Compare the2026 Volkswagen TaosVS 2025 Acura ADX

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 ADX’s 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 Acura ADX has not been tested.

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 ADX 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.

Both the Taos and ADX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Taos has Rear Traffic Alert (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The ADX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Taos and the ADX 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and rear parking sensors.

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

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Taos for 1 year and 8000 miles longer than Acura pays for maintenance for the ADX (2/20,000 vs. 1/12000).

There are over 2 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Taos’ warranty.

The Taos’ 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 5 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 179) than the ADX’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Taos gets better mileage than the ADX:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Taos uses regular unleaded gasoline. The ADX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Taos higher (7 out of 10) than the Acura ADX (5). This means the Taos produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the ADX every 15,000 miles.

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Taos 4Motion®’s wheelbase is 1 inch longer than on the ADX (105.5 inches vs. 104.5 inches). The Taos’ wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the ADX (105.9 inches vs. 104.5 inches).

The Taos SEL 4Motion® handles at .85 G’s, while the ADX A-Spec AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Taos 4Motion®’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the ADX’s (34.8 feet vs. 37 feet). The Taos’ turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the ADX’s (35.1 feet vs. 37 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Taos has a greater minimum ground clearance than the ADX (7.6 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Taos to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Taos is 9.9 inches shorter than the ADX, making the Taos easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Taos has 2.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the ADX (99.5 vs. 97.3).

The Taos has 2.3 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more rear headroom and .2 inches more rear legroom than the ADX.

The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the ADX with its rear seat up (27.9 vs. 24.4 cubic feet). The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the ADX with its rear seat folded (65.9 vs. 55.1 cubic feet).

The power windows standard on both the Taos and the ADX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Taos is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The ADX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Taos’ front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The ADX’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the ADX A-Spec’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

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 ADX’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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 ADX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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 ADX 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 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 ADX.