2022 Volkswagen Taos vs 2021 Subaru Outback

The 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned in 2020, retained a familiar and comfortable feel reminiscent of older models. Its interior, especially in trims above the base, featured a modern 11.6-inch portrait display surrounded by polished black plastic and chrome trim, offering a fresh look compared to the outdated dashboard of the smaller Crosstrek. The Outback's quality was evident in its substantial window switches and surface materials, with higher trims offering a luxury-like impression through two-tone leather upholstery. The exterior maintained a smooth and plain styling with high gray cladding for protection, and adaptive LED headlights became standard in 2021. Despite its lifted wagon appearance, the Outback remained a balanced and stable alternative to typical crossovers or SUVs.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos, positioned at the lower end of the compact SUV segment, offered a simple yet detailed design. Available in Trendline, Comfortline, and Highline trims, the Taos featured a turbocharged engine with options for FWD or 4Motion AWD. The Highline 4Motion test vehicle stood out with 19-inch machined-finish aluminum alloy wheels and Cornflower Blue paint. The interior, though criticized for its hard plastic, provided soft surfaces where needed, with the Highline trim offering two-tone perforated leather and an upscale dashboard. The Taos's exterior included roof rails and skid plates, but the blacked-out front bumper was a questionable styling choice. Despite its roomy cabin, the Taos's cargo space varied depending on the drive system, with less space in the AWD version.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's performance was hindered by its 2.5-litre boxer flat-four engine, producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. This engine struggled to move the vehicle efficiently, especially when loaded, resulting in slow and noisy highway performance. The XT trims offered a turbocharged 2.4-litre engine with 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, significantly improving capability and refinement. The Outback's handling was forgiving, with a focus on ride comfort and off-road capability, thanks to its high ground clearance and proactive AWD system. The turbo XT's fuel efficiency was slightly lower than the base engine, but the overall performance gains justified the cost.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos featured a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. While the engine provided adequate power, the turbocharger's delayed response and the dual-clutch transmission's erratic shifting affected driveability. The standard 8-speed automatic transmission offered smoother performance but was limited to FWD models. The Taos excelled in road feel, steering, and handling, but its low ground clearance limited off-road capability. Fuel efficiency was reasonable, with the Taos 4Motion averaging 8.7 L/100 km during testing.

The 2021 Subaru Outback boasted impressive interior space, with 2,144 litres of cargo capacity with the rear seats folded and 920 litres with them raised. The cabin offered ample headroom and legroom, with comfortable seating and excellent visibility. Storage options were plentiful, though some features like push-button start and rear climate vents were not standard on lower trims. The Outback's standout feature was its integrated roof rails and crossbars, providing easy installation for roof racks. The 11.6-inch touchscreen complicated climate controls but was generally responsive.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos offered a spacious cabin, with the Highline trim providing power-adjustable front seats and heated and ventilated options. Rear seating was generous, with ample legroom and air conditioning vents. Cargo space varied, with the FWD model offering more volume than the AWD version. The Taos included a centre pass-through for ski trips, but the front centre armrest bin was small due to rear air vents.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system appeared outdated, with graphics reminiscent of older gaming consoles. Despite this, it offered modern features like adaptive cruise control, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The EyeSight system provided driver assistance features, though it relied solely on cameras, affecting performance in certain conditions.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos came with a Digital Cockpit and a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen, with higher trims featuring an 8-inch display and MIB3 software. While Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, the infotainment system's user experience was complex, and voice recognition was unreliable. The Highline trim added navigation and a BeatsAudio sound system, though the transition from Fender components was not seen as an improvement.

The 2021 Subaru Outback featured a strong and stiff chassis, with standard airbags and driver assistance technology. It earned a "Top Safety Pick+" from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it received four stars in frontal crash and rollover tests.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos required higher trims for popular safety features, with advanced systems like Travel Assist and Emergency Assist available only on the Highline with an extra-cost package. The Taos's reverse automatic braking was overly sensitive, but it could be turned off permanently. As a new model, it had not yet been crash-tested by major safety organizations.