2020-2024 Volkswagen Taos 1.5 TSI Engine: Longevity, Problems, and Specs

The new Taos SUV offered by Volkswagen is not the worst deal on the market. It has been sold in China under the name Tharu since 2018, it was also sold in Russia for a couple of years. Since 2020, this compact SUV is presented in the US and Canada, so we have quite a lot of reasons to talk about the vehicle. By the way, in many ratings of compact SUVs by really good automotive journalists, the Taos takes one of the first places.

Today, we'll be focusing on the 1.5 TSI engine that powers the Volkswagen Taos. We'll tell you whether it's a good idea to buy the SUV with this engine. Also, we'll talk about its features that will make your ride good or bad depending on the conditions. It's quite important to understand that the Taos is one of the main hopes of Volkswagen to catch the chance to stay in the American market. And as we see it now, the chance is pretty good.

Key features and my opinion about the engine

• Production years:2017-now
• Average lifespan of 1.5 TSI:140,000-160,000 miles
• Fuel supply type:direct injection
• Power range:130-158 hp
• Fuel efficiency:excellent
• Engine block material:aluminum
• Engine reliability score:low
• The most common problems:very demanding to fuel quality, the turbocharger is potentially weak, low RPMs lead to jerking, ACT may cause issues at high mileage.

The 1.5 TSI engine in your Taos - what should you know?

Well, there are two camps of people when we are talking about the TSI engine. One part of motorists love these small turbocharged engines that produce as much power as V6 naturally aspirated powerplants. But other people hate them because they remember how unreliable those small turbo engines can be (let's not point our fingers at that ugly early 1.4 TSI).

The Taos in the US is presented with the only engine option - the 1.5 TSI. There is nothing else you can choose. The AWD version is offered with the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (Oh, goodness, no, not again!) and the 2WD version has the 8-speed automatic transmission on offer which is obviously much better.

Here are some features of the 1.5 TSI you would love to know:

• the engine works at its peak abilities and is able to produce 158 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque which is not bad at all;
• the timing system is powered by a belt which is unusual for a modern turbo engine with small displacement;
• the turbocharger is quite efficient and it actually shows little to no problem (we guess it's just because the engine is quite new);
• one of the key advantages is the gas mileage - you can expect to get 36 mpg on highways and up to 28 mpg in the city which is great for the SUV;
• the engine is very dynamic and fast, it moves your car aggressively right from the low RPM levels and never gives up;
• the direct injection system adds to the fuel economy but it will also add to the expenses of owners when the head is clogged with carbon buildup;
• the engine construction is pretty complicated and this may cause problems if you are going to drive your Taos for a long time.

As with any modern vehicle, the Taos is made for those who love buying new cars. If you hate all those loans and leasing things and want to buy a used Taos for decent money, you can be frustrated eventually. This engine is made to give you a lot of joy when you drive it and a lot of pain when you repair it. Are you ready for this? Then the Taos with the 1.5 TSI is a great choice for you.

We should say that we love durable cars and we haven't even thought about purchasing a vehicle with a small-displacement turbo engine. But it seems that soon you will not have a good alternative but an EV. So, the 1.5-liter Taos engine now looks like a giant among those 1-liter and 1.3-liter motors offered by American companies for their compact SUVs.

What's the durability of the 1.5 TSI in your Taos?

The engine in the Volkswagen Taos is not the most durable part of the vehicle. If we wanted to buy this model, we would certainly go for the 2WD version that is powered by the traditional automatic transmission with 8 speeds. This transmission may live much longer than the 7-speed DSG (dual-clutch) for the AWD version.

But engine longevity should also be considered. Now, there isn't enough information on the high-mileage Taos models to make any certain conclusions, but we can also look at other markets and tell you much more than you may find in America.

So, the 1.5 TSI engine in your Taos should live about 150,000 miles. Is that a lot? We don't think so. Is that too little? Again, no, it's not that few miles. But you certainly should expect your new Volkswagen to drive more miles, just like it was 10 or 15 years ago. New Volkswagens could easily hit the 250,000-mile mark. Today, it's close to impossible.

The longevity is questioned by the very expensive and complicated turbocharger, direct injection, small displacement, and also unreliable engine block. If the 1.5 TSI has any kind of damage in the block, you will throw it away and buy the new one.

The prices for the replacement engine start from $3,500 when bought unofficially and up to $7,000 if you buy it from a dealer. Not a cheap machine, we would say.

What are the common problems with the 1.5 TSI in the Taos?

Well, we still don't know a lot about this engine to make the list of the most common issues. But we can again look at other markets and make some conclusions. In Europe and Asia, this engine has been used since 2016, so a lot of info should be available.

Now, let's see what problems you are most likely to encounter if you have already bought the Volkswagen Taos powered by the 1.5 TSI engine.

1. Punching when you start moving

This is the first problem that is usually associated with bad software. A lot of owners have reported that their Taos punches every other time they try to carefully start driving. It usually works pretty smoothly and calmly, but when you start driving, you may feel a not-really-pleasant push.

This issue is resolved by tuning the engine and changing its original software. But of course, we do recommend doing this only with the help of the dealer. You will not lose your warranty that way and you will get another version of the official software in your Taos to avoid other issues.

2. Buildups

We won't tell you a lot - the direct injection 1.5 TSI engine is prone to carbon buildup. It will affect spark plugs, valves, and other parts that are located in the head of the engine. Seems like a really expensive problem because cleaning this engine from buildups is not going to cost you a couple of dollars.

3. Overheating problems

This is a small engine and it's made to power a slightly lighter Golf initially. But Taos is a bigger car and the engine may experience some problems when you want to drive actively or even aggressively. When this happens, you will see that the engine temperature goes a little up. Especially when you drive a long time at high RPMs.

Overheating may kill this engine even when it's new, so no way you are going to like the consequences of your sporty driving style.

4. Turbocharger issues

Even though the turbos are quite good and reliable here, they are very oil-dependent and extremely hard to repair. These VGT turbochargers tend to fail once they get poorly lubricated. So never experiment with the oil you use for your 1.5 TSI engine. This small economy may turn into a disaster in just a couple of thousand miles.

How to drive your 1.5L Volkswagen Taos longer?

Well, now your main concern may be connected to the lifespan of this engine. It's not that great, right? And you may want to prolong it.

Here are some ways to ensure a better overall lifespan of the 1.5 TSI engine in the Taos:

• never drive aggressively, this engine is not made for this;
• choose the version with the traditional 8-speed automatic transmission;
• avoid using any other engine oil but the original Volkswagen product designed for this engine;
• avoid overheating at any cost, just turn off the engine once you detect high temperature;
• maintain the engine exactly the way it's recommended by Volkswagen.

Final words

We like Volkswagen cars for their comfort, practical design, good safety features, and wonderful fuel economy. But the 1.5 TSI engine is really not as impressive as you may expect it to be. If we wanted to buy a VW SUV, we would think about the electric vehicle - the ID.4. But the Taos seems like an easier purchase with the base price under $25,000. So, if you go for it, remember everything we've told you today about the engine.