2022 Volkswagen Taos vs 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos was positioned as a compact SUV that offered a balance between subcompact and compact crossovers. It came in three trims: S, SE, and SEL, with prices ranging from $22,995 to $33,045. The Taos featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter engine and offered both front-wheel drive and 4Motion all-wheel drive. The 4Motion system included a dual-clutch transmission and an independent multilink rear suspension, enhancing its driving dynamics. The exterior styling was consistent with Volkswagen's lineup, featuring 19-inch wheels and Cornflower Blue paint. However, the interior was criticized for its hard plastic materials, though the SEL trim provided two-tone perforated leather and other upscale touches.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Jeep's first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), was distinguishable by its "4xe" badge and blue accents. It featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine paired with two electric motors and a 17-kilowatt-hour battery, offering 21 miles of electric-only driving. The Wrangler 4xe came in Rubicon trim with a price tag of $66,690, including $13,000 in options. Inside, it retained the classic Wrangler look with some PHEV-specific features like blue stitching and special gauges. The interior was functional but lacked luxury, focusing on durability and off-road capability.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos was powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The engine's torque delivery was delayed, causing a sudden surge when it finally kicked in. The 4Motion AWD system paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission offered spirited performance but suffered from erratic shifting. The standard eight-speed automatic transmission provided smoother driving but was only available with front-wheel drive. The Taos had a light and compliant driving character, with responsive steering and effective brakes. However, its ground clearance of 6.6 inches limited its off-road capabilities. The EPA rated the Taos SEL 4Motion at 28 mpg combined, but real-world testing showed an average of 27.1 mpg.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe combined a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with two electric motors and a 17-kilowatt-hour battery, producing a total of 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. It offered three powertrain modes: Hybrid, Electric, and e-Save. In Hybrid mode, the Wrangler 4xe could accelerate to 60 mph in six seconds. Electric mode allowed for 21 miles of pure electric driving, while e-Save preserved battery power for later use. The EPA rated the Wrangler 4xe at 49 MPGe combined and 20 mpg when used as a hybrid. During a road trip to Yosemite, the Wrangler 4xe averaged 19.1 mpg over 757 miles, with 120.9 of those miles on electricity. The Wrangler's off-road capabilities were enhanced by its upgraded 4WD system with electronic lockers and skid plates.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos offered a spacious interior, especially for a compact SUV. The front seats provided ample seat-track travel and height adjustment, with the SEL trim offering heated and ventilated seats. The rear seat was equally roomy, with generous legroom and rear air conditioning vents. Cargo space varied depending on the drive system, with the front-wheel-drive model offering 27.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 65.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. The 4Motion model had slightly less cargo space due to its independent rear suspension, offering 24.9 cubic feet and 60.2 cubic feet, respectively. A center pass-through made it convenient for carrying long items like skis.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe's interior was functional but not luxurious. The high door sills and lack of side steps made entry and exit challenging, especially for shorter passengers. The driving position was classic Wrangler, with a high seating position and clear visibility. The front seats had manual height adjusters and optional heating. Storage space was limited due to the hand-brake and transfer case lever, with small bins and a glovebox. Rear-seat space was adequate but required an upright seating position. Cargo volume measured 27.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 72.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. The swing-out tailgate and flip-up rear window could be inconvenient in tight spaces.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos came with Digital Cockpit instrumentation and a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The SE and SEL trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen with MIB3 software, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and wireless smartphone charging. The SEL trim added a navigation system and an eight-speaker BeatsAudio premium sound system. However, the infotainment system had usability issues, including complex menu navigation and slow response times. The voice-recognition technology also struggled with accuracy.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen Uconnect infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, and SiriusXM Guardian connected services. A WiFi connection was available, and the Alpine sound system provided adequate audio quality despite wind noise. The Uconnect system was intuitive but showed signs of aging in terms of load time and responsiveness. The Trip Summary data panel offered charging time estimates, and the blue charging indicator lights on the dashboard provided a quick view of the battery status.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos offered IQ Drive safety technologies as standard or optional, depending on the trim level. 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. Travel Assist and Emergency Assist were also available, providing Level 2 advanced driving assistance. 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, especially in certain driveway conditions. As of the review's publication, the Taos had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe offered advanced driving assistance systems through the Safety Group and Advanced Safety Group packages. These included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, and forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking. The LED headlights with automatic high beams were effective but rated Marginal by the IIHS. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact crash-test rating and a three-star rollover rating from the NHTSA. However, it earned a Marginal rating for small-overlap frontal-impact protection for the driver, with the vehicle tipping over in two tests.