2022 Volkswagen Taos vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite its 2019 redesign, retained a somewhat dated appearance due to its carryover styling from the previous generation. The most noticeable change was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights. Subaru's decision to maintain the boxy, upright shape was likely a strategic move to appeal to SUV shoppers who favor this design. The Forester Sport model, with its orange striping, rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, added a touch of flair, especially when paired with a complementary paint color like Dark Blue Pearl. The Forester's interior was practical, featuring durable materials designed to withstand years of use. The Sport trim added orange accents, while higher trims offered leather upholstery and additional comfort features.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos, positioned as a compact SUV, aimed to offer simplicity with a touch of sophistication. Available in S, SE, and SEL trims, the Taos featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine and a choice between front-wheel drive and 4Motion all-wheel drive. The SEL 4Motion test vehicle stood out with its 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels and Cornflower Blue paint. Inside, the Taos offered a mix of hard plastics and soft-touch materials, with the SEL trim providing two-tone perforated leather and an upscale dashboard. However, the interior's plastic components received mixed reviews, with some likening them to children's toys. Despite this, the Taos's cabin was spacious and comfortable, with ample legroom and headroom for both front and rear passengers.

The 2021 Subaru Forester was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine's boxer configuration provided a lower center of gravity, enhancing stability. However, the Forester's power felt merely adequate, lacking the thrust needed for confident highway merging and overtaking. The suspension tuning prioritized comfort over handling, resulting in noticeable body roll and bounce on uneven surfaces. Subaru's standard all-wheel-drive system, combined with X-Mode and 8.7 inches of ground clearance, made the Forester capable on rough terrain, but it wasn't designed for serious off-roading.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The engine's robust torque provided sufficient power, but the turbocharger's delayed response and the dual-clutch transmission's erratic shifting could be frustrating. The standard eight-speed automatic transmission offered smoother performance but was only available with front-wheel drive. The Taos's driving dynamics were otherwise enjoyable, with responsive steering, effective brakes, and commendable grip. However, its 6.6 inches of ground clearance limited its off-road capabilities. The Taos SEL 4Motion achieved an average fuel economy of 27.1 mpg during testing, slightly below the EPA's estimate of 28 mpg.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered generous headroom and legroom for both front and rear passengers, thanks to its tall, flat roofline. This design also provided excellent outward visibility and a spacious feel. The Forester's cargo space was impressive, with 35.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 76.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down. However, it lacked a sliding second-row bench and wireless charging. The interior featured practical storage solutions, but the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average-sized phone. The Forester's controls were user-friendly, though the steering wheel had an overwhelming number of buttons.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos boasted a roomy cabin, with the SEL trim offering deeply bolstered seats and ample seat-track travel. The driver's seat included eight-way power adjustment and lumbar support, while the SEL 4Motion added 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 rear seats and 65.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. The 4Motion models had slightly less cargo space due to the independent rear suspension. The Taos also featured a center pass-through for ski trips.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came standard with the Subaru Starlink infotainment system, featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and front-row USB ports. Sport models upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while higher trims added navigation and rear USB ports. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and physical shortcut buttons. However, the screen was slow to boot up. The Forester also included a secondary screen in the dashboard and a small screen in the instrument cluster, which could display redundant information.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos featured the Digital Cockpit instrumentation and a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the S trim. The SE and SEL trims upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen with more advanced MIB3 software. All trims included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Car-Net connected services. The SE trim added wireless smartphone integration, SiriusXM satellite radio, voice control, and wireless charging. The SEL trim included navigation and an eight-speaker BeatsAudio system. However, the MIB3 system's user experience was less than ideal, with complex menu navigation and unreliable voice recognition.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included Subaru's EyeSight suite, which offered adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. The Forester also featured a driver-monitoring system called DriverFocus, which checked for signs of distraction. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos offered the IQ Drive safety technologies, available as an option on the base S trim and standard on higher trims. The IQ Drive package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. Additional features included Travel Assist, a Level 2 advanced driving assistance system, and Emergency Assist, which responded to an inactive driver by bringing the SUV to a safe stop. The Taos SEL added rain-sensing wipers, road sign recognition, and rear parking sensors with automatic braking. However, the reverse automatic braking system could be overly sensitive, particularly in certain driveway conditions.