Volkswagen Taigo
By Ian Strachan.
You wouldn’t have thought it possible for Volkswagen to squeeze another SUV into their crowded range – but that’s exactly what the company has done with new Taigo coupe SUV.
The Taigo has been shoe-horned in between the T-Cross (it’s 15 centimetres longer) and the T-Roc (it’s 3.7cm shorter.) But with its sloping roofline, the Taigo is perhaps more coupe than SUV.
It’s certainly a good looker from all angles, and is undoubtedly a welcome addition to the fast growing SUV sector, with plenty of space, good specification, a choice of two petrol engines and excellent all-round visibility.
The interior of the Taigo is modern and well laid out. You get pleasant trim and seat materials and clear, well-lit instruments with easily accessible controls.
Specification on the Style trim level which I tested is good, with two-zone electronic air conditioning, all-round airbags, eight-inch touch-screen navigation system with DAB radio plus Bluetooth compatibility, USB ports front and back, adaptive cruise control and a range of safety technology including lane keeping aid, distance monitoring, predictive pedestrian/cyclist protection and park assist.
You also get 17 inch alloy wheels, silver roof rails, all round electric windows and door mirrors, automatic windscreen wipers and smartphone charger.
Extras on my test car included a rear view camera (£270), heated front seats (£315), space-saving spare wheel (£100) and keyless access (£355).
I test drove the 1.0 litre three cylinder 110 horsepower petrol version which gives a respectable 51.4 miles to the gallon in mixed driving, and is a smooth unit. A 1.0 engine doesn’t sound powerful enough for an SUV, however small, but with a turbocharger fitted it is surprisingly brisk. It gives a 0-60 mph time of a shade over 10 seconds. At motorway speeds it feels comfortable and unfussed.
Handling is good, with crisp steering, and secure cornering. My test car had a pleasant six-speed manual gearbox.
The Taigo looks good, has a nice driving environment and good performance. Plus it won’t break the bank. The Taigo Style 1.0 litre TSI manual which I tested comes in at a competitive £27,100 on the road, and being a VW, will hold its value well.
