2022 Volkswagen Taos vs 2022 Toyota RAV4

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos was positioned as a compact SUV with a spacious interior, fitting neatly between subcompact and compact segments. It came in S, SE, and SEL trims, 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 exterior styling included 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels and Cornflower Blue paint, while the interior had hard plastics but also soft surfaces where it mattered, with the SEL trim offering two-tone perforated leather and contrast stitching.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4, a mature crossover SUV, continued to build on its legacy since its 1996 debut. The latest iteration, part of a 2019 redesign, featured angular flourishes and crisp lines, with expressive headlights and a snub-nosed grille. Inside, the RAV4 had a layered dash with contrasting textures and colors, a touchscreen interface, and a circuit-board-inspired geometric pattern tying the cabin together. The Adventure-trim test vehicle showcased 19-inch matte gray alloy wheels, adding to its distinctive design.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. 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 driving but was only available with front-wheel drive. The Taos SEL 4Motion in Sport mode provided a more engaging driving experience, with responsive steering, effective brakes, and taut handling. However, its 6.6-inch ground clearance limited its off-road capabilities. The Taos SEL 4Motion achieved an EPA rating of 28 mpg combined, with our testing averaging 27.1 mpg.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 offered three powertrains: a gasoline-only 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, a hybrid version with 217 combined net horsepower, and the RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid with 302 horsepower. The gasoline engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission provided smooth and immediate power delivery, while the hybrid and plug-in hybrid models offered impressive fuel economy. The RAV4 Prime could run up to 42 miles on electricity alone, with an efficiency rating of 94 MPGe combined. The RAV4's car-like handling, MacPherson struts, and multi-link suspension provided a comfortable and controlled ride. AWD models featured Multi-Terrain Select tuning and dynamic torque vectoring for improved handling.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos boasted a spacious cabin, with deeply bolstered front seats offering plenty of adjustment options. The SEL 4Motion trim included heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat provided generous legroom and a comfortable cushion, with rear air conditioning vents for added comfort. 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 back seat 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 back seat folded down. A center pass-through made the Taos ideal for ski trips.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 offered up to 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 69.8 cubic feet with the second row folded flat. It had a healthy payload capacity of 1,050-1,230 pounds, depending on the configuration. Towing capacity varied, with Adventure and TRD Off-Road models rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds. Inside, the RAV4 provided ample space for four adults, with plenty of legroom, hip room, shoulder room, and headroom in the front row. The second-row split-folding bench seat could accommodate five passengers in a pinch. The cabin featured numerous storage compartments, including a roomy glove compartment and covered storage beneath the center armrest.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos came equipped 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 more sophisticated 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 MIB3 infotainment system had some usability issues, including complex menu navigation and unreliable voice recognition.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 offered a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with six speakers, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, Apple CarPlay compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, Safety Connect, Service Connect, and Wi-Fi Connect as standard features. The XLE trim and above upgraded to a 9-inch touchscreen, while the Premium Audio setup on Limited models and the RAV4 Prime XSE included an 11-speaker JBL audio system and navigation. The RAV4 Prime showcased additional technology, such as five USB ports, two 12-volt/120-watt auxiliary power outlets, an available 120-volt/1,500-watt AC power outlet, and blue ambient illumination. The top trim level also featured a Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging pad, an available bird’s-eye view camera system, and a 10-inch color head-up display.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos offered IQ Drive safety technologies as standard or optional 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 and Emergency Assist were also available, providing advanced driving assistance and emergency response features. The Taos SEL included all these technologies 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, requiring manual deactivation in certain situations. As a new model, the Taos had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 came with Toyota’s Star Safety System, which included enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock braking, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and smart stop technology. It also featured LATCH child-seat anchors, child-guard locks, and Safety Connect with emergency assistance. Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, standard on all RAV4 models, included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, lane-tracing assist, and road sign assist. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking assist with automatic braking. The 2022 RAV4 was an IIHS Top Safety Pick, and the RAV4 Prime was a Top Safety Pick+. The NHTSA awarded the RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid five-star ratings.