Your writer first hit the streets of Spring, TX, in a '69 Beetle and later made the regular trip from Spring to Nacogdoches in a '69 Karmann Ghia. That was a long time ago, but what stuck, besides an appreciation for Volkswagen vehicles, is the idea that it is best to seek out the smallest vehicle that meets your needs. It pays off in initial costs, operating costs, and insurance costs, as well as being easy to park and having more space around the car in the garage. "Bigger is Better" may seem as American as apple pie and even more so in Texas, but if you make an exception with your daily driver, it can reward you throughout its ownership. 

When looking for a small family car, it doesn't hurt to source one from a country where small cars are both the norm and highly competitive. As of this writing, gasoline averages $7.63 per gallon in Germany, and cars the size of the Volkswagen Taos are considered family cars, not stepping stones to something larger. That could be why the Taos is such a great vehicle for those who are ready to "think small" but demand dignity and quality. So let Gillman Volkswagen tell you about the Volkswagen Taos.  

It isn't immediately apparent, but the Taos is considered a subcompact crossover SUV. It doesn't look like it because, in a category many manufacturers write off as for younger drivers and style their vehicles accordingly, Volkswagen gives the Taos the same stately, ageless, and elegant design found in the rest of its model line. It is also surprisingly spacious for the category. It basically gives the impression of being one size larger until you see it parked next to a Tiguan.  

It isn't just the styling that makes it seem larger than its category, but also cabin space. Compared to a popular model in the segment, the Honda HR-V, the Taos has more: 

• Interior Volume (127.4 vs 123.1 cubic feet) 
• Passenger Volume (99.5 vs. 98.7 cubic feet) 
• Seats-up Cargo Volume (27.9 vs. 24.4 cubic feet) 
• Seats-down Cargo Volume (65.9 vs. 55.1 cubic feet) 
•  

Interestingly, the Taos even surpasses the Tiguan in both seat-up / down cargo volume. And while the Tiguan offers more rear legroom (40.2 vs. 37.9 inches), the Taos still provides enough space that a 6'1" HotCars.com editor found he had several inches to spare when sitting behind his own driving position. He also appreciated the low floor that kept his knees well below his line of sight. 

The sense of dignity continues with a generous and surprisingly high level of standard features. The SE model, which is just one step above the base model, exemplifies this well. With a starting MSRP of under $30K ($28,395), the SE offers upscale features such as heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control with rear seat vents, a digital gauge cluster, wireless smartphone compatibility, a full set of one-touch windows, and—rare for this and higher categories—turn-adaptive headlights. It even features a rear backlit VW badge. 

Powering the Taos is a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 that delivers 174 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque, significantly surpassing the Honda HR-V's 158 hp and 138 lb-ft. The engine is paired with a proper 8-speed automatic transmission with manual shifting, which is very useful if you ever take a trip to mountain country, and it's available in either front- or all-wheel drive. In the front-drive version, this setup achieves 36 mpg on the highway and 28 when you are slogging up and down 69 and city streets each day. 

Leather seating can be overrated in the Houston sun, and faux leather even more so. Fortunately, the Tiguan SE offers soft yet durable Cloud-Tex cloth seating surfaces with an attractive seam pattern that is especially appealing in a two-tone interior option. The driver is greeted with an elegant dashboard layout, equipped with plenty of physical controls for the climate system and basic audio functions. 

Every Taos also comes standard with IQ Drive, providing driver-assist technologies you can use daily, and safety features you hope never to need, but are there just in case.  

Overall, the Taos is a small crossover that punches way above its weight. If you're ready to "think small" but not look or feel like you are doing so, you should visit Gillman Volkswagen and take the Taos for a test drive.