2022 Volkswagen Taos vs 2022 Lexus NX

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos was positioned as a compact SUV that offered a balance between subcompact and compact crossover SUVs. It came in S, SE, or SEL trims, with prices ranging from $22,995 to $33,045, plus a $1,195 destination charge. The Taos featured a choice between front-wheel drive and 4Motion all-wheel drive, with the latter including a dual-clutch automated manual transmission and an independent multilink rear suspension. The exterior styling was consistent with Volkswagen's lineup, featuring 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels and Cornflower Blue paint. Inside, the Taos had a mix of hard plastics and soft surfaces, with the SEL trim offering two-tone perforated leather and contrast stitching.

The 2022 Lexus NX, redesigned for 2022, came in four model series: NX 250, NX 350, NX 350h, and NX 450h+. Prices ranged from $37,950 to $49,000, excluding a $1,075 destination charge. The NX featured a new design with a spindle grille and block lettering on the tailgate. It was longer, wider, and taller than its predecessor, offering more passenger and cargo space. The NX 350 F Sport had unique styling elements like a mesh-pattern grille and 20-inch gloss black wheels. Inside, the NX had a minimalist design with a focus on comfort, including sport-bolstered seats and a black headliner in the F Sport trim. The Luxury trim added real leather and open-pore wood trim.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos was powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 184 pound-feet of torque at 1,750 rpm. 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 frustrating. The standard eight-speed automatic transmission offered smoother performance but was only available with front-wheel drive. The Taos SEL 4Motion in Sport mode provided a more engaging driving experience, with responsive steering and effective brakes. However, its 6.6 inches of ground clearance limited its off-road capabilities. The EPA estimated the Taos SEL 4Motion's fuel economy at 28 mpg combined, with real-world testing averaging 27.1 mpg.

The 2022 Lexus NX offered multiple powertrains, including the NX 350 with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. The NX 350h hybrid had a combined output of 239 horsepower, while the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid delivered 302 horsepower and an estimated 36 miles of electric range. The NX 350's eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive provided a smooth and responsive driving experience. The F Sport trim added adaptive variable sports suspension and performance dampers, enhancing its handling. The NX 350 accelerated to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, with observed fuel economy of 22.2 mpg for the F Sport and 25.5 mpg for the Luxury trim. The NX's ground clearance of 7.7 inches limited its off-road capabilities.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos offered a spacious interior, with deeply bolstered front seats and generous rear-seat legroom. The SEL 4Motion trim included heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. 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 down. The 4Motion models had slightly less cargo space, with 24.9 cubic feet behind the back seat and 60.2 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The Taos also featured a center pass-through for carrying long items like skis.

The 2022 Lexus NX provided comfortable seating, with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel available. The F Sport trim offered better-bolstered seats for a sportier feel. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed ample legroom, rear air conditioning vents, and USB charging ports. The NX's panoramic sunroof extended over the back seat, enhancing the sense of space. Cargo space increased by 14% compared to the previous model, with 22.7 cubic feet behind the back seat and 46.9 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The Luxury trim added ambient lighting with 14 themes and a nature-inspired Thematic Ambient Illumination system.

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 voice-recognition technology and user experience of the MIB3 system were not up to par, with complex menu navigation and slow response times.

The 2022 Lexus NX introduced the new Lexus Interface infotainment system, featuring a 9.8-inch touchscreen display as standard and an optional 14-inch screen. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Voice Assistant technology, and cloud-based features. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround system available. The new Voice Assistant and Intelligent Assistant systems responded to natural voice commands, and the NX offered a complimentary three-year trial subscription to Drive Connect services. Additional technologies included a digital mirror, a 10-inch head-up display, and User Profiles for storing driver preferences.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos offered IQ Drive safety technologies, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The IQ Drive package also included Travel Assist and Emergency Assist, with the latter responding 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, requiring manual deactivation.

The 2022 Lexus NX featured the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 (LSS+ 3.0) suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist, Oncoming Vehicle Detection, Oncoming Pedestrian Detection, and Curve Speed Management. The Emergency Driving Stop System brought the NX to a safe stop if the driver became unresponsive. The NX also included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, Safe Exit Assist, and rear pedestrian detection. Premium trim added an adaptive front lighting system, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rear cross-traffic braking. The Vision Package offered a panoramic view monitoring system, front cross-traffic alert, and lane-change assistance.