Compare the2024 Volkswagen TaosVS 2024 Cadillac XT4

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 XT4’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 XT4 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 the XT4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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 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 Cadillac XT4:

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

The Taos’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the XT4’s (7 vs. 6 years).

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. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the XT4.

There are over 13 percent more Volkswagen dealers than there are Cadillac dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Taos’ warranty.

As tested in Car and Driver the Volkswagen Taos is faster than the Cadillac XT4:

On the EPA test cycle the Taos gets better mileage than the XT4:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Taos uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XT4 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

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 XT4. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

The Taos offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The XT4 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Taos stops shorter than the XT4:

The Taos 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 XT4’s standard 60 series tires.

For better maneuverability, the Taos’ turning circle is 2.9 feet tighter than the XT4’s (35.1 feet vs. 38 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Taos has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XT4 (7.6 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Taos to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Volkswagen Taos may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 500 pounds less than the Cadillac XT4.

The Taos is 5.1 inches shorter than the XT4, making the Taos easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Taos has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more rear headroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the XT4.

The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XT4 with its rear seat up (27.9 vs. 22.5 cubic feet). The Taos has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XT4 with its rear seat folded (65.9 vs. 48.9 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 XT4’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

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 XT4’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

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 XT4’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 XT4 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The XT4 (except Luxury)’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Taos SE Black/SEL’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

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 XT4.

The Volkswagen Taos outsold the Cadillac XT4 by almost three to one during 2022.