New Volkswagen Taigo for sale

Exterior Design

The Taigo borrows much of its design from other SUVs in Volkswagen’s range, but still maintains its own unique appearance that proves it’s different from the rest. The rear of the car, with its full-width black section, looks similar to that fitted to the T-Cross, which is the next-largest SUV in the range. Up front, there’s a wide chrome grille and distinctive LED daytime running lights.

​Performance

The Taigo has an entry-level 1.0 TSI 95 petrol engine. Other engine options include the 110bhp and even 108bhp, which can help you achieve from 0-62mph time in 10.4sec. If you are after something a little faster, you can opt for the 1.5 TSI 150 which will get you from 0-62mph in a sprint of 8.3 seconds. The engine size you decide on depends on how you want to drive the car and what you want to prioritise.

What’s under the bonnet?

As you might expect, the engines you get in the Taigo are pretty similar to those you’ll find in cars like the T-Cross. Things kick off with a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with either 94 or 108bhp, with the latter slated to be the most popular. Then, there’s a more powerful 1.5-litre engine that dries 148bhp to the front wheels via a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox.

That 1.5-litre unit is what we’ve experienced here and it brings a 0-60mph time of 8.1 seconds and a top speed of 132mph, while Volkswagen claims you should see up to 46.3mpg and CO2 emissions of 138g/km.

How does it look?

Volkswagen has definitely taken a different approach to the Taigo’s design. In the metal, it plays closer to a jacked-up hatchback rather than a fully-fledged SUV, but that’s no bad thing in fairness. The coupe-like styling is as obvious as it is in other cars, too. The full-width light bar at the rear of the car is a cool feature too and brings the Taigo closer into line with other cars in Volkswagen’s line-up.

What’s the spec like?

The range of specifications you get in the Taigo mirrors those on other Volkswagen models, so there’s Life, Style and R-Line to choose from. The level of equipment you get off the bat is generous, with those entry-level Life cars boasting LED headlights, an eight-inch touchscreen and 16-inch alloy wheels.

Style, meanwhile, adds Matrix LED headlights and larger 17-inch alloy wheels alongside a 10.25-inch digital cockpit. Move up to R-Line and the Taigo gains a sportier bodykit and a variety of black styling elements. Prices for the Taigo start from £21,960 in Life trim, rising to £29,140 for top-spec R-Line cars.

Verdict

There was the temptation to think that the addition of the Taigo to Volkswagen’s SUV range would’ve only served to have muddied the waters, making it harder for buyers to actually choose a car that is right for them. However, it’s a genuinely interesting proposition, thanks to its generous standard equipment levels and spacious boot.

Though it’s a little expensive in top-spec guises, opt for a more entry-level Taigo and there’s little reason why it can’t be a very rewarding purchase.