2021 Volkswagen Taigun review, driving impressions, verdict

What is appealing is that the GT manual and GT computerized are specced extremely differently. A Volkswagen formal revealed that the carmaker wishes to make the GT manual “more accessible”, while customers wanting to get an computerized ordinarily aren’t averse to shelling out a more substantial top quality for the sake of convenience and products.

Volkswagen Taigun: what is it like on the outside?

Initial matters initial, the Taigun isn’t the major of the midsize SUVs on sale in India. Marginally shorter and narrower than a Hyundai Creta, the Taigun does not rather have the butch road existence that lots of customers may well associate with an SUV. That said, the Taigun is chic and modern day and is desirable in the steel. 

Large dollops of chrome have been added to cater to the style of domestic customers.

The glimpse is unmistakably Volkswagen, with clean lines and an unfussy style language. The 3-slat chrome grille that sports an oversized VW brand seamlessly blends into the massive headlamp clusters, though the elevated, squared-out bonnet quickly hyperlinks the Taigun to the far more top quality Tiguan. There is a generous use of chrome up front which is said to have been integrated in line with Indian preferences. Having said that, if you like your German cars understated, you are going to come across there’s way too considerably bling on the Taigun.

It seems to be chic and modern day, but it lacks the butch attractiveness that customers find in an SUV.

The Taigun has a clean-minimize silhouette, with the prolonged wheelbase (a course-foremost 2,651mm) and small overhang stance most apparent in profile. Commendably, it’s only at the sides that you could potentially oversight a Taigun for a Kushaq. The two versions share, doors, mirrors, roof rails, shark-fin antenna and even feature the exact body cladding. Within the Taigun GT line, the computerized is distinguishable by its 17-inch diamond-minimize wheels, though the GT manual helps make do with smaller sized, single-tone16-inchers.

The most hanging aspect is its rear styling, with the infinity LED tail-lamps nestled in a unique smoked bezel.

The Taigun’s most exclusive angle is its tail-conclude. Nestled in a massive, smoked bezel sit desirable LED tail-lamps that are connected by a useful mild bar, which operates the width of the tailgate. The tail-lights glimpse especially desirable when lit and look off of a futuristic notion auto. Including far more flash at the again are the chrome embellishments on the rear bumper that are intended to mimic twin exhaust housings.

Volkswagen Taigun: what is it like on the inside?

The Taigun helps make a positive initial impact the second you shut the doorway, which closes with a reassuring thud, some thing we have appear to associate with VW cars. Inside, you are going to come across by yourself in a extremely modern-day Volkswagen cabin. The dashboard is especially nice, with a seamlessly integrated, significant-set touchscreen and a satisfying combine of materials. There are no gentle-contact plastics on the sprint but fake carbon-fibre inserts and a ceramic-like panel on the fascia include some identity inside. Curiously, the gloss panel is also offered in purple with particular body colours – lively or overkill, it’s a detail that will divide impression.

Purple inserts offered with particular exterior paint choices may well not have a universal attractiveness.

Including far more colour to the cabin is the eight.-inch coloured digital instrument cluster which is aspect of the deal on the GT auto. When desirable and quick to go through, it’s not a widescreen unit like Audi’s Digital Cockpit only the central display (out of the 3) is configurable, though the ones on the aspect are dummies. The GT manual variation has easier analogue dials with a instead basic monochrome MID. Other nice bits contain the extremely sporty flat-bottomed steering wheel and the contact-operable local weather regulate panel, which seems to be top quality and is quick to use.

eight.-inch digital instrument cluster is quick on the eyes display choices are confined.

The in shape-complete is decent in most destinations, and even nevertheless the plastics are hard, they sense solid and crafted to past. The cabin expertise is, nonetheless, dampened by the roof lining, which feels low-lease the exposed sunroof railings are an eyesore and the strip of dummy buttons beneath the touchscreen glimpse out of place in a automobile of this phase. Also, though the backlit computerized gear selector seems to be top quality, it isn’t completely fitted and tends to rock about aspect to aspect.

Backlit computerized gear selector seems to be top quality, but it isn’t completely fitted and tends to rock aspect to aspect.

The Taigun GT’s seats are comfy and properly trimmed, and there’s enough adjustment on give to come across the suitable seating place. What is also nice is that the rear seat is roomy and there’s enough mild filtering by way of, thanks to the low window line. The rear bench is supportive and the backrest is properly contoured to give a particular degree of lateral assistance. For India, Volkswagen has lowered the top of the central flooring hump (a framework that gives rigidity to the body), added an adjustable head restraint, as perfectly as a 3-point seatbelt for the center passenger. Owing to the car’s slim width, nonetheless, this seat is far more suited for two adults, than 3.

Nicely contoured, supportive rear bench suitable knee- and legroom on give nonetheless, the seat isn’t vast plenty of to accommodate 3 adults.

There are lots of storage provisions across the cabin, like substantial doorway bins, a massive wi-fi charging pad to maintain a smartphone, cupholders, seatback pockets, and even the boot is far more accommodating than what its 330 litres may well counsel. The rear seats break up sixty:forty, should really you have to have far more baggage home.

Purple ambient lights is tastefully executed.

Volkswagen Taigun: what products does it appear with?

What is impressive is that all variants of the Taigun get digital stability regulate as typical, together with mandatory package like Abs with EBD, twin airbags and reverse parking sensors.

Slick ten-inch touchscreen wi-fi Android Vehicle and Apple CarPlay are a welcome inclusion.

Volkswagen’s new ten-inch touchscreen is slick to work, and wi-fi Android Vehicle and Apple CarPlay are a welcome inclusion. It also packs in pre-loaded applications this sort of as Gaana that get the job done employing your smartphone’s world-wide-web. In addition to these, the GT manual is also outfitted with a wi-fi charging pad, local weather regulate, cruise regulate, sixteen-inch alloys and a reverse digicam. The GT computerized goes a few actions forward and features auto LED headlamps, 17-inch alloys, drive-button commence, auto dimming inside mirror, a digital instrument cluster, sunroof, and aspect and curtain airbags. Curiously, the non-GT variants also get ventilated front seats, though the GT variants really do not. These are probably to make it in the products record even more down the line, we have been told.

Volkswagen Taigun: what is it like to drive?

The Taigun GTs will be the initial port of simply call for eager drivers. A aspect of the EA211 EVO engine household, the GT’s 1,498cc turbocharged petrol unit develops 150hp at 5,000-six,000rpm and a max torque of 250Nm at 1,600-3,500rpm. This engine feels energetic suitable from the get go, and mainly because of the broad spread of max torque reduced down the rev variety, you can merrily amble close to city with no paying attention to which gear you’re in. Travel with a major foot on the accelerator and the Taigun does construct tempo swiftly, albeit in a extremely linear way. You will not get that drive again into your seat but progress is robust. There is a downside to winding this engine, as it receives rather vocal once the revs cross 3,500rpm, and this boomy character can get rather intrusive on a more time drive.

Comfortable cruising or gentle drives, on the other hand, will activate the engine’s cylinder on desire engineering, wherein it shuts off two of its four cylinders to cut down gas consumption. The procedure works so unobtrusively that, except you glimpse at the display on the MID, you will not even realise when the engine is operating on two cylinders. Prodding the accelerator pedal a little bit more durable has the engine again to firing on all cylinders (pun intended).

The GT auto’s 7-pace twin-clutch transmission is an update variation of the DQ200 gearbox, which did obligation in the old Polo GT TSI and the former-gen Octavia 1.eight TSI. What is nice is that its easy character remains unchanged. The shifts are seamless and, in D manner, it feels eager to shift to the greatest ratio possible in the fascination of gas effectiveness so you are going to usually come across by yourself in fifth or even sixth gear though pottering close to city. In Activity manner, it holds the gears a little bit more time for crisper, far more immediate responses. The Taigun characteristics paddleshifters way too and though the gearbox works instead properly for the most aspect, you are going to come across by yourself achieving for the left paddle only when you out of the blue set your foot down and the gearbox requires a second or so to react.

six-pace manual is rather easy and has small throws.

The MQ281 six-pace manual is the 1 that’ll tug at the heartstrings of driving lovers. The small-toss gearbox is easy and helps make the job of rowing by way of the gears a breeze. And though the engine feels swift with the DSG computerized, it feels even far more energetic in the manual guise, usually egging the driver to spin this engine and examine its energy band all the way to six,500rpm. The clutch pedal nonetheless is springy in its motion and the fat is a little bit far more than what you’d have anticipated in a automobile of this measurement.

The GT manual variation receives halogen headlamps and smaller sized, sixteen-inch alloys.

As described, exactly where the manual rides on sixteen-inch wheels, the computerized rides on 17-inchers. Having said that there isn’t a perceptible variance in their journey comfort and ease. The fantastic information is that journey quality is impressive and the Taigun requires the potholes in its stride instead competently. Freeway stability is rock-solid and the Taigun maintains its composure at all times, with confined body movement.

Its chassis is thirty percent stiffer than the present-day Polo’s and that is extremely apparent when driven with verve.

This MQB A0 IN platform is said to be thirty percent stiffer than the outgoing Polo’s platform, and the end result is really apparent when driving this SUV with verve. It tackles corners with terrific poise, in a extremely balanced way, and feels extremely nimble from driving the wheel. The Taigun actually surprises you with the total of grip it has close to corners, and it does not roll as considerably as you would have anticipated in a automobile in which you are sat somewhat significant above the ground. The steering is mild, so it is nice and quick in the town, and it weighs up adequately at freeway speeds.

Travel a Taigun on a winding road and the zesty engine and eager managing are positive to be the massive takeaways for you.

Volkswagen Taigun: should you get 1?

So, should really you be interested in the Taigun? If it can be a massive and beefy SUV you want, or will be travelling with all 5 seats occupied usually, the Taigun is not going to be the suitable choose for you. That staying said, the Taigun is a comfy 4-seater and it does glimpse chic, equally outside and inside. Of course, it can be not as perfectly outfitted as its Korean rivals and there are some signals of expense-reducing way too, but on the in addition aspect, it feels as rough as you’d count on a German SUV to. 

Wherever the Taigun genuinely appeals is in the driving department. The 1.5-litre engine is robust, and coupled with the comfy journey and crisp managing, this a fun SUV to drive. The smaller sized-hearted Taigun 1. TSIs also promise fantastic bang for your buck. We count on pricing in the variety of Rs ten.5 -14 lakh (ex-showroom) for the 1. variations, though the 1.5 MT will probably commence at Rs 15.5 lakh, with the variety-topping DSG variations coming in at Rs 18 lakh. 

Only a complete blown comparison with rivals will notify us in the end exactly where the Taigun fits in, but if it can be a solid, sophisticated and sporty midsize SUV you want, the Taigun could be the 1 for you.

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