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Taking out the Taigo
Recently released in South Africa, the Taigo has taken the local crossover segment by storm with its youthful design and excellent build quality. Short on the heels of that release came the Taigo R-Line trim. This package takes the already aggressive stance and lines and turns things up to ten.
Related: Volkswagen Taigo - First Drive Impression
The R-Line trim elevates the Taigo to a new level of style and is sure to appeal to the already long line of customers. We spent a week with the 1.0 R-Line machine being mobbed by onlookers. if this is the motoring experience you're after then you'll definitely want to read on.
Styling
There is no getting around the fact that the Taigo is a very handsome vehicle, with strong lines, swept-back coupe roof line, and muscular c pillars it cuts quite the profile. In the R-Line trim you get larger black wheels, IQ Matrix headlights and LED tail lamps, and a host of smaller R-based trimmings that set this one apart from the standard Life and Style models.
Draped in its Smokey Gray/Black Pearlescent metallic paintwork and sporting black wheel arch cladding and those aforementioned black wheels, the Taigo looks menacing and angry. Crossovers usually don't stand out from the crowd but this trim does the job too well.
Space & Interior
The interior of the Taigo is rather interesting, sharing much of its fitment with the Golf. Switchgear and layout is very familiar with a user-friendly setup. The seats are covered in stylish cloth material incorporating Alcantara inserts embossed with the R-line logo. Touch surfaces are all soft with even the plastics maintaining a high-end feel.
The Taigo gets a composition media system with wireless Apple Car Play and Android auto with the requisite wireless charger in the phone bay. The dash is soft touch and gets piano black and brushed aluminium trim while the sporty feel is continued with aluminium trim pedals.
Passenger headroom is slightly compromised by the sloping roof but the boot is comparatively big, able to take 440l of luggage.
Comfort & Convenience
The Taigo gets auto climate control that is operated via the small haptic touch feedback panel just above the centre console which keeps things cool or hot depending on the day. USB-C ports abound keeping everyone's devices charged. Legroom is decent at the rear for passengers but upfront there is plenty of real estate for arms and legs.
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Performance
The Taigo is powered by the 1.0l 3 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine producing 85kW and 200Nm, power is sent to the front wheels via a 7-speed DSG transmission that has lightning-quick changes.n 0-100km is dispatched in just 10 seconds with a paper top speed of 200km/h claimed.
Fuel Economy
Equipped with a 40l petrol tank, the Taigo should get roughly 700km from a tank if driven conservatively. Figures of 5.4l/100km are claimed but real-world combined cycle testing returned mid 6's.
Safety
The Taigo gets an impressive list of safety equipment, 6 airbags keep occupants in check while the vehicle is equipped with ABS, EBD, TSC, rearview camera, park assist and a host of driver assistance systems such as BSM (blind spot monitoring)
Price
| Model | Price (incl. VAT) |
| Volkswagen Taigo 1.0TSI Life | R 475 000 |
| Volkswagen Taigo 1.0TSI Style | R 512 800 |
| Volkswagen Taigo 1.0TSI R-Line | R 537 100 |
Competitors
The Taigo has few like-for-like market competitors, with vehicles such as the Hyundai Creta, Corolla Cross and Opel Mokka bringing the fight, each with its own pros and cons.
Hyundai Creta vs Toyota Corolla Cross vs Volkswagen Taigo: Which is the best value?
Verdict
The Taigo is a fantastic drive, is specced well and looks incredible in its R-Line trim. If the coupe-styled crossover appeals to you but the cost of one of its German brethren puts you off, the Taigo should definitely be on your test list.
