Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs Volkswagen Taos

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer exuded a traditional SUV aesthetic, sharing its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer. This resulted in a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile reminiscent of the smaller 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, a unique hood, front fascia, and grille, featuring laser-etched knurling in the grille slots. It boasted 20-inch wheels as standard, with 22-inch wheels available on higher trims. The interior mirrored the Wagoneer’s design but elevated the experience with 24-way power front seats, Nappa leather upholstery, and optional higher-grade Palermo leather, along with aluminum and American Walnut wood trim.

In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen Taos was designed for global appeal, engineered for affordability, and sized to maximize passenger comfort and utility. The Taos was available in Trendline, Comfortline, and Highline trims in Canada, with prices ranging from $26,995 to $37,695. The Highline trim, dipped in Cornflower Blue paint, featured bold 19-inch alloy wheels and standard LED headlights, giving it a stylish and sporty appearance. Inside, the Taos Highline resembled a cut-rate Audi with light grey seat and dashboard accents, gloss black trim, metallic detailing, and leather seats. It offered a roomy interior, nearly as spacious as the larger Tiguan model, making it one of the biggest subcompact SUVs available.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, propelled the Grand Wagoneer from zero to 100 km/h in approximately six seconds. The vehicle featured standard four-wheel drive with the Quadra-Drive II system, offering five drive modes and a height-adjustable Quadra-Lift air suspension system. With a maximum ground clearance of 25.4 centimetres, the Grand Wagoneer could tackle various terrains, although its size limited its off-road capabilities. Despite its powerful engine, the Grand Wagoneer was best driven at a leisurely pace due to its bouncy ride and imprecise steering at higher speeds.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos, on the other hand, was equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. The engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission for FWD models and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic for AWD models. The Taos offered up to five driving modes and four additional settings for the 4Motion AWD system. However, the powertrain response was unpredictable, with occasional surges of torque and delays in response. Despite its lack of power, the Taos demonstrated a distinctly Germanic driving character, feeling firm, sure-footed, and stable on the road. It averaged 8.8 litres per 100 kilometres during testing, slightly above the official rating for AWD models.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered seating for seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than its competitors, although front-row space was more limited. The Grand Wagoneer boasted 775 litres of cargo space with all seats in place and 2,007 litres with the third row stowed. Its maximum towing capacity was 4,472 kilograms, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. The vehicle featured a standard sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins, although forward visibility was somewhat limited.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos offered a spacious interior with cloth seats in Trendline trim, CloudTex artificial leatherette in Comfortline, and real leather in Highline. Standard cold-weather equipment included heated side mirrors, heated washer nozzles, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Highline trim added rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone automatic climate control, and ventilated front seats. The Taos provided ample rear-seat room and comfort, with a panoramic sunroof in the Highline trim. Cargo space was generous, with 790 litres behind the back seat and 1,866 litres with the rear seat folded down, slightly reduced in 4Motion models.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. Second-row passengers had their own 10.25-inch touchscreen, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system offered an Android-based operating system and over-the-air software updates, although the screen response was occasionally slow.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos came with standard digital instrumentation, with an eight-inch screen in Trendline and Comfortline trims and a 10.25-inch display in Highline. Infotainment systems ranged from a basic 6.5-inch touchscreen to an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in higher trims. The Highline trim included a native navigation system and an eight-speaker Beats Audio premium sound system. However, the user experience was hindered by hidden virtual controls, a complicated radio tuning process, and ineffective voice-recognition technology.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer included standard safety features such as a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection collision assist, driver-attention monitor, night vision, and traffic-sign recognition. Active Lane Management System combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centring, with a hands-free version planned for future release.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos improved its standard safety features, with Front Assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert included in the Trendline trim. The Comfortline added Lane Assist, Travel Assist, Emergency Assist, and an active version of blind-spot monitoring. The Taos also featured a post-collision automatic braking system, automatic high-beam headlights, parking sensors with automatic braking, and a road-sign recognition system. Travel Assist proved smooth and accurate, while Lane Assist operated without irritation. Crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were decent but not perfect.