Over the years Volkswagen has supplied a variety of SUVs in India. However, the upcoming Taigun is its most vital one but. The Taigun marks VW’s much-awaited entry into the mid-size SUV section, going up towards the likes of the favored Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos and MG Hector.
Being the sister mannequin to the Skoda Kushaq, the Taigun is constructed on the ‘Indianised’ MQB A0 IN platform and boasts of as much as 95 % native elements. While consumers may have a alternative between a 115hp, 1.0-litre TSI turbo-petrol and a bigger 150hp, 1.5-litre TSI turbo-petrol engines (the latter within the GT guise), right here we solely give attention to the latter. Both engines can be out there with a 6-speed handbook gearbox as normal and with particular person automated gearboxes — a 6-speed torque converter for the 1.0 TSI and a 7-speed DSG for the 1.5 TSI.
First issues first, the Taigun isn’t the most important of the mid-size SUVs, being barely shorter and narrower than a Hyundai Creta. While it doesn’t fairly have the butch street presence many consumers may affiliate with an SUV, it seems stylish and up to date.
Styling is unmistakably Volkswagen, with clear traces and an unfussy design language. The three-slat chrome grille seamlessly blends into the big headlamp clusters, whereas the raised, squared-out bonnet instantly hyperlinks the Taigun to the extra premium Tiguan. There is a beneficiant use of chrome up entrance, consistent with Indian tastes — some could discover it an excessive amount of.
Commendably, it’s only on the sides that you could possibly presumably mistake a Taigun for a Kushaq. The two fashions share doorways, mirrors, roof rails and even characteristic the identical physique cladding. Within the Taigun GT line, the automated is distinguished by its 17-inch diamond-cut wheels, whereas the handbook makes do with smaller 16-inchers.
The Taigun’s most distinctive angle is its tail-end with its LED tail-lamps and tailgate-spanning lightbar sitting inside a big smoked bezel. Adding extra flash on the again are the chrome gildings on the rear bumper designed to imitate twin exhaust housings.
Move inside and the Taigun makes a optimistic first impression with the doorways closing with a reassuring thud. The dashboard is especially good, with a seamlessly built-in, high-set touchscreen and a satisfying mixture of supplies. There aren’t any soft-touch plastics, however fake carbon-fibre inserts and a ceramic-like panel add some character inside. Interestingly, the gloss panel can also be out there in purple with sure physique colors — vibrant or overkill, it’s a element that may divide opinion.
Adding extra color to the cabin is the 8.0-inch digital instrument display screen (solely within the GT automated) which is enticing and straightforward to learn. Unlike in Audis, it isn’t a widescreen unit with solely the central display screen (out of the three) configurable, whereas those on the facet are dummies. The GT handbook will get less complicated analogue dials with a slightly primary MID. Other good bits embrace the very sporty flat-bottomed steering wheel and the touch-operable local weather management panel, which look premium and are simple to make use of.
The fit-finish is respectable in most locations, and even the plastics really feel stable and constructed to final. The cabin expertise is, nonetheless, dampened by the low-rent roof lining, uncovered sunroof railings and the strip of dummy buttons beneath the touchscreen that look misplaced on this section. Also, whereas the backlit automated gear selector seems premium, it isn’t completely fitted and tends to rock side-to-side.
The entrance seats are comfy and properly trimmed, and there’s ample adjustment on provide. The rear seat is spacious with ample mild filtering in because of the low window line. The bench is supportive with the properly contoured backrest providing a sure diploma of lateral assist. Volkswagen has additionally decreased the peak of the central flooring hump for the India-spec automotive and added an adjustable head restraint, in addition to a three-point seatbelt for the center passenger. However, the automotive’s slender width signifies that it’s best to seat two abreast.
Coming to the tools, all variants of the Taigun get digital stability management as normal, with obligatory equipment like ABS with EBD, twin airbags and reverse parking sensors.
Volkswagen’s new 10-inch touchscreen is slick to function, and wi-fi Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are a welcome inclusion. It additionally packs in pre-loaded apps that work utilizing your smartphone’s web. The GT handbook moreover additionally packs in a wi-fi charging pad, local weather management, cruise management and a reverse digital camera. The GT automated moreover will get auto LED headlamps, 17-inch alloys, keyless go, a digital instrument cluster, sunroof, and 6 airbags. Curiously, the non-GT variants additionally get ventilated entrance seats, that are more likely to make it to the GT trims additional down the road.
Moving to the driving expertise, the Taigun GTs will enchantment to eager drivers. The 150hp, 250Nm, 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol feels energetic proper from the get go. The broad unfold of torque at low engine speeds means which you could merrily amble round city with out requiring to consistently change gears. Drive with a heavy foot and the Taigun does construct tempo quickly, albeit in a linear method. There is nonetheless, a draw back to winding this engine, because it will get fairly vocal previous 3,500rpm.
Relaxed cruising or light drives, alternatively, will activate the engine’s cylinder-on-demand know-how, whereby it shuts off two cylinders to scale back gasoline consumption. The system works unobtrusively with solely a look on the MID telling you it’s working on two cylinders. Prodding the accelerator pedal a bit more durable will get all cylinders firing.
The GT auto’s 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox is an up to date model of the DQ200 unit from the outdated Polo GT TSI and the previous-gen Octavia 1.8 TSI. Its easy character stays unchanged with seamless gearshifts and the unit, in D mode, feels desirous to shift to the very best ratio attainable within the curiosity of gasoline effectivity. In Sport mode, it holds the gears a bit longer for crisper, extra fast responses. The Taigun options paddleshifters too and whereas the gearbox works slightly properly for probably the most half, you will discover your self reaching for the left paddle solely while you abruptly put your foot down and the gearbox takes a second or so to react.
The 6-speed handbook will enchantment to driving lovers. The short-throw gearbox is easy and makes rowing by means of the gears a breeze. And whereas the engine feels fast with the DSG automated, it feels much more energetic right here, usually egging the motive force to spin this engine all the best way to six,500rpm. The clutch pedal, nonetheless, is springy in its motion and the burden is a little more than what you’ll have anticipated in a automotive of this dimension.
Despite the disparity in wheel dimension between the handbook and automated, there is no such thing as a perceptible distinction in trip consolation. Ride high quality is spectacular and the Taigun takes potholes in its stride slightly competently. Highway stability is rock-solid too with the Taigun sustaining its composure always, with restricted physique motion.
This MQB A0 IN platform is claimed to be 30 % stiffer than the outgoing Polo’s platform, and the result’s fairly evident when driving this SUV with verve. It tackles corners with nice poise, in a really balanced method, and feels very nimble from behind the wheel. The Taigun truly surprises you with the quantity of grip it has round corners, and it doesn’t roll as a lot as you’ll count on it to. The steering is mild, so it’s good and straightforward within the metropolis, and it weighs up adequately at freeway speeds.
Drive a Taigun on a winding street and the zesty engine and eager dealing with are certain to be the large takeaways for you.
So, do you have to have an interest within the Taigun? If it’s a large and beefy SUV you need, or are somebody who can be travelling with all 5 seats occupied usually, the Taigun is not going to be the best choose for you. That being stated, the Taigun is a snug 4-seater and does look stylish, each inside and outside. Yes, it isn’t as effectively geared up as its Korean rivals and there are some indicators of cost-cutting too, however on the plus facet, it feels as powerful as you’ll count on a German SUV to be.
Where the Taigun actually appeals is within the driving division. The 1.5-litre engine is powerful, and matched with the comfortable trip and crisp dealing with, this a enjoyable SUV to drive. The smaller-hearted Taigun 1.0 TSIs can also be promising. We count on pricing within the vary of ₹ 10.5 -14 lakh (ex-showroom) for the 1.0 variations, whereas the 1.5 MT will seemingly begin at ₹ 15.5 lakh, with the range-topping DSG variations coming in at ₹ 18 lakh.
Only a full-blown comparability with rivals will inform us finally the place the Taigun matches in, but when it’s a stable, subtle and sporty midsize SUV you need, the Taigun could possibly be the one for you.
