Toyota Highlander Hybrid vs Volkswagen Taos

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos was designed to appeal to a broad audience, offering affordability and practicality while maximizing passenger comfort. Despite its higher base price compared to the Jetta, the Taos quickly became a popular choice in the U.S., outselling the Jetta by a significant margin. The Taos SEL trim, with its bold 19-inch alloy wheels and Cornflower Blue paint, presented a stylish and sporty appearance that helped justify its higher price point. Inside, the Taos SEL offered a premium feel with light gray accents, gloss black trim, and leather seats, making it resemble a more affordable Audi. The spacious interior, nearly as roomy as the larger Tiguan, made it one of the largest small crossover SUVs available.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid maintained a more conservative approach to design, with minimal changes for the year. The Highlander Hybrid's exterior was characterized by exaggerated forms and a bold design that some found over-styled. Inside, the cabin featured large elements like a 12.3-inch touchscreen and oversized climate control knobs, creating a visually busy environment. Despite the lack of elegance, the Highlander Hybrid offered a quiet ride, thanks to acoustic front window glass in higher trims. However, the interior quality was questionable, with controls and materials that felt inexpensive and storage areas that were unlined, leading to potential noise and vibration.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos was powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission for FWD models and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic for AWD models. The Taos offered up to five driving modes and additional settings for the 4Motion AWD system. However, the powertrain response was unpredictable, with occasional surges of torque and delays in response. Despite its sporty character, the Taos lacked power compared to rivals like the Mazda CX-30 and Hyundai Kona N. The Taos SEL's Germanic driving character, firm handling, and excellent visibility made it enjoyable to drive, but wind and road noise were noticeable at highway speeds.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine with two electric motor-generators, producing a total of 243 horsepower. The hybrid system allowed for electric-only driving at low speeds, but the gas engine's 175 pound-feet of torque limited high-speed passing power. The Highlander Hybrid offered Eco, Normal, and Sport driving modes, with an additional Trail mode for AWD models. However, the SUV's soft suspension and continuously variable transmission (CVT) made for a less engaging driving experience. The Highlander Hybrid prioritized fuel economy, but the test vehicle fell short of its EPA rating, averaging 28.7 mpg. The SUV's compliant ride and quiet highway performance made it suitable for city and suburban driving, but it lacked excitement.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos offered a range of interior features depending on the trim level. The SEL trim included leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Taos provided ample interior space, feeling larger than its competitors, with comfortable seating and impressive rear-seat room. The cargo area offered 27.9 cubic feet of space behind the back seat and 65.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down, though these figures were slightly reduced with the 4Motion system.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was designed to accommodate family needs, with seating for seven or eight people depending on the configuration. The interior featured three-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain's chairs. The second-row seats were comfortable, but the third-row was best suited for occasional use due to limited space and comfort. The Highlander Hybrid offered 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded and 84.3 cubic feet with the second row down. However, the storage areas were unlined, and the center armrest storage console was unnecessarily complex.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos came equipped with standard digital instrumentation, with the SEL trim featuring a 10.25-inch display. The infotainment system varied by trim, with the Taos S offering a 6.5-inch touchscreen and the SE and SEL trims featuring an 8-inch touchscreen with additional features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SEL trim included a native navigation system and an eight-speaker Beats Audio premium sound system. However, the user experience was hindered by hidden virtual controls, a complicated radio tuning process, and ineffective voice-recognition technology.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid introduced new technology for the year, with upper trims receiving a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display. The infotainment system featured an 8.0-inch touchscreen in lower trims and a 12.3-inch display in higher trims, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Drive Connect service plan provided additional features like a natural voice recognition system and cloud-based navigation. The test vehicle included a head-up display and an 11-speaker JBL sound system, which delivered decent sound quality. Overall, the Toyota Audio Multimedia platform was user-friendly, though the graphics could benefit from sharper contrast.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos improved its standard safety features, with the Taos S including Front Assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Taos SE added the IQ.Drive collection of ADAS, which included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and more. The Taos also featured a post-collision automatic braking system, automatic high-beam headlights, and parking sensors with automatic braking. The Travel Assist system performed well, providing smooth and accurate assistance on the road. However, crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were decent but not perfect.

The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid prioritized safety with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), which included adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more. The Highlander Hybrid also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors with automatic braking in higher trims. The ADAS performed well in most situations, though it struggled with certain road conditions. Safety Connect provided additional features like emergency assistance and automatic collision notification. The Highlander Hybrid received excellent crash-test ratings from both IIHS and NHTSA.