Compare the2023 Volkswagen TaosVS 2022 Lexus UX

Both the Taos and the UX 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, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and rear parking sensors.

The Taos’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the UX’s (7 vs. 6 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Taos for 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the UX (2/20,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are almost 3 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Taos’ warranty.

The Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 33 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 151) than the UX 200’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Volkswagen Taos is faster than the UX 200 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder:

Both the Taos and the UX Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Taos’s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Taos uses regular unleaded gasoline. The UX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Taos FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (13.2 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Taos AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX’s standard fuel tank (14.5 vs. 12.4 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Taos higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus UX (6 to 7). This means the Taos produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the UX every 15,000 miles.

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

The Taos stops shorter than the UX:

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 UX’s 50 series tires.

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

The Taos has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the UX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Taos’ wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the UX (105.5 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

The Taos SEL handles at .83 G’s, while the UX 200 Luxury pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The design of the Volkswagen Taos amounts to more than styling. The Taos has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .31 Cd. That is lower than the UX (.33) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Taos get better fuel mileage.

The Taos has 9.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the UX (99.5 vs. 90.4).

The Taos has 3.5 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, 3.5 inches more rear headroom, 4.8 inches more rear legroom and 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (27.9 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).

The Taos has a higher standard payload capacity than the UX (937 vs. 890 lbs.).

The power windows standard on both the Taos and the UX 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 UX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 UX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.