2022 Volkswagen Taos vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos was positioned as a compact SUV, bridging the gap between subcompact and compact crossovers. It came in S, SE, and SEL trims, with prices ranging from $22,995 to $33,045. The Taos featured a choice between front-wheel drive and 4Motion all-wheel drive, with the latter offering additional driving modes and a more sophisticated suspension system. The exterior styling included 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels and Cornflower Blue paint, while the interior had a mix of hard plastics and soft surfaces, with the SEL trim offering two-tone perforated leather and contrast stitching.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS, particularly in its base GLS 450 form, offered a more subtle and less flashy look compared to its competitors. The AMG GLS 63 and Maybach versions provided more visual drama with features like flared wheel arches, chrome accents, and larger wheels. The interior of the GLS 450, while basic by GLS standards, still felt luxurious with leather upholstery, a panoramic roof, and ambient lighting. The digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen were well-integrated, and the overall interior quality was high, though perhaps too subdued for some tastes.

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 robust but often delayed, leading to a somewhat jerky driving experience. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission paired with the 4Motion AWD system offered spirited performance but could be erratic and harsh. The standard eight-speed automatic transmission provided smoother driving but was only available with front-wheel drive. The Taos SEL 4Motion in Sport mode offered a more engaging 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 showing 27.1 mpg.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine with 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, assisted by an EQ Boost mild-hybrid system. The electric motor added 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque in short bursts. The GLS 450's engine provided ample power, and the electric assist was well-integrated. However, the air suspension exhibited poor body control, leading to a bouncy and leaning ride. The GLS 450 had a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, which was competitive but not class-leading.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos offered a surprisingly roomy cabin for its class. The front seats provided plenty of adjustment options, including eight-way power adjustment and power lumbar support for the driver. The rear seat was spacious with generous legroom and rear air conditioning vents. 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.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS came standard with a seven-seat configuration, with an optional six-seat version featuring second-row captain’s chairs. The second-row seats could slide forward and fold for third-row access, and the bench seat could slide fore and aft as one piece. The GLS offered 17.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 84.7 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The air suspension could lower the vehicle for easier loading and unloading. However, the touchscreen was difficult to reach, and some ergonomic issues were noted.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos came with Digital Cockpit instrumentation and a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with SE and SEL trims featuring 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, voice control, and wireless smartphone charging. The SEL trim included a navigation system and an eight-speaker BeatsAudio premium sound system. However, the voice-recognition technology and user experience were subpar, and the transition from Fender to BeatsAudio was not seen as an improvement.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS featured the MBUX infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, and natural-language voice recognition. A 13-speaker Burmester audio system was standard, with a head-up display as an option. The voice recognition system was the easiest to use, understanding normal speech well. The touchpad controller was cumbersome, and the navigation system had some issues, including suggesting unnecessarily long routes.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos democratized its IQ Drive safety technologies, making them standard or available across 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 and Emergency Assist were also included, with the latter responding to an inactive driver by slowing the vehicle and bringing it 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.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS came with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, a driver-attention monitor, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, a surround-view camera system, Crosswind Assist, parking assist, and Pre Safe. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, second-row side airbags, and advanced driver-assistance features like Active Steering Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist. Crash-test ratings were not available at the time of publication.