We are living in an age when the automotive world features more and more niche-filling vehicles, with the advent of the coupe SUV being one of the trendiest products at the time of writing. Volkswagen has hopped on the bandwagon and recently introduced the Taigo, a compact crossover with a coupe-esque roofline that rides on the MQB A0 platform which it shares with both the Polo and the T-Cross. We attended the national media launch in Johannesburg recently and had a chance to drive the newcomer.
Styling and interior
Those in the market for a crossover with a coupe roofline will find the Taigo appealing, with the LED headlights integrating well with the front grille which includes an LED strip that connects the two headlights, while the large front air intakes finish off a distinctive front end. The side profile is where the Taigo's design becomes really distinctive, with the sloping roofline extending to a rear roof spoiler. The rear lights feature an LED lightbar, as up front, with faux chrome-tipped exhaust exits at the lower end of the bumper rounding off the exterior.
Since there are three models to choose from, the exterior design elements will vary from variant to variant, with three alloy wheels options for each derivative, ranging from 16-to-17-inch on the entry-level Life models to 17-and-18-inch items on the Style and R-Line models.
Stepping inside the Taigo will have those familiar with the latest Polo feeling right at home. As with many of the newer Volkswagen models released of late, expect an abundance of cheap-feeling plastics to be prevalent inside the Taigo, while on the plus side, the unique seat design patterns and added rear legroom versus the likes of the Polo and T-Cross will be a welcome addition for potential buyers.
There are the familiar infotainment systems from Volkswagen, with the entry-level Life models featuring a 6.5-inch screen and the top-spec Style and R-Line models receiving the 8.0-inch system with a 10.25-inch digitised instrument cluster. Options for this model include the brand's IQ.Technologies, which is a blanket term for various semi-autonomous driver assistance systems while niceties such as a panoramic roof, a black styling pack, a Beats sound system, wireless smartphone charger and roof rails can be specified.
What is a Taigo?
In a literal sense, the Taigo name comes from a combination of a tiger and the Taiga forest while a name beginning with the letter 'T' has become somewhat of a tradition among the Volkswagen SUV stable. From a market position perspective, the Taigo slots between the popular T-Cross and the less popular, but niche-filling T-Roc model. In terms of dimensions, the Taigo is longer than both the T-Cross and T-Roc, but is narrower and lower, with a wheelbase that slots in between its SUV siblings. The result is a capacious boot, measuring 440-litres and 1 222-litres with the rear seats folded flat, similar to the T-Roc, but slightly larger than the T-Cross.
One powertrain
There is only one engine and gearbox option available in the Taigo range, and that is the ubiquitous 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo petrol engine paired with the slick 7-speed DSG gearbox. In this application the engine produces 85kW and 200Nm of torque, allowing for an average fuel consumption figure of 5.4 L/100km, a claimed 0-100km/h time of 11.3 seconds and a top speed of 200km/h.
Driving impression
Out on the road, the Taigo provides familiar Volkswagen fare, with a reasonably composed ride quality, and a respectable level of refinement if you can get past the thrum of that three-cylinder engine up front. The DSG gearbox works beautifully when the car is already in motion, providing slick shifts and intuitive gear changes, but at low speed, the transmission can feel lumpy as first gear engages. Since the Taigo tips the scales at just over 1 180kg, it is around 100kg heavier than a Polo and lighter than a T-Cross, so with two occupants onboard, the powertrain feels sufficient, but you may find yourself wanting more when fully loaded. Overall, the Taigo is likely to be a very agreeable companion across a variety of daily driving conditions.
Pricing
The Taigo range comes with a 3-year/120 000km warranty and a 3-year/45 000km service plan.
Volkswagen Taigo 1.0 TSI Life- R429 900
Volkswagen Taigo 1.0 TSI Style- R464 100
Volkswagen Taigo 1.0 TSI R-Line R486 000
Verdict
Having spent a reasonable amount of time behind the wheel of the Taigo, we can safely surmise that this is indeed the compact Volkswagen SUV to own at the moment, if you must have a crossover, that is. The newcomer has a more updated exterior and interior than the T-Cross, featuring the latest exterior and interior styling as well as in-car tech from the brand, as seen on the updated Polo, while coming in at a lower price point than the T-Roc. We cannot help but think that you could get a similar experience from the Polo, at around R60 000 less, but realise that crossovers are popular and that some may find the added space as the dealer maker.
