Compare the2023 Volkswagen TaosVS 2023 Honda HR-V

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload
Ergonomics

Safety

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Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Taos deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Taos’ side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The HR-V’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Taos has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The HR-V doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Taos has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the HR-V Sport/EX-L offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Taos has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the HR-V Sport/EX-L has a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the Taos and the HR-V have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and rear parking sensors.

Warranty

The Taos comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The HR-V’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Taos’ corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the HR-V’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Honda With 13 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Honda.

Engine

The Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 46 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 138) than the HR-V’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Volkswagen Taos is faster than the Honda HR-V:

	Taos	HR-V
Zero to 60 MPH	7.4 sec	9.4 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	21.5 sec	26 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.4 sec	9.6 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	17.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	87 MPH	85 MPH
Top Speed	130 MPH	115 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Taos gets better mileage than the HR-V:

			MPG
Taos
	FWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/36 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/32 hwy
HR-V
	FWD	2.0 4-cyl.	26 city/32 hwy
	AWD	2.0 4-cyl.	25 city/30 hwy

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Taos’ engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The HR-V doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

Tires and Wheels

The Taos S’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the HR-V’s standard 60 series tires. The Taos SEL 4Motion’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the HR-V Sport’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Taos SEL 4Motion has standard 19-inch wheels. The HR-V’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The Taos has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The HR-V doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Taos 4Motion’s wheelbase is 1 inch longer than on the HR-V (105.5 inches vs. 104.5 inches). The Taos’ wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the HR-V (105.9 inches vs. 104.5 inches).

The Taos SEL handles at .83 G’s, while the HR-V EX-L AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Chassis

The Taos is 4 inches shorter than the HR-V, making the Taos easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Taos has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more rear headroom and .2 inches more rear legroom than the HR-V.

Cargo Capacity

The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the HR-V with its rear seat up (27.9 vs. 24.4 cubic feet). The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the HR-V with its rear seat folded (65.9 vs. 55.1 cubic feet).

Payload

The Taos has a much higher standard payload capacity than the HR-V (937 vs. 538 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the Taos and the HR-V have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Taos is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The HR-V prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Taos’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The HR-V’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the HR-V Sport/EX-L’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

The Taos’ driver power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The HR-V’s power window (except driver window) and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Taos’ optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The HR-V’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Taos to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The HR-V doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Taos SEL has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The HR-V doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Taos SEL also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Taos SEL keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The HR-V doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Taos’ optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The HR-V doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Taos has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The HR-V doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

Both the Taos and the HR-V offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Taos offers optional rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The HR-V doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Taos SEL’s standard GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The HR-V’s available navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.