Subcompact Crossover Commuter Comparison: Volkswagen Taos vs Toyota Corolla Cross
If you want a vehicle for your daily commute that not only gets great fuel economy but can handle Washington weather, then your best bet would be a subcompact crossover. These—the smallest of the SUVs—handle like a compact sedan with similar gas mileage while giving you higher ground clearance and a roomier interior to make your daily drives more enjoyable. Let’s compare two of the newest models in the 2023 Volkswagen Taos vs 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross.
At Bud Clary Auburn Volkswagen, we are proud to offer our drivers the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a 2023 Volkswagen Taos. This model will give you the comfort, fuel economy, and handling you need for your commute here in Washington State. Our team at Bud Clary Auburn Volkswagen can’t wait to meet you and help you find your next new or used Volkswagen, with our vast inventory providing enough options for you to make an authentic choice.
Crossover Similarities and Differences
This is the second year for the Taos, whereas the Corolla Cross is an all-new version of Toyota’s long-running subcompact that’s been offered as a sedan, coupe, sports car, and hatchback over its seemingly endless lifespan. As they occupy the same segment, the 2023 Volkswagen Taos and the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross share many similarities.
Both automakers have given their subcompact crossover models three different trim options, so drives can choose between an entry-level, midrange, and top-of-the-line trim that comes fully loaded. In addition, both vehicles have room for up to five passengers; however, as we shall see, the Volkswagen is roomier than the Toyota. Finally, both models are front-wheel drives with available all-wheel drive for motorists who want the added traction that drivetrain provides. Nevertheless, there are some crucial differences that set these two vehicles apart…
Positive Performance
Volkswagen and Toyota have taken a similar approach to the powertrain on their respective vehicles. The 2023 Volkswagen Taos has a standard 1.5L TSi I-4 Turbo, while the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross features a standard 2.0L I-4. However, drivers have the option of an eight-speed automatic transmission or a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission on their Taos. The Toyota features a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT) on all models.
This means that you can get a little more performance on the Taos if you decide to get the available seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Interestingly, Volkswagen has offered this dual-clutch transmission as a package deal with its 4Motion all-wheel drive on the Taos. Nevertheless, this option is available on all three trims of the Volkswagen Taos, while you can only get the benefits of all-wheel drive on the top XLE trim of the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross.
Even though the Volkswagen Taos features a smaller engine than the Toyota Corolla Cross, it actually provides a greater amount of torque. This is the result of Volkswagen equipping the Taos’s engine with a turbocharger. This engine also has a dual overhead camshaft configuration (DOHC) with 16 valves for its four cylinders; as a result, it utilizes direct fuel injection to deliver 158 hp at 5500 RPM and 184 lb-ft of torque at 1750 RPM. This is a significant amount of torque at a low RPM, which is probably why the Taos can go from zero to sixty in just 7.4 seconds with a top speed of 125 mph.
Although the Toyota Corolla Cross has a larger engine than the Taos, it can’t match the performance of the Volkswagen. The 2.0L I-4 on the Toyota also has a DOHC configuration with 16 valves for its four cylinders. To boost fuel economy, Toyota has given this engine its variable valve timing system; as a result, it provides up to 169 hp at 6600 RPM and 151 lb-ft of torque at 4400 RPM. This is why it is slow off the mark, needing 9.2 seconds to get to 60 mph, and thus it may be difficult to merge your Corolla Cross onto a busy highway during rush hour. While it does have an alright top speed of 115 mph, you may have to wait a while to achieve that figure.
The Fuel Economy of a Smaller Model
A big reason why so many commuters love these subcompact crossovers is the ability to get the added size of an SUV without sacrificing fuel economy. The 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross gets slightly better fuel economy depending on your drivetrain. If you opt for a front-wheel drive model, the Volkswagen Taos will give you 36 MPG in highway driving, better than the 33 MPG Corolla Cross with front-wheel drive.[a] However, this model of the Corolla Cross does get slightly better fuel economy in city driving.
As for the all-wheel drive models, both the Volkswagen and the Toyota get a very impressive 32 MPG on the highway. Again, the Toyota provides better fuel economy than the all-wheel drive Volkswagen only in city driving. If you do most of your commuting on highways, you will fare better with the Taos.
Even if the fuel economy is relative, there is no comparison in roominess. The 2023 Volkswagen Taos provides 99.5 cu.ft. for passengers—significantly more than the 94.9 cu.ft. of passenger space inside the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross. This is felt the most in the backseat, where things can get a little cramped inside the Corolla Cross. The Toyota only has 32 inches of legroom for the passengers seated in the back. The Volkswagen offers a far roomier 37.9 inches, so your passengers won’t complain as much when they get seated in the back.
This spaciousness also translates to the trunk. The 2023 Taos has an impressive 27.9 cu.ft. of trunk space. In comparison, the 2023 Corolla Cross only has 25.5 cu.ft. of cargo space on front-wheel drive models and a lesser 24.3 cu.ft. on models with all-wheel drive.
Comfort Without Complacency
Aside from its roomier interior, the 2023 Volkswagen Taos offers plenty of inviting comfort features as standard. Every model, including the entry-level S trim, has seating surfaces upholstered with CloudTex to improve comfort—except for the SEL trim, which has leather seats, as well as a leatherette-wrapped steering wheel and App-Connect for smart devices. In addition, every 2023 Taos has a blind spot monitor to make changing lanes safer than ever.
While the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross has a nice interior, it just doesn’t compare to the one on the Taos. First, if you want a premium SofTex fabric with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, you have to move up from the base L model of the Corolla Cross. Also, blind spot monitoring is not available on the base L model.
The only area of the interior where the Corolla Cross may be preferable to the Taos is the size of its infotainment screen. All trims of the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross feature an 8.0-inch touchscreen, while only the SE and SEL models of the 2023 Volkswagen Taos come with a screen of this size. The Taos S has a 6.5-inch screen. However, the features of the infotainment systems for each vehicle are fairly comparable, with the top trims getting navigation and a premium audio system. The top trim SEL model of the Volkswagen Taos comes with a BeatsAudio system, while Toyota offers a premium audio system by JBL as an optional upgrade on the Corolla Cross LE and XLE models.
Make Your Next Commute in a 2023 Volkswagen Taos!
In comparing the 2023 Volkswagen Taos to the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross, we see that Volkswagen allows you to get more out of your subcompact crossover than Toyota. While both will give you extraordinary fuel economy, the Volkswagen gives you a roomier interior, available all-wheel drive at every trim level, and the choice of two different transmissions. You will also get more standard creature comfort features in the Volkswagen Taos than on the Toyota Corolla Cross, especially with respect to the base models of each vehicle.
As a result, the 2023 Volkswagen Taos represents the ideal choice for commuters here in Washington State. Stop by Bud Clary Auburn Volkswagen and see why you should start making your daily commute in a roomy, safe, and convenient 2023 Volkswagen Taos!
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