Compare the2026 Volkswagen TaosVS 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross

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

Safety

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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 Corolla Cross’ side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Volkswagen Taos achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Toyota Corolla Cross has not been tested.

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. Only the Corolla Cross LE/XLE offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Taos has standard Rear Traffic Alert and automatically engage the brakes. Only the Corolla Cross LE/XLE offers Rear Cross-Traffic Alert.

Both the Taos and the Corolla Cross have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and rear parking sensors.

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 Toyota Corolla Cross:

	Taos	Corolla Cross
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	32%	33.6%
Neck Compression	28 lbs.	61 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	103/74 lbs.	324/279 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	224	330
Neck Stress	135 lbs.	155 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 Toyota Corolla Cross:

	Taos	Corolla Cross
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	115 lbs.	129 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	12 inches

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

Warranty

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

The Taos’ corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Corolla Cross’ (7 vs. 5 years).

Engine

The Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 5 more horsepower (174 vs. 169) and 33 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 151) than the Corolla Cross’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Volkswagen Taos is faster than the Toyota Corolla Cross:

	Taos	Corolla Cross
Zero to 60 MPH	8.9 sec	9.3 sec
Quarter Mile	16.7 sec	17.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	85.1 MPH	83.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

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 Toyota Corolla Cross (5). This means the Taos produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Corolla Cross every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Taos	Corolla Cross
Front Rotors	12.3 inches	12 inches

The Taos stops shorter than the Corolla Cross:

	Taos	Corolla Cross
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	140 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Taos 4Motion®’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Corolla Cross (235/45R19 vs. 225/55R18).

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 Corolla Cross L/LE’s standard 65 series tires. The Taos 4Motion®’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Corolla Cross XLE’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Taos 4Motion® offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Corolla Cross’ largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The Taos has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Corolla Cross’ suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

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 Corolla Cross doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Taos’ wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the Corolla Cross (105.5 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

The Taos SEL 4Motion® handles at .85 G’s, while the Corolla Cross XLE AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Taos SEL 4Motion® executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the Corolla Cross LE (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .56 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Taos 4Motion®’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Corolla Cross’ (34.8 feet vs. 35.4 feet). The Taos’ turning circle is .3 feet tighter than the Corolla Cross’ (35.1 feet vs. 35.4 feet).

Passenger Space

The Taos has 4.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corolla Cross (99.5 vs. 94.9).

The Taos has 2.1 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front hip room, 3.8 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 5.9 inches more rear legroom, 1.6 inches more rear hip room and 2.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Corolla Cross.

Cargo Capacity

The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Corolla Cross with its rear seat up (27.9 vs. 21.5 cubic feet). The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Corolla Cross with its rear seat folded (65.9 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Taos easier. The Taos’ cargo hatch lift-over height is 27 inches, while the Corolla Cross’ liftover is 30.9 inches.

The Taos’ cargo area is larger than the Corolla Cross’ in almost every dimension:

	Taos	Corolla Cross
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	34.3”/65.2”	33”/66.7”
Max Width	48.5”	54”
Min Width	40”	38”
Height	37”	35”

Ergonomics

The Taos has standard KESSY Push-Button Start that allows you to start the engine without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Only the Corolla Cross LE/XLE offers a Smart Key System.

The Taos’ driver power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Corolla Cross’ power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 Corolla Cross L’s standard fixed intermittent wipers only have one fixed delay setting, so the driver will have to manually switch them between slow and intermittent. The Corolla Cross LE/XLE’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 Corolla Cross doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the Taos’ headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Corolla Cross’ headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

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 Corolla Cross 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 Corolla Cross.

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