2022 Volkswagen Taos vs 2021 Subaru Outback

The 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned for the 2020 model year, retained a familiar and comfortable feel reminiscent of older Subaru models. The analog gauges, steering wheel design, and seat forms were consistent with previous iterations, though the interior saw a refresh, especially in trims above the base model. The Premium trim and higher featured an 11.6-inch portrait display, which was bright, sharp, and integrated with polished black plastic and chrome trim. The Onyx Edition XT, with its gray and black StarTex upholstery and lime green stitching, added a touch of flair to the otherwise conservative design. Externally, the Outback's gray cladding and smooth, plain styling gave it a balanced and stable appearance, with minor updates like new paint options and standard adaptive LED headlights for 2021.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos, positioned as a compact SUV, offered a straightforward yet detailed design. Available in S, SE, and SEL trims, the Taos featured a turbocharged engine and options for front-wheel or 4Motion all-wheel drive. The SEL 4Motion test vehicle stood out with its 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels and Cornflower Blue paint. The Taos sported typical SUV elements like roof rails and dark gray plastic cladding, though the blacked-out front bumper was a questionable design choice. Inside, the Taos had a mix of hard plastics and soft surfaces, with the SEL trim offering two-tone perforated leather and an upscale dashboard strip. However, the interior's shiny and sometimes hollow-sounding plastic detracted from its overall appeal.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's base 2.5-liter flat-four engine, producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, struggled with the vehicle's weight, especially when fully loaded. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) further hampered performance, making the Outback slow and noisy under stress. The XT trims, with a 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four engine, offered a significant improvement with 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, providing better acceleration and smoother operation. The turbo XT's fuel economy was slightly lower than the base engine, but the trade-off was worth it for the enhanced performance. The Outback's handling was geared towards comfort, with long-travel springs and 8.7 inches of ground clearance making it capable off-road. Subaru's AWD system, with X-Mode for tougher conditions, ensured the Outback's proficiency in various terrains.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The engine's robust torque made the Taos feel powerful, but the turbo lag and sudden torque delivery could be jarring. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with 4Motion AWD offered spirited performance but suffered from erratic shifting. The standard eight-speed automatic, available only with front-wheel drive, provided smoother operation. The Taos SEL 4Motion in Sport mode improved drivability, but the powertrain's quirks remained. Despite these issues, the Taos excelled in handling, with responsive steering, effective brakes, and commendable grip. However, its 6.6 inches of ground clearance limited its off-road capabilities. The Taos SEL 4Motion achieved an EPA-estimated 28 mpg in combined driving, with real-world testing showing 27.1 mpg.

The 2021 Subaru Outback boasted impressive ground clearance, surpassing many larger vehicles, and offered 76 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 33 cubic feet with them raised. The cargo area was wide and flat, with ample headroom and legroom for passengers. Visibility was excellent, thanks to thin pillars and large windows. Storage options included large door pockets, a front center console with handy pockets, and a small shelf on the passenger-side dash. However, some features like push-button start and rear climate vents were only available on higher trims. The Outback's roof rails with integrated crossbars were a standout feature, providing convenience and cost savings. The 11.6-inch touchscreen complicated climate controls but offered a responsive interface for vehicle settings and stereo presets.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos offered a spacious cabin, with the SEL's deeply bolstered seats providing ample adjustment options. The rear seat was equally roomy, with generous legroom and a comfortable cushion. Storage space was plentiful, though the bin under the front center armrest was small. Cargo space varied with the drive system, with front-wheel-drive models offering 27.9 cubic feet behind the back seat and 65.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. The 4Motion models had slightly less cargo space, with 24.9 cubic feet and 60.2 cubic feet, respectively. The Taos also featured a center pass-through for ski trips, adding to its practicality.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system felt dated, with graphics and typefaces reminiscent of older gaming consoles. Despite this, the system offered modern features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The adaptive cruise control had four settings, but accessing and changing them was cumbersome. Subaru EyeSight, standard on all trims, included adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. However, the system relied solely on cameras, which could be less effective in certain conditions compared to systems that also use radar.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos came with Digital Cockpit instrumentation and a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the S trim, while the SE and SEL had 8-inch displays with MIB3 software. All trims included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Car-Net connected services. The SE trim added wireless smartphone integration, SiriusXM, voice control, and wireless charging. The SEL trim featured navigation and an eight-speaker BeatsAudio system. However, the MIB3 system had usability issues, with complex menu navigation and unreliable voice recognition. The transition from Fender to BeatsAudio components was also seen as a downgrade.

The 2021 Subaru Outback featured a stronger and stiffer chassis, with standard driver’s knee and passenger seat-cushion airbags. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was optional on Premium trims and standard on higher trims. Rear emergency braking and a driver-attention monitor were available on select trims. The Outback earned a 2020 IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" award and received top ratings in all crash tests. The NHTSA awarded the 2021 Outback an overall five-star rating, with four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and four stars for the rollover test.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos democratized its IQ Drive safety technologies, making them standard or available across 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 and Emergency Assist were also part of the package, with the latter responding to an inactive driver by bringing the SUV to a safe stop. The Taos SEL included all these features as standard, along with rain-sensing wipers, road sign recognition, and rear parking sensors with automatic braking. However, the reverse automatic braking system could be overly sensitive, though it could be turned off via the infotainment system. As a new model, the Taos had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.