Volkswagen of America is updating the Taos with a new look, upgraded technology, and more power to complement the versatility and efficiency of the affordable SUV.

The updates begin with the exterior, which now sports a more expressive front-end look.

Changes include a new bumper design, a new grille with an available light bar, and standard LED projector headlights. Connected taillights and an illuminated Volkswagen badge at the rear add to the distinctive, upscale appearance of the 2025 Taos.

Moving into the interior, the 2025 Taos features a new dashboard design, along with new materials and colors. An 8-inch floating infotainment display is standard on all models, while touch control for the Climatronic HVAC system is available on the SE trim and above. 

Under the hood is an updated version of the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Hardware changes raise the powerplant’s output from the outgoing model’s 158 horsepower to 174 hp. To further enhance drivability, an eight-speed automatic transmission replaces the seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic on 4Motion models.

The 2025 Taos features a suite of driver assistance features across all trims. This includes Travel Assist (semi-automated driving assistance); Front Assist (Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring); Active Blind Spot Monitor; Rear Traffic Alert; Adaptive Cruise Control, Stop and Go; Lane Assist (Lane Keeping System); and Emergency Assist (semi-automated vehicle assistance in a medical emergency). Front and rear Park Distance Control are now also available and helps provide guidance when parking or in tight spaces.

The refreshed vehicle’s target customer is largely the same as the outgoing model and consists of two distinct groups, says Melinda Godec, product manager, Jetta, Tao and Tiguan. 

“The first of them is younger individuals who are ready to move up,” she tells Marketing Daily. “Maybe let's say they're leaving a sedan, they're ready to take the step up to an SUV, but they still enjoy that compact feeling. A lot of them live in the city, so parking is tight, but they want to also still stand out. So design is really important to them.”

The brand is also attractive to empty nesters who have a bigger SUV, maybe a three row. 

“Their families are growing older,” she says. “Their kids are maybe leaving to college. And the thing is, they've gotten used to the cargo space and the capability of an SUV, so they're not willing to give that up.  But they don't need that much space anymore, so they want to move down, maybe save a little bit on fuel economy.”

The refreshed 2025 Taos will reach U.S dealerships by the end of this year, and pricing will be announced closer to launch.