Compare the2023 Volkswagen TaosVS 2022 Honda HR-V

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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Taos offers optional Maneuver Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The HR-V doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Taos’ standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The HR-V doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Taos’ standard rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The HR-V doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Taos has standard Car-Net, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The HR-V doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

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, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and rear parking sensors.

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).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Taos for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Honda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the HR-V.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Taos has a standard 640-amp battery. The HR-V’s 410-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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.

The Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 17 more horsepower (158 vs. 141) and 57 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 127) than the HR-V’s 1.8 SOHC 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	9.5 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	21.5 sec	30.8 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.4 sec	9.9 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	17.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	87 MPH	82 MPH
Top Speed	130 MPH	117 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the Taos FWD gets better fuel mileage than the HR-V FWD (28 city/36 hwy vs. 28 city/34 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.

The Taos AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the HR-V (14.5 vs. 13.2 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Taos higher (7 out of 10) than the Honda HR-V (5). This means the Taos produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the HR-V every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Taos’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the HR-V:

	Taos	HR-V
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	11.5 inches

The Taos stops shorter than the HR-V:

	Taos	HR-V
70 to 0 MPH	176 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	132 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

The Taos SEL 4Motion’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the HR-V Sport’s 50 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.

For superior ride and handling, the Taos 4Motion 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 Honda HR-V has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Taos has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The HR-V’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Taos’ wheelbase is 2.7 inches longer than on the HR-V (105.5 inches vs. 102.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Taos is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 0 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the HR-V.

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.

For greater off-road capability the Taos has a greater minimum ground clearance than the HR-V (7.6 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Taos to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Taos’ minimum ground clearance is .7 inch higher than on the HR-V Sport (7.6 vs. 6.9 inches).

The Taos has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more rear headroom and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the HR-V.

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. 24.3 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. 58.8 cubic feet).

The Taos SE/SEL has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The HR-V doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

On a hot day the Taos’ driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the HR-V can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Taos’ standard variable intermittent wipers have an adjustable delay to allow the driver to choose a setting that best clears the windshield during light rain or mist. The HR-V LX/Sport’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent. 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 EX/EX-L’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.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Taos’ available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the HR-V’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

The Taos has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The HR-V has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the EX/EX-L.

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.

The Taos SEL’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The HR-V doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

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.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen Taos SE/SEL has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The HR-V doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.