Volkswagen Taos MPG by year — every rating on record
The Volkswagen Taos has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 6 model years, from 2022 to 2027. Across those years its best rated version returned 31 mpg (2022) and its thirstiest returned 30 mpg (2027). The EPA record holds 6 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD.
Year-by-year EPA ratings
| Model year | Configurations | Best combined | Worst combined | Class rank that year | Drivetrains | Fuel | EPA class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1 | 31 mpg | 31 mpg | #20 of 68 (72th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| 2023 | 1 | 31 mpg | 31 mpg | #27 of 69 (62th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| 2024 | 1 | 31 mpg | 31 mpg | #43 of 77 (45th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| 2025 | 1 | 31 mpg | 31 mpg | #51 of 82 (38th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| 2026 | 1 | 31 mpg | 31 mpg | #48 of 71 (33th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| 2027 | 1 | 30 mpg | 30 mpg | #17 of 26 (36th pct) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
Where it has stood in its class
Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Volkswagen Taos placed highest in 2027 at #17 of 26, and lowest in 2025 at #51 of 82. It spent 2 of its 6 ranked years in the top half of its class.
Every configuration on record
All 6 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.
| Year | Configuration | Engine detail | City | Highway | Combined | Gallons/yr | Barrels/yr | EPA fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi | GHG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 27 | 35 | 30 | 383.3 | 9.9 | $2,100 | 297 | 6/10 |
| 2026 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 28 | 36 | 31 | 371.0 | 9.6 | $2,000 | 287 | 6/10 |
| 2025 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 28 | 36 | 31 | 371.0 | 9.6 | $2,000 | 287 | 6/10 |
| 2024 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 28 | 36 | 31 | 371.0 | 9.6 | $2,000 | 286 | 6/10 |
| 2023 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) Regular | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 28 | 36 | 31 | 371.0 | 9.6 | $2,000 | 286 | 6/10 |
| 2022 | 1.5L 4-cyl Front-Wheel Drive Automatic 8-spd Regular | SIDI, turbocharged, start-stop | 28 | 36 | 31 | 371.0 | 9.6 | $2,000 | 286 | 7/10 |
How the rating has moved between model years
Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 0 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.
| Change | Best combined | Delta | Gallons a year at the newer rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 → 2027 | 31 → 30 mpg | -1 mpg | 383 gal |
What Taos fuel costs over a year
At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2027 Volkswagen Taos burns 383 to 383 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.
| Pump price | Most efficient | Thirstiest | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| $3.00/gal | $1,150 | $1,150 | $0 |
| $3.50/gal | $1,342 | $1,342 | $0 |
| $4.00/gal | $1,533 | $1,533 | $0 |
EPA’s own estimate for the 2027 model year is $2,100 to $2,100 a year in fuel, or $750 less than the average new vehicle over five years.
How it compares with other Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Across the 152 nameplates EPA classifies as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, the median best combined rating is 29 mpg. At 30 mpg the Volkswagen Taos is 1 mpg better the median, which is worth about $46 a year at $3.50 a gallon.
- All Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.
Other Volkswagen nameplates
Every Volkswagen model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.