2022 Volkswagen Jetta or VW Taos: the car or the SUV

When you buy a car, you make some compromises on cargo space. You have to live with the limitations of your design. When you choose an SUV, you compromise on driving pleasure and handling, this time because of the limitations of its size.

Sometimes, the two worlds come together, like the comparison we force ourselves to make, for fun, between the Jetta sedan and the Taos SUV.

But why this comparison? To show that in both cases, the advantages are numerous while the disadvantages are not game-changing.

Let's take a closer look at this unusual match-up.

The advantages

The advantages are numerous with both vehicles.

First of all, they share the same powertrain, a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission teams up with it and its work is flawless.

For the Jetta, this translates into slightly better performance, as the car is about 250 pounds lighter than the SUV. However, the Taos is just as interesting.

In both cases, the driving experience is great. Once again, the Jetta has the advantage, because it's lighter and has a lower center of gravity. This would be bad for the Taos if it wasn't fun to drive, which it isn't. The nuance is important; the Jetta offers a superior driving feel, but the Taos is still a lot of fun to drive.

At the pump, the Jetta has another advantage, thanks in part to its size and reduced weight. Its average fuel consumption rating is 6.8 L/100 km. The Taos gets 7.6 L/100 km with a front-wheel drive model and 8.5 L/100 km with an all-wheel drive version.

The Taos does well, however, as it offers two things the Jetta lacks; a very generous cargo area due to a configuration that delivers impressive volume (790 and 1,866 liters, behind the second and first row, respectively). It's also available with all-wheel drive, which is not to be overlooked by those who live where the weather is not so kind.

As you can see, each vehicle has obvious advantages, but what one lacks in the other is not a handicap to its use.

Everyone's needs vary and it is important to respect them. That's why our two models are good sellers. All you have to do is make a choice based on your preferences.