Subaru Crosstrek vs Volkswagen Taos

Hi all,

I’m looking for advice on my next used vehicle purchase. I want a compact SUV that's not too big, and all-wheel drive is essential since I live in Canada, where we get a lot of snow and have rough roads.

My two finalists are the Subaru Crosstrek, which is very popular here and has a solid reputation for reliability, and the Volkswagen Taos, which is newer and less off-road focused but has an interior and tech features I really like.

In the used market, both are priced similarly—under 30k CAD with less than 50,000 km on the clock. I’m considering the Crosstrek Sport and the Taos Highline (SEL).

I’m leaning toward the Taos, but I’ve heard some concerns about potential mechanical issues and recalls, so I'm unsure how well it will age and maintenance cost.

What do you think? Any advice?

Thanks!