The 2025 Volkswagen Taos gets 28 to 31 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2025 Taos at 31 mpg.
In the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for 2025, the Taos ranks 8th (tied with 5 others) of 40 for combined mileage (31 mpg), 8th (tied with 5 others) of 40 for yearly fuel cost ($2,000 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 9th (tied with 2 others) of 40 for tailpipe CO2 (287 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 27 mpg, costs $2,300 a year and puts out 327.5 grams per mile.
Across all 250 2025 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 25 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 249 other models, 38 get more miles per gallon than the 2025 Taos's best version, 13 other models get the same and 198 get less. The 2025 Taos's cheapest version costs $2,000 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 241 other models with a cost figure, 33 cost less, 9 the same and 199 more.
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2025. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 2025 Hyundai Venue | 2025 Venue | 31 | $2,000 | 291 |
| 8 | 2025 Kia Seltos | 2025 Seltos FWD | 31 | $2,000 | 288 |
| 8 | 2025 Nissan Kicks | 2025 Kicks | 31 | $2,000 | 287 |
| 8 | 2025 Volkswagen TaosThis car | 2025 Taos | 31 | $2,000 | 287 |
| 14 | 2025 Buick Encore | 2025 Encore GX FWD (3-cyl 1.3 L) | 30 | $2,100 | 297 |
| 14 | 2025 Toyota RAV4 | 2025 RAV4 | 30 | $2,100 | 292 |
| 16 | 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan | 2025 Tiguan S | 29 | $2,150 | 307 |
Pick a 2025 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2025 Taos, 4-cyl 1.5 L: 28 mpg city, 36 highway, 31 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2025 Taos version is $2,000 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
The 3 nearest rivals in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for 2025, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
Both cost the same to fuel.
Over 5 years both cost the same to fuel at these miles and these prices.
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2025 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Taos (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Taos | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer | 2025 Trailblazer FWD (3-cyl 1.3 L) | 31 mpg | $2,000 | same figure | same | Compare |
| 2025 Hyundai Kona | 2025 Kona Electric Standard Range | 118 MPGe | $650 | not the same measure (MPGe and mpg) | $1,350 less a year | Compare |
| 2025 Hyundai Venue | 2025 Venue | 31 mpg | $2,000 | same figure | same | Compare |
EPA test figures for 2025; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Taos | 4-cyl 1.5 L | Automatic (S8) | Front-wheel | 28 | 36 | 31 | $2,000 | 287 | cheapest |
| 2025 Taos 4motion | 4-cyl 1.5 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 25 | 33 | 28 | $2,200 | 318 | +$200 |
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2025 Taos; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Tailpipe CO2: the 2025 Taos puts out 287 grams per mile; across the 2 tested versions the figure runs from 287 to 318.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2025 Taos: fuel economy score 6, greenhouse gas score 6.
Best combined figure of the Taos gas version each model year since 2016, set against the 2025 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Versions tested | Against 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 31 mpg | 2 | same as 2025 | |
| 2023 | 31 mpg | 2 | same as 2025 | |
| 2024 | 31 mpg | 2 | same as 2025 | |
| 2025This page | 31 mpg | 2 | this page | |
| 2026 | 31 mpg | 2 | same as 2025 |
Compared with the 2024 model: 2 versions were tested then and 2 now; the best figure went from 31 to 31 mpg (no change).
The 2026 model has 2 tested versions.
| Version in 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Taos, 4-cyl 1.5 L | 31 mpg | 31 mpg | no change |
| 2025 Taos 4motion, 4-cyl 1.5 L | 28 mpg | no like-for-like version in 2024 | no match |
1 2024 version has no match in 2025.
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Volkswagen Taos SUV AWD | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2025 Volkswagen Taos SUV FWD | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 14 complaints, 2 recalls, 0 investigations.
14 complaints for the 2025 Volkswagen Taos are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 5 | |
| Engine | 3 | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 3 | |
| Service Brakes | 2 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
2 of the 14 reports say the car was in a crash, 0 mention a fire and 0 mention an injury. One report can name more than one part.
2 recalls are on file for the 2025 Volkswagen Taos at the U.S. safety agency (checked 2026-11-14). A dealer does recall repairs free of charge.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Taos vehicles. In the event of a rear-end crash, the fuel pressure sensor may dislodge or separate from the fuel tank.
Fix: Dealers will install a fuel pressure sensor wiring harness extension, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 4, 2026.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Jetta and Taos vehicles. The instrument panel may fail to display warning lights or gauges.
Fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software and replace the instrument panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2026.
Other 2025 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Taos itself is at 31 mpg.
More Volkswagen models that have a 2025 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
The 2025 Taos with 31 mpg combined (28 city, 36 highway).
The 2025 Volkswagen Taos costs between $2,000 and $2,200 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2025 Taos at $2,000; the dearest is the 2025 Taos 4motion at $2,200. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
2025 Taos 4motion: 28 mpg combined (25 city, 33 highway).
The 2025 Volkswagen Taos is 8th of 40 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2025 Kia Niro at 53 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 27 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2025 Nissan Kicks at 31 mpg and the next one behind is the 2025 Buick Encore at 30 mpg.
The 2024 model had 2 tested versions and the 2025 model has 2. The best figure went from 31 to 31 mpg (no change).
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2025 Volkswagen Taos SUV AWD: overall 4 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4; 2025 Volkswagen Taos SUV FWD: overall 4 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4. The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
14 complaints for the 2025 Volkswagen Taos are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Electrical System (5 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
The agency's database lists 2 recalls for the 2025 Volkswagen Taos (checked 2026-11-14). They are listed above with the repair the maker offers.
For the 2025 Volkswagen Taos: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2025 Volkswagen Taos: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2025 Volkswagen Taos: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2025 Volkswagen Taos: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2025 Volkswagen Taos: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.