable engine and plastic components in the engine…does that equate to improvements? 🤦🏻♂️ A Mercedes 300D from the 80s that’s the benchmark for German reliability, how about Volvo 240 from the 80s that’s the benchmark for Swedish reliability….these New 2025 VWs are disastrous.
Was it VW goal to choose the gayest name possible for the car?