VW Taos Towing Capacity by Year (2022-2023)

The VW Taos was introduced into VW’s lineup as a mid-size crossover SUV in 2002 and remains available through today. The Taos is known for its unique styling and for having the features consumers expect from SUVs, including towing. But what is the towing capacity of a VW Taos?

The VW Taos is not recommended for towing in the United States. However, the VW Taos has a braked towing capacity of 1,500 pounds and an unbraked towing capacity of 1,500 pounds.

There’s a bit more to know about VW Taos towing capabilities which we’ll cover in today’s guide.

2023 VW Taos Towing Capacity

black vw taos
How much weight can a VW Taos tow is up to 1,500 lbs.

The 2023 VW Taos can tow 1,500 pounds across all trim levels and configurations.

Refer to the chart below to find how much your 2023 VW Taos can tow.

NOTE: Volkswagen does not recommend using the 2023 VW Toas for towing.

VW Taos Trim LevelTowing Capacity
2023 VW Taos S1,500 lbs / 680 kg
2023 VW Taos SE1,500 lbs / 680 kg
2023 VW Taos SEL1,500 lbs / 680 kg
2023 VW Taos Towing Capacity Chart

2022 VW Taos Towing Capacity

The 2023 VW Taos can tow 1,500 pounds across all trim levels and configurations.

Refer to the chart below to find how much your 2023 VW Taos can tow.

NOTE: Volkswagen does not recommend using the 2023 VW Toas for towing.

VW Taos Trim LevelTowing Capacity
2023 VW Taos S1,500 lbs / 680 kg
2023 VW Taos SE1,500 lbs / 680 kg
2023 VW Taos SEL1,500 lbs / 680 kg
2022 VW Taos Towing Capacity Chart

You can also read our guide on what makes a vehicle towing capacity to learn all the aspects that go into it.

Here’s a video showing the VW Taos in a real-world review:

VW Taos Braked Vs. Unbraked Towing Capacity

All vehicles have different towing capacities based on whether or not you’re towing a trailer that has trailer brakes installed.

Trailer brakes allow the trailer to stop faster than if only the vehicle is using its brakes, allowing the vehicle to tow more weight, so braked towing capacity will always be higher than unbraked towing capacity.

VW Taos Braked Towing Capacity: up to 1,500 lbs / 680 kg

VW Taos Unbraked Towing Capacity: 1,500 lbs / 680 kg

VW Taos Towing Capacity Factors

There’s only one factor that affects the Volkswagen Taos towing capacity, which is the weight of cargo and passengers you’ve got in the Taos when towing something.

Number of Passengers

A big factor in calculating your vehicle’s towing capacity is how many passengers you’re carrying, which directly calculates into the vehicle’s GCWR.

This is true of all vehicles, not just the VW Taos, so always take into consideration the total load of your passengers and gear in addition to what you’re towing.

VW Taos Tow Package Info

what is the towing capacity of a vw taos
How much can a VW Taos tow is up to 1,500 pounds.

Does The VW Taos Have A Tow Package?

Volkswagen does not offer a towing package for the Taos, so you’ll need to have one installed:

Can You Install A Trailer Hitch On a VW Taos?

2022 vw taos
How much weight can a VW Taos pull is 1,500 pounds.

If you plan on towing anything with your VW Taos, you’ll need a tow hitch and wiring harness.

Depending on what you’re towing, you’re going to need a ball mount (aka a trailer ball hitch) so you can attach items for towing.

Make sure to get the right trailer ball size that matches your hitch and trailer.

VW Taos Tow Hitch

Trailer hitches come in different hitch classes, which are rated for different vehicle sizes and weight limits.

The VW Taos uses a Class 3 hitch.

Here’s a great option for a Class III VW Taos trailer hitch:

Draw-Tite 76547 Class 3 Trailer Hitch, 2 Inch Receiver, Black, Compatible with 2022-2022 Volkswagen Taos
  • 2 in. Square Receiver Tube Opening
  • Rated Up To 2,000 lbs. Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) And Up To 300 lbs. Tongue Weight (TW)
  • All Hitches Are Designed For Customers With Trucks, Vans, And Sport Utility Vehicles
  • Clean Appearance That Attaches To The Vehicle's Frame And/Or Bumper
  • Removable Ball Mount, Pin, And Clip Sold Separately

Here’s a great ball mount option so you can hook up different types of trailers for towing with your Taos:

Sale
CURT 45148 Trailer Hitch Mount, 2-Inch Ball, Pin, Fits 1-1/4-In Receiver, 3,500 lbs, 3-1/4" Drop, GLOSS BLACK POWDER COAT
  • DEPENDABLE STRENGTH. Rated to tow 3,500 pounds gross trailer weight and 350 pounds tongue weight, this ball hitch offers dependability for your towing setup (weight capacity may change if trailer ball is removed)
  • VERSATILE USE. This trailer hitch ball mount comes with a 1-1/4-inch shank to fit virtually any industry-standard 1-1/4-inch receiver. The ball mount has a 3-1/4-inch drop, 2-inch diameter ball, 1/2-inch hitch pin hole and 7-1/4-inch overall length
  • READY TO TOW. Hitching up your trailer is easy with this ready-to-use trailer hitch ball mount. It comes with a pre-attached tow ball for ready coupling and a trailer hitch pin to securely mount onto your hitch receiver
  • CORROSION-RESISTANT. For long-lasting use, this ball hitch is protected with a durable black powder coat finish, and the trailer ball has a polished chrome plating. These finishes resist damage from rain, dirt, road salt and other corrosive threats
  • EASY TO INSTALL. To install the trailer hitch ball mount on your vehicle, simply insert the shank into your vehicle's 1-1/4-inch hitch receiver. The rounded shank makes installation easy

VW Taos Trailer Hitch Installation

Always follow the manufacturer’s directions and use proper safety precautions.

Here’s a great video walkthrough on a VW Taos trailer hitch installation:

VW Taos Trailer Hitch Installation Cost

If you’re considering having a tow hitch added to your Taos, expect to pay between $100 and $200 to have a tow package professionally installed (excluding the cost of the tow hitch and wiring harness).

If you’re handy and looking to save money, you can install the trailer hitch and wiring harness yourself.

Hitch Receiver Vs Rear Step Bumper Towing

Some vehicles allow for bumper towing, which means you can mount a tow hitch ball directly on the bumper instead of installing a tow hitch to the vehicle’s frame.

Can I Bumper Tow With a VW Taos?

The VW Taos stock bumper is not rated for bumper towing, so you’ll need to install a frame-mounted hitch like the one we listed earlier in this guide or an aftermarket bumper with a hitch ball on it.

Does My VW Taos Have A Tow Package?

vw taos towing a jetski trailer
The VW Taos can tow up to 1,500 pounds.

You can start by looking under the rear bumper of your Taos to see if you notice a trailer hitch or trailer ball.

That will give you a good indication of if you have a tow hitch already installed on your Taos.

Another way to research this is by checking the paperwork that came with your vehicle or taking it to a local dealer to see what’s installed.

Make sure to have your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) handy if you call the dealer so they can look up the exact specs and whether or not your vehicle has any towing packages or features installed on it.

Data Accuracy

We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official VW Taos Owner’s Manuals on VW’s website and have checked all data thoroughly for accuracy.

Having said that, we still recommend you refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual yourself before towing with your VW Taos.

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