Compared: 2024 Volkswagen Taos vs. 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer
These two subcompact SUVs blend efficiency with practicality.
Chevrolet | Volkswagen
QuickTakes:
If you're looking for a pint-sized, city-friendly SUV, the 2024 versions of the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Volkswagen Taos are likely on your list. Both of these subcompacts offer efficient powertrains, upright driving positions, and good overall practicality. Taking a closer look at how they compare could help you decide which would best suit your needs.
Volkswagen
The Trailblazer and Taos Offers Four Trim Levels
The 2024 Volkswagen Taos has four trim levels. The base S starts at about $25,000 and features front-wheel drive (FWD), external LED lighting, a digital gauge cluster, and VW's suite of active safety tech. The SE adds features such as remote start, 18-inch wheels, and dual-zone automatic climate control at a price just shy of $30,000.
Adding all-wheel drive (AWD) costs about $2,500 on the Taos S and around $1,500 on the SE. The SEL gains BeatsAudio sound, leather upholstery, projector headlights, a sunroof, standard AWD, and additional items for about $35,000.
Chevrolet
The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer has four trim levels and a choice of two engines. The base FWD Trailblazer LS comes standard with 17-inch wheels, an 11.0-inch center infotainment system, and Chevrolet's suite of active safety features for about $24,000.
The LT trim costs about $26,000. It can also be optioned with wireless smartphone charging, a panoramic sunroof, and adaptive cruise control. Stepping up from the base 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine to the more potent 1.3-liter unit costs about $400 on the lower LS or LT trims. Adding AWD costs $2,000 but includes the larger engine.
The Activ and RS trims are at the top of the Trailblazer lineup. Starting at around $28,000, they come exclusively with the larger engine, and all-wheel drive is a $1,600 option. Both add features such as heated front seats and steering wheel, passive keyless entry, and a power driver's seat. The Activ adds some rugged features like a skid plate and unique suspension tuning, while the RS has a sporty look and 19-inch wheels.
Chevrolet
The Trailblazer Has a Better Infotainment System
The Chevrolet Trailblazer comes standard with an 11.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system on all trims. The base Volkswagen Taos S gets a 6.5-inch touchscreen, while the SE and SEL get an 8.0-inch unit. Both vehicles have Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity on all trims.
Every Trailblazer has an 8.0-inch gauge cluster screen. The same goes for the Taos S and SE, while the Taos SEL gets a configurable 10.3-inch unit.
Volkswagen
The Taos SEL comes with ventilated front seats that are unavailable on the Trailblazer. On the other hand, the Trailblazer's Active and RS trims offer a power rear liftgate, which is unavailable on the Taos.
The Taos and Trailblazer are within an inch and a half of each other in overall length, and cargo volumes behind the second row in the two vehicles are similar. However, the VW has a significant advantage when the second rows are folded, offering 65.9 cubic-feet of space in FWD versions and 60.2 cu-ft with AWD, compared with the Trailblazer's 54.4.
Blind-spot monitoring is standard on the Taos but is optional on all Trailblazer models. The Trailblazer comes with 10 airbags, while the Taos has six.
Volkswagen
The Taos Has the Edge on Highway Fuel Economy
Every 2024 Volkswagen Taos comes with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder making 158 horsepower. Trims with FWD use an eight-speed automatic transmission, rated at 28/36/31 mpg city/highway/combined.
The AWD versions use a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and return 24/32/27 mpg.
Chevrolet
The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer has two engine choices. The base 137-hp turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder is available exclusively with front-wheel drive, a continuously variable automatic transmission, and has an estimated fuel economy of 29/31/30 mpg.
The optional 155-hp turbocharged 1.3-liter three-cylinder is available with either FWD — rated at 29/33/31 mpg — or all-wheel drive with a nine-speed automatic transmission that returns 26/29/27 mpg.
All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication) and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.
