Compare the2024 Volkswagen TaosVS 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability

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 Crosstrek Hybrid’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 Crosstrek Hybrid 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.

Both the Taos and Crosstrek Hybrid have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Taos has Rear Traffic Alert (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Crosstrek Hybrid’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Compared to metal, the Taos’ plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid has a metal gas tank.

Both the Taos and the Crosstrek Hybrid 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volkswagen Taos is safer than the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid:

	Taos	Crosstrek Hybrid
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	32%	36%
Neck Compression	28 lbs.	42 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	103/74 lbs.	252/363 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.7 inches
Neck Stress	135 lbs.	195 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volkswagen Taos is safer than the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid:

	Taos	Crosstrek Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	111	138
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	115 lbs.	196 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
Spine Acceleration	46 G’s	49 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The Taos comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Crosstrek Hybrid’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 Crosstrek Hybrid’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, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Crosstrek Hybrid.

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 Subaru With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Subaru.

Engine

The Taos’ standard 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (158 vs. 148) than the Crosstrek Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

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

Environmental Friendliness

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

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Taos	Crosstrek Hybrid
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	11.6 inches

The Taos stops shorter than the Crosstrek Hybrid:

	Taos	Crosstrek Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	136 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Taos 4Motion’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Crosstrek Hybrid’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Taos 4Motion offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Crosstrek Hybrid’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 Crosstrek Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

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 Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

Chassis

The Volkswagen Taos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 550 pounds less than the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid.

Passenger Space

The Taos has .9 inches more front headroom, 2.1 inches more rear headroom and 1.2 inches more rear legroom than the Crosstrek Hybrid.

The front step up height for the Taos is 1 inches lower than the Crosstrek Hybrid (16.5” vs. 17.5”). The Taos’ rear step up height is 1.3 inches lower than the Crosstrek Hybrid’s (16.7” vs. 18”).

Cargo Capacity

The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Crosstrek Hybrid with its rear seat up (27.9 vs. 15.9 cubic feet). The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Crosstrek Hybrid with its rear seat folded (65.9 vs. 43.1 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Taos easier. The Taos’ cargo hatch lift-over height is 27 inches, while the Crosstrek Hybrid’s liftover is 30.7 inches.

The Taos’ cargo area is larger than the Crosstrek Hybrid’s in almost every dimension:

	Taos	Crosstrek Hybrid
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	34.3”/65.2”	28.9”/63.1”
Max Width	48.5”	53”
Min Width	40”	43”
Height	37”	30”

Ergonomics

The Taos’ power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Crosstrek Hybrid has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

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 Crosstrek Hybrid’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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

The Taos’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Crosstrek Hybrid’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 Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the Taos’ headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Crosstrek Hybrid’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

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

The Taos has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Crosstrek Hybrid.

The Taos SE/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 Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Taos and the Crosstrek Hybrid 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 Crosstrek Hybrid 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 Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Model Availability

The Taos is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.