Compare the2026 Volkswagen TaosVS 2026 Chevrolet Trax

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen Taos have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Chevrolet Trax doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen Taos are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Chevrolet Trax doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Taos deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Taos’ side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Trax’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Taos has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Trax doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Taos SE/SEL has standard Maneuver Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Trax doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Taos offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Trax doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Taos’ standard Hill Descent Assist allows you to creep down safely. The Trax doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

The Taos SE/SEL has standard Park Distance Control to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Trax doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The Taos has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Trax’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Taos has standard Rear Traffic Alert and automatically engage the brakes. Chevrolet charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Trax and the Trax’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

Both the Taos and the Trax have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volkswagen Taos is safer than the Chevrolet Trax:

	Taos	Trax
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	224	281
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	135 lbs.	220 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volkswagen Taos is safer than the Chevrolet Trax:

	Taos	Trax
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	111	171
Chest Movement	.6 inches	1.2 inches
Abdominal Force	115 lbs.	288 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
HIC	338	464
Spine Acceleration	46 G’s	54 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Volkswagen Taos is safer than the Trax:

	Taos	Trax
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	189	476
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Torso Max Deflection	1.18 in	1.5 in
Head Protection	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	259	424
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	134 lbs.
Neck Compression	112 lbs.	134 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.65 in	1.77 in
Shoulder Force	312 lbs.	335 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.54 in	1.57 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	781 lbs.	892 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

The Taos comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Trax’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Taos’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Trax’s (7/100,000 vs. 6/100,000).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Taos for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Chevrolet only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Trax.

Engine

The Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 37 more horsepower (174 vs. 137) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 162) than the Trax’s 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Volkswagen Taos is faster than the Chevrolet Trax:

	Taos	Trax
Zero to 60 MPH	8.9 sec	9.9 sec
Quarter Mile	16.7 sec	17.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85.1 MPH	78.2 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Taos FWD gets better fuel mileage than the Trax (28 city/36 hwy vs. 28 city/32 hwy).

The Taos AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Trax (14.5 vs. 13.2 gallons).

The Taos has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Trax. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Taos higher (7 out of 10) than the Chevrolet Trax (6). This means the Taos produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Trax every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Volkswagen Taos, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Trax.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Taos’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the Trax:

	Taos	Trax
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	11.8 inches

The Taos stops shorter than the Trax:

	Taos	Trax
70 to 0 MPH	176 feet	180 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	127 feet	132 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	138 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Taos 4Motion®’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Trax LS/LT’s standard 60 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Taos 4Motion® has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Chevrolet Trax has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Taos 4Motion® has front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Taos 4Motion® flat and controlled during cornering. The Trax’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Taos has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Trax doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Taos’ front to rear weight distribution is more even (57% to 43%) than the Trax’s (61% to 39%). This gives the Taos more stable handling and braking.

The Taos SEL 4Motion® handles at .85 G’s, while the Trax ACTIV pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Taos SEL 4Motion® executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Trax ACTIV (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Taos 4Motion®’s turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the Trax’s (34.8 feet vs. 38 feet). The Taos’ turning circle is 2.9 feet tighter than the Trax’s (35.1 feet vs. 38 feet).

Passenger Space

The Taos has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Trax.

Cargo Capacity

The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Trax with its rear seat up (27.9 vs. 25.6 cubic feet). The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Trax with its rear seat folded (65.9 vs. 54.1 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

The Taos’ front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Trax’s power windows’ switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

On a hot day the Taos’ driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Trax can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Taos has standard KESSY Push-Button Start that allows you to start the engine without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Start costs extra on the Trax.

The Taos’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Trax’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Taos to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Trax doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Taos’ available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Trax’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Taos SE/SEL has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Trax doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Taos SE/SEL also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The Taos SE/SEL’s standard rear view mirror has an automatic dimming feature. This mirror can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on it, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Trax doesn’t offer the luxury of an automatic dimming rear view mirror.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Taos SEL keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Trax doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Taos has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Trax.

The Taos has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Trax doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The Taos SE/SEL’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Trax doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the Taos and the Trax offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Taos offers optional rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Trax doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

With standard voice command, the Taos SE/SEL offers the driver hands free control of the radio and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Trax doesn’t offer a voice control system.

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