2025 Volkswagen Taos vs 2026 Chevrolet Equinox

$25,495 · Crossover

$28,600 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Deciding between the nimble 2025 Volkswagen Taos and the roomier 2026 Chevrolet Equinox often boils down to prioritizing upfront savings versus outright passenger space. The Taos starts notably lower at $25,495 compared to the Equinox's $28,600, a difference of $3,105 right off the lot. For daily drivers watching the pump, the Taos pulls ahead significantly with 31 MPG combined versus the Equinox's 27 MPG combined—a difference that adds up over 50,000 miles. Performance figures are surprisingly similar, with both vehicles offering 174 hp (Taos) or 175 hp (Equinox) and identical 184 lb-ft of torque. However, the Equinox provides slightly more utility, boasting 29.8 cu ft of cargo space compared to the Taos's 27.9 cu ft. This comparison highlights a classic trade-off: do you want the more frugal, city-friendly dimensions (Taos is 175.9 inches long) or the marginally larger footprint of the Equinox (183.2 inches long)?

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Volkswagen Taos

The 2025 Taos wins for commuters due to its superior combined fuel economy of 31 MPG versus the Equinox's 27 MPG.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2026 Equinox offers better family utility with its larger 29.8 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to the Taos's 27.9 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Chevrolet Equinox

While nearly identical in power, the Equinox's CVT transmission might offer slightly smoother power delivery than the Taos's 8-speed automatic in spirited driving.

💰 Best Value

2025 Volkswagen Taos

The Taos offers better value by saving buyers $3,105 on the MSRP while delivering significantly better fuel economy.

Choose the Volkswagen Taos if...

You need the lowest possible purchase price, as the Taos starts at $25,495.
Your primary concern is fuel efficiency, given its 31 MPG combined rating (vs 27 MPG for the Equinox).
You prefer driving a slightly smaller vehicle, with the Taos measuring 175.9 inches in length for easier city parking.

Choose the Chevrolet Equinox if...

You require maximum cargo room, as the Equinox provides 29.8 cu ft compared to the Taos's 27.9 cu ft.
You are willing to pay the $3,105 premium for a slightly larger overall vehicle platform.
You prefer the feel of a continuously variable-speed automatic transmission over a traditional geared automatic.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Volkswagen Taos	Chevrolet Equinox
Length	175.9"	183.2"
Width	72.5"	74.9"
Height	64.5"	65.6"
Wheelbase	105.9"	107.5"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Volkswagen	Chevrolet
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
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
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	3	2
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	—	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	—	✓
Engine Immobilizer	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Volkswagen	Chevrolet
Base Engine Displacement	1.5 L	1.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	174 hp @ 5500 rpm	175 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque	184 lb-ft @ 1750 rpm	184 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

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

Fuel

Feature	Volkswagen	Chevrolet
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	28/36 MPG	26/28 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	31 MPG	27 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	369.6/475.2 mi.	384.8/414.4 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	13.2 gal.	14.8 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

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

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Volkswagen	Chevrolet
Infotainment Display	8.0 in	11.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	4	6
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Auxiliary Audio Input	—	✓
Satellite Radio	—	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	—	3 months
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	—	✓

Power Feature

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

Frontseats

Feature	Volkswagen	Chevrolet
Front Head Room	40.7 in.	40.0 in.
Front Leg Room	40.1 in.	40.9 in.
Front Shoulder Room	56.5 in.	57.7 in.
Front Hip Room	53.9 in.	54.2 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	✓
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	6-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	4-way
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	—
Driver Seat Heating	—	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	—	Multi-level

Rearseats

Feature	Volkswagen	Chevrolet
Rear Head Room	39.8 in.	39.2 in.
Rear Leg Room	37.9 in.	39.9 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	55.2 in.	55.8 in.
Rear Hip Room	45.4 in.	51.7 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Folding Rear Seat Feature	✓	—
Pass-Thru Center Armrest	✓	—
Folding Center Armrest	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Volkswagen	Chevrolet
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Size	17 x 7.0 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	215/55R H	235/65R17
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Inside Mounted
Wheel Diameter	—	17 in

Suspension

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

Warranty

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Volkswagen Taos and 2026 Chevrolet Equinox.

Is the power difference between the Taos and Equinox noticeable?

No, the power output is nearly identical; the 2025 Taos delivers 174 hp and 184 lb-ft, while the 2026 Equinox produces 175 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. You won't feel a significant performance difference based on these numbers alone.

How much more gas money will I save with the Taos over the long run?

The Taos's 31 MPG combined is 4 MPG better than the Equinox’s 27 MPG combined. If you drive 15,000 miles a year, this efficiency gap should quickly offset the initial $3,105 price difference.

Which crossover has better space for groceries and luggage?

The 2026 Chevrolet Equinox is the winner for cargo, offering 29.8 cubic feet. The 2025 Volkswagen Taos provides 27.9 cubic feet, which is still respectable but less expansive than its competitor.

Do both vehicles require premium gasoline?

Fortunately, no; both the Volkswagen Taos and the Chevrolet Equinox are designed to run on regular unleaded fuel, keeping ownership costs down.

Are there major differences in size for tight parking lots?

Yes, the Taos is slightly easier to maneuver due to its smaller dimensions; it is about 7.3 inches shorter in length (175.9 inches vs. 183.2 inches) than the Equinox.

What is the transmission difference between the two models?

The Taos uses a traditional 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission, whereas the Equinox features a continuously variable-speed automatic (CVT). This is a key difference in driving feel, especially during acceleration.