Compare the2026 Volkswagen TaosVS 2025 Audi Q3

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

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 Q3’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Volkswagen Taos achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Audi Q3 has not been tested.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Taos SE/SEL has standard Maneuver Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Q3 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

Both the Taos and the Q3 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, 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 Audi Q3:

	Taos	Q3
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	285	326
Neck Injury Risk	32%	39%
Neck Compression	28 lbs.	35 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	103/74 lbs.	235/363 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	224	346
Neck Stress	135 lbs.	186 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 Audi Q3:

	Taos	Q3
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
HIC	338	504
Spine Acceleration	46 G’s	47 G’s

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Volkswagen Taos is safer than the Q3:

	Taos	Q3
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	189	190
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.18 in	1.22 in
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	259	329
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	112 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.65 in	2.01 in
Shoulder Force	312 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.54 in	1.73 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	781 lbs.	1049 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

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. Audi only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Q3.

There are over 2 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Taos’ warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 44 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Audi.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Taos gets better mileage than the Q3:

			MPG
Taos
	FWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	28 city/36 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/33 hwy
Q3
	AWD	40 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
		45 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/28 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Taos uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Q3 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

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 Audi Q3 (5 to 6). This means the Taos produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Q3 every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

The Taos stops shorter than the Q3:

	Taos	Q3
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Taos SEL 4Motion® handles at .82 G’s, while the Q3 pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Taos SEL 4Motion® executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Q3 (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Taos 4Motion®’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the Q3’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.7 feet). The Taos’ turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the Q3’s (35.1 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Taos has a 2.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q3 (7.6 vs. 5.5 inches), allowing the Taos to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Volkswagen Taos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 700 pounds less than the Audi Q3.

The design of the Volkswagen Taos amounts to more than styling. The Taos has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .31 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Q3 (.38 to .39) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Taos get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The Taos has 15.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Q3 (99.5 vs. 84).

The Taos has 1.1 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, 2.2 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q3.

The front step up height for the Taos is 1 inches lower than the Q3 (16.5” vs. 17.5”). The Taos’ rear step up height is 1.3 inches lower than the Q3’s (16.7” vs. 18”).

Cargo Capacity

The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q3 with its rear seat up (27.9 vs. 23.7 cubic feet). The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q3 with its rear seat folded (65.9 vs. 48 cubic feet).

The Taos’ cargo area is larger than the Q3’s in almost every dimension:

	Taos	Q3
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	34.3”/65.2”	34”/65”
Max Width	48.5”	54”
Min Width	40”	39”
Height	37”	28”

Ergonomics

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 Q3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Taos has standard KESSY Push-Button Start that allows you to start the engine without removing the key from the pocket or purse. The Audi Advanced Key costs extra on the Q3.

Consumer Reports rated the Taos’ headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Q3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Q3 Premium Plus’ cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Taos SE/SEL’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

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 Q3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Taos’ standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Q3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Compared to traditional radio, the Volkswagen Taos’ standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio costs extra on the Q3.

Model Availability

The Taos is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q3 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Volkswagen Taos retains 51.91% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 49.66% resale value of the 2025 Audi Q3 after five years, which can save the Volkswagen’s owner up to $6808.0417 in depreciation.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen Taos outsold the Audi Q3 by over two to one during 2024.

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