2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer vs 2025 Volkswagen Taos

$23,100 · Crossover

$25,495 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Picking between the 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer and the 2025 Volkswagen Taos often comes down to prioritizing upfront cost versus horsepower, a classic budget crossover dilemma. The Trailblazer undercuts the Taos significantly, starting at an MSRP of $23,100 compared to the Taos' $25,495, saving buyers over $2,300 right off the bat. However, the Taos pulls ahead in performance metrics, offering 174 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque against the Trailblazer's 137 hp and 162 lb-ft. While fuel economy is nearly identical overall (31 combined MPG for Taos vs. 30 combined MPG for Trailblazer), the Taos boasts a better highway rating of 36 MPG. Size-wise, the Taos is marginally larger in length (175.9 inches vs. 174.1 inches) and offers slightly more utility with 27.9 cu ft of cargo space versus the Trailblazer's 25.3 cu ft, making the slightly pricier Taos feel a bit more substantial.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer

The Trailblazer wins for commuters due to its lower $23,100 MSRP and slightly better city MPG rating of 30.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Volkswagen Taos

The Taos is better for families as it provides superior utility with 27.9 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to the Trailblazer's 25.3 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Volkswagen Taos

Enthusiasts will prefer the Taos because it delivers significantly more power with 174 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque.

💰 Best Value

2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer

The Trailblazer presents better base value by being over $2,300 cheaper, despite marginally lower power figures.

Choose the Chevrolet Trailblazer if...

You need the lowest possible entry price, as the Trailblazer starts at just $23,100.
You prioritize consistent city driving efficiency, netting 30 MPG city.
You prefer the simpler, standard operation of a CVT transmission for smoother low-speed driving.

Choose the Volkswagen Taos if...

You desire noticeably quicker acceleration provided by its 174 hp engine.
Long highway commutes matter, given the Taos achieves an excellent 36 MPG on the highway.
You need the maximum available utility from this size class, benefiting from 27.9 cu ft of cargo space.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Chevrolet Trailblazer	Volkswagen Taos
Length	174.1"	175.9"
Width	71.2"	72.5"
Height	64.2"	64.5"
Wheelbase	104.0"	105.9"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Chevrolet	Volkswagen
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Brake Drying	✓	—
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	2	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	—
Engine Immobilizer	✓	—
Blind Spot Monitor	—	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Chevrolet	Volkswagen
Base Engine Displacement	1.2 L	1.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 3	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	137 hp @ 5000 rpm	174 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque	162 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm	184 lb-ft @ 1750 rpm
Number of Valves	12	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Chevrolet	Volkswagen
Transmission Type	continuously variable-speed automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	front wheel drive

Fuel

Feature	Chevrolet	Volkswagen
Fuel Type	flex-fuel (unleaded/E85)	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	30/31 MPG	28/36 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	30 MPG	31 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	396.0/409.2 mi.	369.6/475.2 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	13.2 gal.	13.2 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Chevrolet	Volkswagen
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Cruise Control	✓	—
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	—
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Single Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	—	✓
Rear Cupholders	—	✓
Leatherette Steering Wheel	—	✓
Heated Steering Wheel	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Chevrolet	Volkswagen
Infotainment Display	11.0 in	8.0 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	4	4
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
Auxiliary Audio Input	✓	—
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	—
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	✓	—

Power Feature

Feature	Chevrolet	Volkswagen
One-Touch Power Windows	4	—
Remote Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Chevrolet	Volkswagen
Front Head Room	40.0 in.	40.7 in.
Front Leg Room	40.9 in.	40.1 in.
Front Shoulder Room	55.4 in.	56.5 in.
Front Hip Room	52.3 in.	53.9 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	✓
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	6-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	6-way
Passenger Seat Folding Capability	✓	—
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	—	✓

Rearseats

Feature	Chevrolet	Volkswagen
Rear Head Room	38.4 in.	39.8 in.
Rear Leg Room	39.0 in.	37.9 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	53.8 in.	55.2 in.
Rear Hip Room	50.4 in.	45.4 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Folding Rear Seat Feature	—	✓
Pass-Thru Center Armrest	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Chevrolet	Volkswagen
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Diameter	17 in	—
Tire Size	225/60R17	215/55R H
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Inside Mounted
Wheel Size	—	17 x 7.0 in

Suspension

Feature	Chevrolet	Volkswagen
Front Suspension Type	Independent	Independent
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	—
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	—
Stabilizer Bar	—	✓

Warranty

Feature	Chevrolet	Volkswagen
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	6 yr./ 100000 mi.	7 yr./ 100000 mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	1 yr./ unlimited mi.	2 yr./ 20000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer and 2025 Volkswagen Taos.

Is the power difference between the 2025 Trailblazer and Taos noticeable in real-world driving?

Yes, the 37-horsepower difference is substantial in this segment; the Taos offers 174 hp compared to the Trailblazer's 137 hp. This means the Taos will feel much more responsive when merging or passing other vehicles on the highway.

Which crossover is more fuel-efficient for mixed driving?

They are extremely close, but the 2025 Volkswagen Taos slightly wins overall with a combined 31 MPG compared to the Trailblazer's 30 MPG combined. However, the Taos excels on the highway at 36 MPG versus the Trailblazer's 31 MPG highway rating.

Does the lower MSRP of the Trailblazer mean it sacrifices essential space?

The Trailblazer's cargo capacity is 25.3 cu ft, which is good, but the Taos does offer more utility at 27.9 cu ft. Both vehicles are very similar in exterior dimensions, with the Taos being slightly longer at 175.9 inches.

Can I use E85 fuel in either of these small crossovers?

Only the 2025 Chevrolet Trailblazer is listed as flex-fuel capable, meaning it can run on unleaded or E85. The Volkswagen Taos requires standard regular unleaded fuel.

How do their transmissions differ?

The Trailblazer uses a continuously variable-speed automatic (CVT), which generally offers seamless acceleration. The Taos is equipped with a more traditional 8-speed shiftable automatic, which enthusiasts might prefer for a more connected driving feel.