2022 Volkswagen Taos vs 2021 Honda CR-V

The 2021 Honda CR-V had a design that blended into the crowded compact crossover market. Its exterior styling was nearly identical to its competitors, with only minor details like the grille and some chromed plastic features setting it apart. The color options were limited, especially for the base LX trim, which only offered black, silver, and white. The interior was available in black, gray, and ivory cloth or leather, depending on the trim level. Higher trims featured wood panels and more chrome for a more upscale appearance. However, competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson offered more distinctive styling, especially at mid-tier trims.

In contrast, the 2022 Volkswagen Taos had a more distinctive look that fit well within the existing VW lineup. The SEL 4Motion test vehicle featured handsome 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels and vibrant Cornflower Blue paint. The Taos also had roof rails, dark gray plastic cladding, and simulated skid plates, which are standard for SUVs. However, the blacked-out front bumper between the grille and lower air intake was a questionable design choice. Inside, the Taos used hard, somewhat shiny plastics, but the SEL trim added two-tone perforated leather with contrast stitching and an upscale strip of stitched material on the dashboard.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was not designed for high-performance driving but offered smooth and steady acceleration with its 190-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.8 seconds. The CR-V featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that provided a less engaging driving experience compared to competitors with conventional transmissions. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available as an option. The suspension setup included a MacPherson strut in the front and a multi-link suspension at the rear, offering decent handling and ride quality.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos came with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The engine's robust torque made the Taos feel powerful, but the turbocharger's delayed response and the dual-clutch transmission's erratic shifting could be irritating. The standard eight-speed automatic transmission offered smoother performance but was only available with front-wheel drive. The 4Motion AWD system included a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and an independent multilink rear suspension, enhancing the driving experience. The Taos SEL 4Motion in Sport mode provided a confident and enjoyable drive, but its 6.6-inch ground clearance limited its off-road capabilities. The EPA rated the Taos SEL 4Motion at 28 mpg in combined driving, with real-world testing averaging 27.1 mpg.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was designed to fit five people comfortably and carry their gear. It offered 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume and 75.8 cubic feet of total cargo volume with the rear seats folded. The cargo area could be accessed manually or via a power tailgate, depending on the trim level. The top-tier Touring trim featured a hands-free power tailgate. Roof rails were only standard on the Touring trim, limiting roof storage options for lower trims.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos boasted a spacious cabin, especially for a vehicle in its class. The SEL trim offered deeply bolstered seats with plenty of adjustment options, including heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat provided generous legroom and comfort, with rear air conditioning vents for added convenience. Cargo space varied depending on the drive system, with front-wheel-drive models offering 27.9 cubic feet behind the back seat and 65.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. The 4Motion models had slightly less cargo space due to the independent rear suspension, with 24.9 cubic feet behind the back seat and 60.2 cubic feet with the seats folded. A center pass-through made the Taos ideal for ski trips.

The 2021 Honda CR-V's base LX trim featured a 5-inch color screen with Bluetooth connectivity. Higher trims had a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The Special Edition and EX trims had a 180-watt audio system with six speakers, while the EX-L added two more speakers. The Touring trim featured a 300-watt system with a subwoofer and satellite navigation. Charging ports were plentiful, with USB ports in the front and second rows, and the Touring trim added a wireless phone charger.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos came with Digital Cockpit instrumentation and a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system for the S trim. The SE and SEL trims had 8-inch touchscreen displays with MIB3 software. All trims included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Car-Net connected services with an available Wi-Fi hotspot. The SE trim added wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, voice control, and wireless smartphone charging. The SEL trim featured a navigation system and an eight-speaker BeatsAudio premium sound system. However, the MIB3 infotainment system had usability issues, including a complex process for changing radio stations and unreliable voice recognition.

The 2021 Honda CR-V excelled in safety, earning a five-star NHTSA overall crash test rating and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. However, it did not receive the highest IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating due to lower scores in the headlight evaluation and updated side crash test. The CR-V's LATCH child safety seat anchoring system received an "Acceptable" rating. Honda's approach to safety was commendable, with the Honda Sensing system standard on all trims. This suite included a multi-angle rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and auto high-beam headlamps. Blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard from the EX trim upwards.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos offered IQ Drive safety technologies as standard or optional on all trims. The IQ Drive package for the base Taos S included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. Travel Assist and Emergency Assist were also part of the package. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, while Emergency Assist responded to an inactive driver by slowing the vehicle and bringing it to a safe stop. The Taos SEL included all these features as standard, along with rain-sensing wipers, road sign recognition, and rear parking sensors with automatic braking. However, the reverse automatic braking system could be overly sensitive, requiring manual deactivation for some users. As a new model, the Taos had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.