Compare the2025 Buick EnvistaVS 2025 Volkswagen Taos

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Envista are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Taos doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

With its standard Automatic Emergency Braking, the Buick Envista is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Volkswagen Taos, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Envista	Taos
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-9 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-14 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	-18 MPH	-14 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	No Slowing
25 MPH Low beams	-18 MPH	No Slowing
37 MPH Brights	-7 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Brights	1.4 sec	No Warning
37 MPH Low beams	-5 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.3 sec	No Warning

Both the Envista and the Taos have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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

	Envista	Taos
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	183	285
Neck Injury Risk	28.8%	32%
Neck Stress	210 lbs.	413 lbs.
Neck Compression	20 lbs.	28 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	39.7%	45%
Neck Compression	97 lbs.	207 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	196/237 lbs.	643/432 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 Buick Envista is safer than the Volkswagen Taos:

	Envista	Taos
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	378	393
Spine Acceleration	68 G’s	69 G’s
Hip Force	405 lbs.	673 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	733 lbs.	939 lbs.

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

Warranty

Buick’s powertrain warranty covers the Envista 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Taos. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Taos ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 46 percent more Buick dealers than there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Envista’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Envista has a standard 760-amp battery. The Taos’ 640-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Envista’s reliability 24 points higher than the Taos.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick above average in initial quality. With 77 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick third in reliability, above the industry average. With 118 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 27th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Buick 7 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Envista has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Taos doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

The Envista stops shorter than the Taos:

	Envista	Taos
70 to 0 MPH	183 feet	185 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Envista has larger standard tires than the Taos (225/60R17 vs. 215/50R18). The Envista’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Taos (245/45R19 vs. 235/45R19).

The Envista has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Taos doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Chassis

The front grille of the Envista uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Taos doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Envista uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Taos doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Envista has 1.8 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more rear legroom and .4 inches more rear hip room than the Taos.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Envista offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Taos doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Buick service is better than Volkswagen. J.D. Power ranks Buick 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 49% lower rating, Volkswagen is ranked 31st.

Ergonomics

The Envista’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Taos does not have an oil pressure gauge.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Envista’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Taos doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Envista’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Volkswagen charges extra for heated mirrors on the Taos.

The Envista Avenir’s standard rear view mirror and optional side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Taos offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Compared to traditional radio, the Buick Envista’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the Taos SE/SEL.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Buick Envista, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volkswagen Taos isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Envista third among small suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Taos isn’t in the top three.

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