Compare the2025 Toyota Corolla CrossVS 2024 Volkswagen Taos

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Corolla Cross have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Volkswagen Taos doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Corolla Cross are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Taos doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Toyota Corolla Cross 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.

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Toyota Corolla Cross is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Volkswagen Taos, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Corolla Cross	Taos
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-9 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-14 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-14 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Brights	2.3 sec	No Warning
37 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.7 sec	No Warning

The Corolla Cross XLE has standard Front and Rear Parking Assist to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Taos doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The Corolla Cross’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Taos doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

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

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

	Corolla Cross	Taos
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	191	285
Neck Stress	297 lbs.	413 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	32.9%	45%
Neck Compression	36 lbs.	207 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	592/372 lbs.	643/432 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 Toyota Corolla Cross is safer than the Volkswagen Taos:

	Corolla Cross	Taos
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	92	111
Hip Force	330 lbs.	394 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	137	393
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	69 G’s
Hip Force	367 lbs.	673 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	239	338
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	46 G’s
Hip Force	623 lbs.	939 lbs.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rates the general design of front seat head restraints for their ability to protect front seat occupants from whiplash injuries. The IIHS also performs a dynamic test on those seats with “good” or “acceptable” geometry. In these ratings, the Corolla Cross with standard seats is safer than the Taos:

	Corolla Cross	Taos
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Restraint Design	GOOD	GOOD
Distance from Back of Head	21 mm	38 mm
Dynamic Test Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Seat Design	Pass	Fail
Torso Acceleration	13.3 g’s	13.3 g’s
Neck Force Rating	Low	Low
Max Neck Tension	237	334

(Lower numerical results are better in all tests.)

Warranty

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Corolla Cross 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Taos. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Taos ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Corolla Cross’ corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Taos’ (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are almost 2 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Corolla Cross’ warranty.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Corolla Cross’ engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Taos’ camshafts. If the Taos’ belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Corolla Cross’ reliability 53 points higher than the Taos.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 49 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 120 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 27th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Volkswagen is ranked 27th.

Engine

The Corolla Cross’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 11 more horsepower (169 vs. 158) than the Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Corolla Cross is faster than the Volkswagen Taos:

	Corolla Cross	Taos
Zero to 60 MPH	8.4 sec	8.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	84.8 MPH	83.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Corolla Cross AWD gets better fuel mileage than the Taos 4Motion® (29 city/31 hwy vs. 24 city/32 hwy).

Transmission

The Corolla Cross has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Taos doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Corolla Cross stops much shorter than the Taos:

	Corolla Cross	Taos
70 to 0 MPH	172 feet	185 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	120 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

For greater off-road capability the Corolla Cross has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Taos (8.1 vs. 7.6 inches), allowing the Corolla Cross to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Corolla Cross XLE offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Taos doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Payload and Towing

The Corolla Cross has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The Taos has no towing capacity.

The Corolla Cross has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Taos (1160 vs. 948 lbs.).

The Corolla Cross has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Taos (1175 vs. 948 lbs.).

Ergonomics

If the windows are left open on the Corolla Cross the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Taos can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Corolla Cross 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 Corolla Cross’ standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Volkswagen charges extra for heated mirrors on the Taos.

Both the Corolla Cross and the Taos offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Corolla Cross has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Taos doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Compared to the Volkswagen Taos, the Toyota Corolla Cross XLE eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its standard integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Model Availability

The Toyota Corolla comes in sedan, four door hatchback and four door bodystyles; the Volkswagen Taos isn’t available as a sedan or four door hatchback.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Corolla Cross owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Corolla Cross will cost $240 less than the Taos over a five-year period.

The Corolla Cross will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Corolla Cross will retain 57.73% to 59.71% of its original price after five years, while the Taos only retains 48% to 51.38%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Corolla Cross, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volkswagen Taos isn't recommended.

The Toyota Corolla Cross outsold the Volkswagen Taos by 21% during 2023.

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