The Volkswagen Taigun was the German carmaker’s first made for India product under its India 2.0 program which saw a complete overhaul of how it functioned in India. Previously, Volkswagen vehicles sold in India were more or less based on platforms that were made for Europe and other international markets, and then modified for use in India. With the Taigun, Volkswagen took their MQB A0 platform and reworked it properly for Indian conditions. What it resulted in was a solid and reliable platform which offered the same level of safety as its European counterparts, but because it was Indian-ised, it could be offered at a lower cost. This finally meant that Volkswagen could compete with other carmakers in the Indian market by offering the same level of features, along with their renowned safety and driving dynamics.
Volkswagen Taigun Specifications
Volkswagen Taigun Engine & Transmission | ||
Engine | 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, turbo-petrol | 1.5-litre, four-cylinder, turbo-petrol |
Transmission | 6-speed MT, 6-speed AT | 6-speed MT, 7-speed DCT |
Power | 115 PS | 150PS |
Torque | 178 Nm | 250 Nm |
Mileage | 19.87 kmpl, 18.15 kmpl | 18.61 kmpl, 19.01 kmpl |
Volkswagen Taigun Dimensions | ||
Length | 4,221 mm | |
Width | 1760 mm | |
Height | 1,612 mm | |
Wheelbase | 2651 mm | |
Boot Space | 385 litres | |
Volkswagen Taigun Safety | ||
Feature | Variant Available on | |
Airbags | Two airbags Standard, Six on top variant | |
ABS with EBD | Standard | |
Rear Parking Sensors | Standard | |
All Wheel Disc Brakes | Not Available | |
Reverse Parking Camera | Available on all variants except base | |
Electronic Stability Programme | Standard | |
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System | Standard | |
ISOFIX Mounts | Standard | |
Hill Hold Assist | Available on all variants except base | |
Hill Descent Control | Not Available | |
Why Should You Consider the Volkswagen Taigun?
The Taigun has many things going for it. Apart from the fact that it comes from the Volkswagen stable, the Taigun is one of the few SUVs on the market that has an understated styling that will age well. It’s not too in your face, but its vibrant colour options add flair to the overall design. Then, let us not forget that the Taigun is one of the safest SUVs in its price bracket, and that’s doubly important in countries like India. Last, but not the least, the driving experience of the Taigun feels like it has transcended from a few segments above and that feels really premium.
Design
The Volkswagen Taigun is one of the best looking SUVs in the market! It follows the age-old Volkswagen method of understated styling, but it doesn’t look old. You will see glimpses of cars like the Polo and Vento in it, but overall, the Taigun looks very fresh. What adds to its popularity are the vibrant colour options that VW is offering on the Taigun. The Curcuma Yellow, which is also the signature colour of the Taigun, sets it apart from the competition. And for those of you who like black, Volkswagen also recently launched a couple of black colour options with a matte grey option included!
Safety
The Volkswagen Taigun is the safest car in its class, barring its cousin the Skoda Kushaq, which achieved a similar score. And when that score is a 5 star rating for both adult and child occupant protection, you can understand why it’s a big deal. These VW Group cars are among the first cars in India to achieve this perfect rating. Only to add to their strength, these cars were tested under the latest Global NCAP regulations, which have now become even more stringent. The Taigun also comes loaded with safety features which not only help keep you safe in the event of an accident, but also help prevent one. Features like the ESP, which are crucial for active safety, are standard on all variants of the Taigun.
Driving Dynamics
This has to be, along with safety, the reason why everyone loves a Volkswagen in India – the way it drives! And, the Taigun is no different. The Taigun’s rock-solid chassis and hunkered down stance means that it feels like a sporty car to drive instead of an SUV. The wider SUV tyres only help keep it that much more stable on the road. The steering precision is spot-on and it is one of the lighter cars to drive. In fact, the steering is so light that it is a breeze to drive the Taigun even in choc-a-bloc traffic.
Engine Performance
Both the engines of the Volkswagen Taigun are excellent motors. The smaller 1.0 TSI engine is fierce in the way it gets off the line and offers a lot of punchy performance even as you get into triple digit speeds. It starts to run out of breath as you start seeing stratospheric numbers on the instrument cluster, but if speed is your friend, we recommend the larger 1.5 TSI engine which just pulls and pulls, and has enough performance in reserve that you will probably run out of road before you can fully use it. Both engines are offered with a manual and automatic transmission, delivering a seamless driving experience for either choice.
Why Should You Not Consider the Volkswagen Taigun?
No Diesel Engines
If your average daily driving in a car is high, then, the Volkswagen Taigun might not be the right partner on your everyday drives. As VW doesn’t offer a diesel engine, its engines are not the most frugal. Yes, the larger 1.5 TSI motor gets cylinder deactivation technology but the benefits, when it comes to frugality, cannot be compared to that of a diesel. Older VW diesel engines paired with a DSG gearbox were some of the most fuel-efficient engines in the market, and that’s something the Taigun sorely misses out on.
Doesn’t Work as a 5-Seater
The Taigun has been designed in such a manner that it can carry four people around in absolute comfort, but when you throw in a fifth into that equation, it jumbles up the situation. For starters, the Taigun isn’t the biggest SUV in its class, and is rather on the smaller side. This means that cabin space is always at a premium. Couple that in with the fact that VW designers have scooped out the outer seats on the rear bench of the Taigun, and that doesn’t leave a lot of room for the middle passenger. It’s manageable for shorter city journeys but anything more than half an hour starts to become uncomfortable. On the flip-side, the Taigun is one of the most comfortable four-seater SUVs in its segment.
Volkswagen Taigun Variants
The Taigun’s variants are split into two classes – Dynamic Line and Performance Line. The Dynamic Line has three variants (Comfortline, Highline and Topline) and is only available with the smaller 1.0 TSI engine. The Performance Line has two main variants (GT and GT Plus) and they are available with the larger 1.5 TSI engine.
Volkswagen Taigun Variants & Ex-Showroom Price | ||
Variant | Powertrain | Ex-Showroom Price |
Comfortline | 1.0 TSI MT | Rs 11.62 lakh |
Highline | 1.0 TSI MT | Rs 13.70 lakh |
Highline | 1.0 TSI AT | Rs 15.20 lakh |
Topline | 1.0 TSI MT | Rs 15.84 lakh |
Topline | 1.0 TSI AT | Rs 17.35 lakh |
GT | 1.5 TSI MT | Rs 16.26 lakh |
GT Plus Edge (Deep Black Pearl) | 1.5 TSI MT | Rs 18 lakh |
GT Plus Edge (Carbon Steel Matte Grey) | 1.5 TSI MT | Rs 18.20 lakh |
GT Plus | 1.5 TSI AT | Rs 18.57 lakh |
GT Plus Edge (Deep Black Pearl) | 1.5 TSI AT | Rs 19.26 lakh |
GT Plus Edge (Carbon Steel Matte Grey) | 1.5 TSI AT | Rs 19.46 lakh |
Best Volkswagen Taigun Variant to Buy
For the casual driver who appreciates the build quality of the Volkswagen Taigun, the Topline AT variant is the best. The smaller engine offers enough performance that such a user might want along with all the best features. It is priced relatively affordably as well, and the convenience of an automatic will go a long, long way into making your everyday services smoother. As for the enthusiasts, the larger 1.5 TSI engine is the way to go, but as far as the variant is concerned, you should pick that depending on your budget. Go for the lower variant as it promises all the fun without the frills, and the higher one if you love a fully-loaded experience.
Volkswagen Taigun Warranty and Service Cost
Volkswagen offers a surprisingly loaded warranty package with the Taigun. The base warranty is applicable for 4 years or 1 lakh kilometres, which comes first. This can be expanded up to 7 years and 1.5 lakh kilometres. RoadSide Assistance is standard as well for 4 years, and extendable up to 10 years. Lastly, the first two check-up services at 1,000kms and 7,500kms are free, along with the first oil change at 15,000kms. Volkswagen also offers a service package for the Taigun that takes care of all regular maintenance activities till 60,000 kilometres of 4 years, whichever comes first. It is priced anywhere between Rs 23,499 and Rs 30,999, depending on the engine and transmission.
Summary
The Volkswagen Taigun is one of the safest SUVs, or even cars for that matter, in the market. In addition to providing a sense of security, it offers unmatched driving dynamics. It is then clearly an SUV for those who enjoy driving, but want a bit of practicality to go with it as well.
