Summary
- The 2024 Volkswagen Taos is the cheapest German AWD SUV with modern features and a comfortable design.
- Safety is a top priority with all-wheel stability control, airbags, and a reliability rating of 77/100 by J.D. Power.
- Boasting enhanced driving features and standard cabin tech, the Taos offers a convenient and safe driving experience.
If you are looking to buy a new SUV in 2024, but as with many of us, the budget is a little tight, you may be on the lookout for a cheap, reliable, and versatile AWD SUV that doesn’t break the bank. With so many SUV choices on the market from automakers such as Jeep, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Range Rover, and Chevrolet, getting exactly what you want from an SUV on a budget can be challenging.
If you are a fan of European automakers that make luxury cars and SUVs, the price is sometimes nauseatingly expensive. You will be happy to hear though that the cheapest German AWD SUV for 2024 costs less than $30,000 to buy new.
You are probably looking for an SUV that features all-wheel drive, a good amount of standard technology, safety features, good fuel consumption statistics, extensive convenience features, and a comfortable ride. We have found the cheapest German AWD SUV for sale in 2024 that has been designed to deliver all of that; the 2024 Volkswagen Taos. From a range of sources, we have gathered information about the 2024 Volkswagen Taos, including pricing, technology features, safety features, gas consumption stats, and reliability ratings.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various Volkswagen websites and other authoritative sources, including the NHTSA, J.D. Power, Statista, Car Survey.org, and Repair Pal.
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The 2024 Volkswagen Taos
The cheapest German AWD SUV for 2024 is the 2024 Volkswagen Taos. Boasting lots of good tech as standard, a modern and sleek exterior and interior design, lots of safety features, and a reasonably high-reliability record, the VW Taos could be worth looking at if you are looking for a new budget-friendly SUV in 2024 that, despite its price, is a luxurious and comfortable place to be.
MRSP: $27,760
The Volkswagen Taos is available in four trims. The Taos S, the Taos SE, the Taos Black, and the Taos SEL. All have a differing standard list of features, options, and specs, but the cheapest this year is the VW Taos S.
The starting price for a 2024 Volkswagen Taos S (base trim), that features a front-wheel driveline is $25,420. If you are looking for an SUV that boasts AWD, which Volkswagen calls 4Motion, you will have to pay a little extra. For a base trim 2024 VW Taos with AWD, the starting price is $27,760. That is quite a bit cheaper than some of the segment’s rival AWD SUVs, such as the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe, with a MRSP of $35,345, and the 2024 BMW X1, which retails at $41,495, whilst still delivering a good amount of what is expected from a modern SUV.
2024 Volkswagen Taos Specifications
For an MRSP of $27,760, the 2024 Volkswagen Taos showcases a frugal 1.5-liter engine that Fuel Economy.gov has rated as being able to achieve a combined MPG of 27 MPG.
|
Engine |
1.5-Liter Inline-Four |
|
Transmission |
Seven-Speed Automatic |
|
Horsepower |
158 Horsepower |
|
Torque |
184 LB-FT |
|
Driveline |
All-Wheel Drive (4Motion) |
|
0-60 MPH |
Unpublished |
|
Top Speed |
Unpublished |
|
Towing Capacity |
Unpublished |
|
Payload Capacity |
948 LBS |
(Data gathered from Volkswagen)
Though not on the same gas-savvy level as some of 2024’s most fuel-efficient cars, trucks, and SUVs, it still means you get a reasonable range of 392 miles from one tank of gas, but you will spend on average $250 more on gas compared to the average modern car over 5 years.
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2024 VW Taos Safety And Reliability
If you are one of the 55% of Americans who value safety as a top priority when purchasing a new car, then the 2024 Volkswagen Taos could be worth checking out as it is full of impressive safety features as standard.
Boasting all-wheel stability control, an anti-slip regulatory system, engine brake assist, an electronic diff-lock, a tire pressure monitoring system, a driver, and front passenger front and side thorax airbag system, Side Curtain Protection (head airbags in the front and rear), and a rearview camera system, the VW Taos is well-equipped for a safe drive as standard.
NHTSA Safety Rating: 4 Stars
The NHTSA has given the 2024 Volkswagen Taos a 4-star overall safety rating. The NHTSA safety tests include 4-star safety ratings for front and side collisions, and a 4-star safety rating for resistance to rolling over.
There are currently no complaints, investigations, or recalls for the 2024 Volkswagen Taos.
Reliability Rating: 77/100
Along with a decent safety rating, the 2024 Volkswagen has been rated as 77 out of 100 for reliability by JD Power. This puts the VW Taos at an ‘average reliability’ standard compared to other compact SUVs for 2024. According to JD Power, the most reliable compact SUV for 2024 is the 2024 Buick Encore GX with a reliability score of 88 out of 100. Unfortunately, Repair Pal does not have any figures to do with the 2024 VW Taos, but, they have rated Volkswagen as a brand at 3.5 stars out of 5 for reliability, so above average.
It is worth noting though, that Car Survey.org has estimated that the 2024 Volkswagen Taos will be less reliable than the average new car based on the 2022 Volkswagen Taos and other factors, including VW’s overall reliability score.
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2024 Volkswagen Taos Key Features
From a German-made SUV, you would expect a pretty luxurious interior and exterior design. The Volkswagen Taos, though not on the same luxurious level as something like the Audi Q7, still does showcase some impressive exterior and interior design cues at a much lower cost.
Taos Interior Design
As standard, the AWD 2024 Volkswagen Taos features comfortable CloudTex and cloth seat upholstery, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped gear-shifter, a driver-centric cabin, manual climate control, a leatherette-wrapped steering wheel with control buttons, 40.1-inches of front legroom and 37.9-inches of rear legroom, and a 60/40 split rear seat with pass-through and armrest.
The list isn’t as extensive as what is featured on some other of Volkswagen’s German counterparts, but, for a German-made AWD SUV at a reasonably low starting price, it is enough to make you feel like you are driving a comfortable AWD SUV that is more expensive than it really is.
Taos Exterior Design
Showcasing a sleek but rugged and modern exterior design, the 2024 VW Taos still looks new and wouldn’t look out of place in the city or on some rougher roads in the countryside. Adorning the legendary VW badge and slick grille, it is a modern AWD compact SUV with a lot of character.
As standard, the 2024 Volkswagen Taos boasts 18-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires, automatic LED running lights, contrasting black roof rails, LED tail-lights, heated exterior mirrors, heated washer nozzles for the icy mornings, and rain-sensing windscreen wipers. So, despite the low starting price, the Taos does not look or seem cheap thanks to the standard features included.
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The VW Taos Techy Specs
If you are looking for a new SUV in 2024, one of the things you would expect it to boast is a good list of standard technology features to make your driving as comfortable and convenient as possible. The 2024 Volkswagen also delivers in this department and boasts a good number of driving aids and techy features.
Enhanced Driving Features
Because you are looking for a German AWD SUV, the most important features will likely be the driving system and its features. If you buy a Volkswagen Taos with AWD (the 4Motion system), then you could benefit from an all-wheel drive system that has selectable driving modes designed for varying surfaces.
The 4Motion all-wheel drive system also assists you in driving on surfaces that can become loose and cause the SUV to slip. Volkswagen says that when driving in general, to save energy, power is sent to the front axle, but, in the event of a loss in traction, power is sent to the rear axle in a fraction of a second to engage it and sure up traction. There is no fixed distribution of power between the axles featured on the VW 4Motion AWD system, but it is constantly variable, making for a safer and more controlled ride, giving you power when and where you need it.
Standard Cabin Technology Features
Don’t expect cabin technology features of the ultra-luxurious 2024 Mercedes-Maybach GLS from the 2024 Volkswagen Taos because of the price, but do expect a decent list of 2024’s cheapest German AWD SUV.
As standard, the 2024 VW Taos boasts tech features that both help to make your driving safer and help to keep you connected, which include:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Blind-spot monitoring
- A 6.5-inch touchscreen radio
- Bluetooth connectivity for smartphones
- Push-button start
- Lane departure warning and lane-assist
- An 8-inch Volkswagen Digital Cockpit
- Two USB-C charging ports
- Front Assist, which includes forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian monitoring
- High-beam lights assistance
So, for the cheapest German AWD SUV of 2024, the 2024 Volkswagen Taos does include a lot for your money, which helps it become a real competitor for new budget-friendly SUVs of 2024. You can also be confident in Volkswagen’s decades-long commitment to well-priced and safe vehicles in the 2024 Volkswagen Taos.
