Volkswagen Taos vs Subaru Forester Hybrid

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos was designed to appeal to a broad audience, offering affordability and comfort. Despite its small SUV classification, it provided a spacious interior, almost rivaling larger models like the Tiguan. The Taos Highline trim, with its Cornflower Blue paint and 19-inch alloy wheels, presented a stylish and sporty appearance. Inside, the Highline trim featured leather seats and a premium look, reminiscent of a more affordable Audi. The Taos was positioned as a replacement for the discontinued Volkswagen Golf in Canada, with prices ranging from $26,995 to $37,695.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid introduced a new design for its sixth generation, offering a more cohesive but less distinctive look. Its rugged appearance, with black plastic elements, hinted at off-road capabilities. The interior retained some of its previous charm with a modernized dashboard and a large vertical infotainment touchscreen. The cabin featured a mix of hard and soft-touch materials, with the front seats providing ample comfort and support. The hybrid model included heated outboard rear seats and a panoramic sunroof, enhancing passenger comfort and appeal.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos 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, but its powertrain response was unpredictable, with occasional surges of torque and delays. Despite its sporty handling and firm ride, the Taos lacked power compared to rivals like the Mazda CX-30 and Hyundai Kona N. The AWD models averaged 8.8 L/100 km, slightly above the official rating.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid featured a 2.5-litre flat four-cylinder engine combined with a parallel hybrid system, producing 194 horsepower. The AWD system used a traditional driveshaft for better traction. While acceleration was adequate, the hybrid transmission made it feel slower, with a monotone engine groan at higher speeds. The hybrid system was well-integrated, offering a smooth transition between electric and gas power. The Forester Hybrid excelled off-road with its X-Mode drive programming and hill descent control, providing a balance between on-road comfort and off-road capability.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos offered a spacious interior with different upholstery options across trims. The Highline trim included features like heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and ventilated front seats. The rear seats provided ample legroom and comfort, with a panoramic sunroof enhancing the sense of space. The cargo area offered 790 litres of space, expandable to 1,866 litres with the rear seats folded down, though slightly reduced in AWD models.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid impressed with its unobstructed forward view and spacious front seats. The rear seats offered generous legroom and headroom, complemented by a standard panoramic sunroof. Storage options included a wireless charging pad, cup holders, and door pockets. The cargo area provided 779 litres of space, with a hands-free power liftgate and power remote seatback releases for convenience. The upright tail design allowed for bulkier items, making it practical for various needs.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos featured standard digital instrumentation, with an 8-inch screen for lower trims and a 10.25-inch display for the Highline. The infotainment system varied by trim, with the Highline offering an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone connectivity, and a Beats Audio system. However, the user experience was hindered by hidden controls, complex radio tuning, and ineffective voice recognition. Pairing a smartphone for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto was recommended for a better experience.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid came with an 11.6-inch vertical infotainment touchscreen, offering built-in navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Starlink system was praised for its large buttons and intuitive menus. Physical buttons allowed for easy temperature adjustments, while the X-Mode off-road menu was simple to use. The Forester Hybrid also included an 11-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, enhancing the overall experience.

The 2023 Volkswagen Taos improved its safety features, with standard Front Assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. The Taos received decent crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, though not perfect.

The 2025 Subaru Forester Hybrid earned high safety ratings, with five stars from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick award from IIHS. It came standard with Subaru's EyeSight suite, including collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist. Additional features like rear automatic braking and a driver attention monitor were available on higher trims. The systems functioned smoothly, with the option to disable audible alarms for lane-keep assist.