The company made this move because American drivers didn't like how the DSG felt. Many thought it seemed broken or slow to respond. This was a far cry from what VW promised. They had said, "You'll love zipping around in your Taos thanks to the dynamic capability of the available 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission that readies each gear for fast, smooth, and efficient shifting." But customers didn't agree.
DSG transmissions have been around for over 20 years. When they first came out, they changed how automatic cars worked. They were much better than the older automated single-clutch gearboxes. They shifted gears fast and smoothly, and they were good on gas too.
But regular automatics have gotten a lot better in the last 20 years. They're now much more efficient. Plus, they work better in stop-and-go traffic, which is something many drivers deal with daily.
VW wants to start selling more cars than their competitors. To do this, they're giving Taos owners the same feel they're used to in other SUVs. The company thinks that for most American drivers, except those who really care about performance, the old-school automatic with its torque converter will feel more familiar and smooth.
Before this change, the front-wheel-drive Taos already had an eight-speed automatic. But the all-wheel-drive 4Motion version used the DSG. Now, all Taos models will have the same eight-speed automatic transmission.
It's worth noting that in VW's U.S. lineup, only the 2025 Golf GTI and R will still use the DSG transmission. This shows how much the company is moving away from this once-revolutionary technology for its mainstream models.
Source: Carscoops