Audi Q3 vs Volkswagen Taos

The 2021 Audi Q3 showcased a design that embraced the era of "postmodern automotive styling," with its massive corporate grille fitting well with the vehicle's stout and chunky styling. This design suggested utility and dynamic handling, though it primarily delivered on the latter. Inside, the Q3's cabin mirrored this modern aesthetic, with a dash design that prominently framed the center touchscreen. When the interior debuted in 2019, it was a standout, but by 2021, Volkswagen's interiors had begun to catch up, making the Q3 feel modern and refined, though not as unique as before.

In contrast, the 2022 Volkswagen Taos presented a straightforward exterior design that fit seamlessly into the existing VW lineup. The SEL 4Motion model, with its 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels and Cornflower Blue paint, added a vibrant personality to the vehicle. However, the interior was dominated by hard, shiny plastics, which detracted from the overall feel. Despite this, the Taos offered soft surfaces where it mattered most, with the SEL trim providing two-tone perforated leather and an upscale dashboard strip, enhancing the cabin's appeal.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive. The S-Line trim offered a more powerful version of the same engine, delivering 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain provided a lively driving experience, with solid power for passing and engaging handling, especially in Sport mode. The Q3's Drive Select system offered various modes, including Auto, Comfort, Dynamic, and Off-Road, though the latter was best suited for light trails.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos featured a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The engine's robust torque allowed the Taos to feel powerful, but the turbocharger's delay resulted in a sudden throttle response. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission paired with the 4Motion AWD system offered spirited performance but was marred by erratic shifting. The standard eight-speed automatic transmission provided smoother driving but was limited to front-wheel drive. Despite these issues, the Taos delivered a light, compliant driving experience with impressive road feel and responsive steering.

The 2021 Audi Q3 offered 48 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 23.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. While the space behind the seats was decent for a subcompact luxury SUV, the overall cargo capacity was subpar for the class. However, the Q3 compensated with ample passenger space, providing comfortable front seats and impressive rear headroom and legroom, making it suitable for four passengers on a road trip.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos boasted a spacious cabin, with the SEL's deeply bolstered seats offering extensive seat-track travel and height adjustment. The rear seat provided generous legroom and a comfortable cushion, complemented by rear air conditioning vents. Cargo space varied depending on 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, but the Taos included a center pass-through, ideal for ski trips.

The 2021 Audi Q3 featured an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Audi's MMI system, with standard Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. An upgraded 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation was available, along with wireless device charging, satellite radio, and a Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker premium audio system. The Audi Virtual Cockpit offered a customizable digital display, enhancing the driving experience.

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 charging and SiriusXM satellite radio, while the SEL featured a navigation system and an eight-speaker BeatsAudio premium sound system. However, the infotainment system's user experience was complex, and the voice-recognition technology was unreliable.

The 2021 Audi Q3 included standard Audi Pre Sense and Pre Sense Front, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. Lane-departure warning was also standard, with optional features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-sign recognition. Additional options included a 360-degree camera system, parking sensors, and self-parking assist.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos offered IQ Drive safety technologies, standard or available across all trims. The IQ Drive package for the Taos S 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 inactive drivers by safely stopping the vehicle. The Taos SEL included all these features as standard, along with rain-sensing wipers and road sign recognition.