2022 Volkswagen Taos vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos was positioned as a compact SUV, bridging the gap 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 offered a choice between front-wheel drive and 4Motion all-wheel drive, with the latter featuring a dual-clutch automated manual transmission and an independent multilink rear suspension. The Taos’s exterior styling was consistent with Volkswagen’s lineup, featuring 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels and Cornflower Blue paint on the SEL 4Motion. 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 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe, on the other hand, was a more luxurious and performance-oriented SUV. Priced from $77,800, the GLE 53 Coupe featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine with EQ Boost, producing 429 hp. The exterior boasted Selenite Gray paint, 22-inch forged aluminum wheels, and polished brightwork. Inside, the GLE 53 Coupe was sumptuous, with Nappa premium leather, a Dinamica simulated suede headliner, and brushed aluminum trim. The dual-screen MBUX infotainment system added a high-tech touch, while ambient lighting enhanced the driving experience at night.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos was powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 158 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. The engine’s torque delivery was somewhat delayed, leading to a sudden surge of power. 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 SEL 4Motion in Sport mode improved drivability, but turbo lag and harsh shifting were still issues. Despite these drawbacks, the Taos offered a light, compliant driving experience with responsive steering and effective brakes. The EPA rated the Taos SEL 4Motion at 28 mpg combined, with real-world testing averaging 27.1 mpg.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine with EQ Boost, delivering 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. The SpeedShift nine-speed automatic transmission and AMG Performance 4Matic+ AWD system provided robust acceleration and variable torque distribution. The AMG Dynamic Select system offered multiple driving modes, including Sport+ for high-performance driving. The GLE 53 Coupe’s speed-sensitive variable-ratio power steering made urban driving easy, while the AMG Active Ride Control suspension smoothed out speed humps. On winding roads, the GLE 53 Coupe felt taut and nimble, with impressive grip and braking performance. The EPA rated the GLE 53 Coupe at 19 mpg combined, with real-world testing averaging 18.5 mpg.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos offered a surprisingly roomy cabin for a compact SUV. The SEL’s front seats provided ample seat-track travel and height adjustment, with heated and ventilated options. The rear seat was spacious, 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 back seat and 65.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. The 4Motion model had slightly less cargo space, at 24.9 cubic feet and 60.2 cubic feet, respectively. A center pass-through made the Taos ideal for ski trips.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe, while technically seating five, was more comfortable for four passengers. The front seats offered numerous power adjustments, heating, ventilation, and massage functions. Rear visibility was challenging, necessitating the use of available cameras. The back seat provided ample legroom, and the cargo hold offered 27.5 cubic feet of space, expanding to 63.2 cubic feet with the seats folded. Additional comfort features included a four-zone climate control system, heated armrests, and an in-cabin fragrance system.

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

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe featured the MBUX infotainment system with dual 12.3-inch screens. Standard features included navigation, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging. The Burmester surround-sound audio system provided high-quality sound. MBUX was user-friendly, with natural voice recognition and multiple interaction methods. Optional features included gesture recognition, augmented video for navigation, a head-up display, and an upgraded Burmester 3D surround-sound system.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos offered IQ Drive safety technologies, available on all 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. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, while Emergency Assist responded to inactive drivers. 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 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe came with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The Pre Safe Sound system emitted a “pink noise” tone before a collision to protect hearing. The Driver Assistance Package added 15 safety systems, including Traffic Jam Assist and Active Lane Change Assist. The Active Emergency Stop Assist system could detect an unresponsive driver and bring the SUV to a stop while initiating an SOS call. The adaptive cruise control’s route-based speed adaptation function could be turned off to avoid irritation. Crash-test results for the GLE Coupe were unavailable, but the standard GLE received top safety ratings.