Compare the2022 Fiat 500XVS 2022 Volkswagen Taos

The Fiat 500X has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Taos doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The 500X has standard Reactive Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Reactive Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Taos doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the 500X. But it costs extra on the Taos.

The 500X offers optional ParkSense to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or, optionally, in front of the vehicle. The Taos doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

Both the 500X and the Taos have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the 500X the rating of “Top Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 212 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Taos has not been tested, yet.

The 500X’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Taos’ (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

The engine in the 500X has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engine in the Taos has dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

The 500X’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 19 more horsepower (177 vs. 158) and 26 lbs.-ft. more torque (210 vs. 184) than the Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

The 500X has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Taos doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Fiat 500X, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Taos.

The 500X stops much shorter than the Taos:

For superior ride and handling, the Fiat 500X has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Volkswagen Taos has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The 500X has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the 500X flat and controlled during cornering. The Taos 4x2 suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For better maneuverability, the 500X’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Taos’ (36.3 feet vs. 37.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the 500X has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Taos (7.9 vs. 6.6 inches), allowing the 500X to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The 500X is 8.6 inches shorter than the Taos, making the 500X easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The 500X has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Taos has no towing capacity.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the 500X has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Taos only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The 500X’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Volkswagen charges extra for heated mirrors on the Taos.