2022 Volkswagen Taos vs 2023 Subaru Forester

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos was positioned as a compact SUV that offered a balance between the subcompact and compact segments. It came in S, SE, and SEL trims, with a single engine option and a choice between front-wheel drive and 4Motion all-wheel drive. Prices ranged from $22,995 to $33,045, excluding a $1,195 destination charge. The Taos featured a variety of factory options and packages, including a potential Basecamp package for off-pavement adventures. The 4Motion AWD system brought additional changes, such as a dual-clutch automated manual transmission and an independent multilink rear suspension, which altered the driving character of the vehicle. The exterior styling of the Taos was consistent with Volkswagen's lineup, featuring 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels and Cornflower Blue paint. However, the interior was criticized for its hard, shiny plastics, though the SEL trim offered two-tone perforated leather and other upscale touches.

The 2023 Subaru Forester, on the other hand, maintained a consistent design language that had been a hallmark of the model for two decades. The Forester came in Base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring trims, with prices ranging from $26,395 to $36,495, excluding a $1,225 destination charge. The Touring trim, which was tested, featured 18-inch alloy wheels and satin chrome exterior trim. The Forester's design was functional, with robust roof rails and a high static-weight rating for carrying sporting equipment. Inside, the Touring trim offered Saddle Brown leather, exposed stitching, and metallic accents. The interior was practical, with analog gauges, an 8-inch touchscreen, and easy-to-clean hard plastics. The control layout was user-friendly, relying on traditional buttons and knobs, which made it easy to use.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos was powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 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, with its Sport driving mode, provided a more engaging driving experience, but the turbo lag and harsh shifting remained issues. The Taos had a light, compliant character with responsive steering, effective brakes, and commendable grip. However, its ground clearance of 6.6 inches was less than competitors like the Jeep Compass and Subaru Crosstrek. The Taos SEL 4Motion achieved an EPA rating of 28 mpg in combined driving, but real-world testing showed an average of 27.1 mpg.

The 2023 Subaru Forester featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that generated 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT had eight programmed ratios and a Subaru Intelligent Drive (SI-Drive) system with a Sport mode. Most Forester trims also included an X-Mode off-road traction management system with various driving modes. The Forester Wilderness trim offered additional off-roading capabilities. During testing, the Forester Touring handled flooded roads, rain-soaked freeways, and muddy trails with ease, thanks to its all-wheel-drive system. The Forester's driving dynamics were impressive, with a comfortable yet communicative ride, light and accurate steering, and effective brakes. The Forester's suspension tuning provided a firm, communicative ride without the lateral rocking and fore-aft motions common in other SUVs. However, the engine's performance was merely adequate, and the Forester returned 25.9 mpg during testing, falling short of the EPA rating of 29 mpg in combined driving.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos offered a spacious cabin, with deeply bolstered front seats that provided plenty of seat-track travel and height adjustment. The SEL 4Motion trim included heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat was equally spacious, with generous legroom and a comfortable cushion and backrest. However, the cargo space varied depending on the drive system. The front-wheel-drive Taos offered 27.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and 65.9 cubic feet with the back seat folded down. The 4Motion version 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. The Taos also featured a center pass-through between the rear seats, making it ideal for ski trips.

The 2023 Subaru Forester prioritized function over form, with a focus on simplicity and substance. The Premium trim included a panoramic glass sunroof, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, and a windshield wiper de-icer system. Higher trims offered StarTex artificial leather or perforated genuine leather, dual-zone automatic climate control, and heated outboard rear seats. The Forester's outward visibility was excellent, thanks to tall glass, thin windshield pillars, and large side mirrors. The front and rear seats were easy to access, though the rear seats could be more comfortable for taller adults. The Forester's doors were well-sealed, and interior storage was plentiful. The cargo area was usefully shaped, with hooks for grocery bags, tie-downs, and hidden storage under the load floor. The Forester offered 26.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat (28.9 cubic feet in the Base trim) and 69.1 cubic feet with the back seat folded down (74.2 cubic feet in the Base trim).

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos came with Digital Cockpit instrumentation and a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the S trim. The SE and SEL trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen with more sophisticated MIB3 software. All Taos trims included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Car-Net connected services, including a Wi-Fi hotspot. 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 usability issues, with complex menu navigation and slow response times. The voice-recognition technology was also problematic, often failing to understand commands.

The 2023 Subaru Forester featured a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the Base trim, with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Premium trim added satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services with remote engine starting and a Wi-Fi hotspot. An 8-inch touchscreen was available, along with a navigation system and a Harman Kardon premium audio system. The Forester's older Starlink infotainment system was user-friendly, with separate climate controls, easy-to-use volume and tuning knobs, and main menu buttons. However, the voice-recognition system was nearly useless, often misunderstanding commands. As a result, using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto was recommended.

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, a Level 2 advanced driving assistance system, and Emergency Assist were also included. 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, mistaking driveway inclines for obstacles. The Taos had not been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) at the time of review.

The 2023 Subaru Forester featured the next-generation EyeSight collection of driving assistance and collision avoidance technologies, with updated software and cameras for a wider field of view. Models with blind-spot monitoring added Automatic Emergency Steering, which helped avoid in-lane obstacles. The Forester Wilderness and Touring trims included Rear Automatic Braking (RAB), though the system could be overly sensitive. The Touring trim also had a DriverFocus Distraction Mitigation System, which monitored driver attention and provided gesture control for climate settings. The Forester earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with an Acceptable rating in a new side-impact test and a Marginal rating in a new small-overlap frontal-impact test. The NHTSA awarded the Forester five-star crash-test ratings across the board, with a four-star rollover resistance rating.