The stylish Volkswagen Taigo has finally touched down in Mzansi and we headed to Gauteng to sample the coupe-styled small crossover. Is the Taigo a bit too niche… or is it a perfect gap-filler between the T-Cross and T-Roc? Let’s find out!
With a flamboyant colour palette and unusual proportions that are sure to start many conversations, there’s no denying that the Taigo is a distinctive out-of-left-field offering. We suspect it will garner sales based on looks alone – after all, coupe-SUVs are very much in fashion.
Premium products such as the Audi Q3 and Q5 Sportback (not to forget the Q8), BMW X4 and X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLC- and GLE Coupes can be considered the originators of this trend, but even mainstream brands have begun blending coupe and crossover styling cues.
But if Volkswagen already offers the accomplished T-Cross and slightly bigger T-Roc in its compact family car line-up, is there enough of a gap between them to accommodate the Taigo? Volkswagen certainly thinks there is, because last year, SUVs began outselling hatchbacks in the South African new-vehicle market, which suggests the Wolfsburg-based brand’s SUV push is well justified.
The Taigo is based on the same MQB platform that underpins the Polo, T-Cross and T-Roc, and we’ve always been impressed with the refined packaging and accomplished on-road demeanour that those models offer. Much like the T-Roc, the Taigo is aimed at “self-styled go-getters” (VWSA’s description, not ours), but in terms of dimensions, the Taigo is more comparable with the T-Cross; it’s slightly narrower and lower, but longer, by comparison.
Interestingly, the Taigo might be longer than the T-Cross, but it offers a claimed 440 litres of luggage capacity with the rear seats up, which is 15 litres less than what the latter offers.
As for the interior, if you’ve sat in a T-Cross, the Taigo’s cabin will be instantly familiar. The slightly raised driver’s seat makes ingress/exit easier than in, say, an ordinary hatchback.
Prospective buyers will be wowed by the digital dashboard and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto-compatible touchscreen infotainment system, but upon closer inspection, the Taigo has some of the same foibles as the T-Cross: some interior surfaces look and feel quite premium, but then marginal-quality plastics are apparent in other areas…
Okay, so the finishes vary, but there’s no denying the model’s build quality. We drove the Taigo on some particularly poor roads, but its cabin never exhibited creaks or rattles.
What’s on offer?
The Taigo has one engine-transmission combo and three trim lines: Life, Style and R-Line. The engine is the tried-and-tested 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbopetrol motor, which develops 85 kW and 200 Nm. It’s an auto, with the quick-shifting 7-speed dual-clutch ‘box on duty. It has a 40-litre fuel tank and VWSA claims an average consumption figure of 5.4 L/100 km.
Our launch test unit was the top-spec R-Line derivative, which was loaded with options such as heated front seats, Beats audio system, panoramic roof, Comfort package (reverse-view camera, keyless access, park assist), IQ Drive package (adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning with auto brake) and the uprated Discover Pro infotainment system, replete with a wireless charging pad.
What is the new Taigo like to drive?
Our extended launch drive saw us travelling through the Gauteng, Free State and North-West provinces and the route incorporated extended stretches of open-road driving. The Taigo’s ride quality and cabin insulation impressed us right from the start (the R-Line derivative can be specified with 18-inch Misano wheels, which really look great, but they may result in a slightly bumpier ride).
Despite its large proportions, the Taigo’s not a hefty vehicle. It weighs around 1100 kg and, aided by its well-sorted MQB underpinnings, it feels nimble and agile on its, um, wheels.
Don’t get too excited, however, the VW’s handling is less than sporty (which, to be fair, is the norm in this segment) and besides, its hiked-up ride height does cause a bit of body lean. There is little amiss with the steering setup and feel, however; the ‘wheel action is light, which aids manoeuvrability in town, but weighty enough for when you’re cruising on the open road.
Not all compact turbo engines feel up to the task of propelling family vehicles with much vigour, but the Volkswagen’s 85 kW/200 Nm 1.0-litre motor performs spiritedly. In fact, it’s quite free-revving, which means that you can enjoy working the 1.0-litre triple a little harder.
At low revs, 3-cylinder engines sound a bit gruff, but when you’re pressing on, the VW motor emits a pleasant thrum. Look, the Taigo’s not going to win races, but with 200 Nm available from 2 000 rpm, it can keep pace with traffic and its overtaking ability (from 80-120 kph) is quite acceptable.
What’s more, the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission is a peach. It tends to shift up quite smoothly and does not drop gears frantically when you lean on the accelerator. Granted, the downshifts aren’t rapid, but we found that actuating manual changes by using the steering-wheel paddles resulted in a more engaging experience, especially in cut-and-thrust traffic.
For detailed specs and pricing of the new Volkswagen Taigo, click here.
How much does the new Volkswagen Taigo cost in South Africa?
The Taigo is sold with a 3-year/120 000 km warranty, 3-year/45 000 km EasyDrive service plan and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. The service intervals are every 15 000 km.
| Volkswagen Taigo Life | R429 900 |
| Volkswagen Taigo Style | R464 100 |
| Volkswagen Taigo R-Line | R486 000 |
Summary
Given the trend in the new-vehicle market (as in the rest of the world, where SUVs are increasingly preferred to hatchbacks), we can fully understand that manufacturers would want to offer as many crossovers in the compact-car market as they can make viable business cases for.
Although VWSA suggests the typical Taigo customer will value design and comfort above practicality, that notion might be more applicable to the luxury end of the market. However, the Kariega-based company well and truly hits the proverbial nail on the head when it asserts that the newcomer “will be more attainable than a T-Roc and appeal to a more individualistic audience than a T-Cross.”
From my perspective, there’s nothing inherently wrong with the Taigo and, yes, it’s more affordable than the T-Roc, but in terms of its core strengths it does not set itself apart from its #CarsAwards category-winning T-Cross sibling.
Who should you buy a Taigo, then? VWSA says the model’s core market is brand loyalists among the “aspiring middle class” who dream of owning a cool Volkswagen – fair enough, the Taigo is more stylish – “cooler” – than the T-Cross.
So, if you think the T-Cross is a little too mainstream and want something a bit colourful and are prepared to settle for a fractionally smaller load bay and pay a bit more, then the Taigo may just be worth looking into. It looks brilliant in Kings Red Metallic or Visual Green Metallic, by the way.
