VW Taigo test drive – The first crossover coupe in South Africa

The new VW Taigo is the first coupe in the A0 SUV segment, built on the same foundation as the T-Cross and Polo.

The Taigo, however, measures slightly flatter and longer than the squarish T-Cross, giving it a sleeker look and, surprisingly, a 17% bigger boot (440l vs 377l).

The Taigo is offered in three specifications in South Africa – Life, Style, R-Line – each driven by the same 1.0-litre engine, and the crossover comes in at a South African starting price of R429,900.

We got behind the wheel of the range-topping Taigo R-Line (R486,000) at its recent South African launch to see how VW’s newest offering performs out in the real world.

Attractive angles 

The VW Taigo is good-looking in the metal with the front of the top-end specification being a combination of that of the Tiguan R-Line and T-Roc.

From the rear, the sloping roofline paired with the black lightbar on the tailgate also makes for many attractive angles, hints of Audi Q8 and Lamborghini Urus being sprinkled in between.

With the slightly lower ground clearance and roof, LED headlights, as well as 18-inch alloys, the Taigo strikes a more dynamic look than the T-Roc and T-Cross, and we believe it will hit a chord with many South African car buyers.

Inside, this top-end R-Line comes with a host of standard features including ambient lighting, a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, an 8-inch infotainment system, and dual-zone climate control working through touch-sensitive sliders.

VW seems to have figured out the glitchy touch-sensitive controls that plagued earlier versions of the technology, as these temperature sliders did not produce the same issues.

Stylistic additions inside the range-topper that stood out for us were then the “Karoso” fabric seats with sporty R emblems, model-specific black headliner, metal pedals, and the gunmetal finish on the front dash which gave the cabin an equally dynamic look as the exterior.

Despite the flatter roofline, visibility out the back window is rather good, too, and the rear seats accommodate sizeable adults without any shoulder-to-shoulder action.

The particular models on our test drive also featured every premium extra you can fit to a Taigo, such as the Black styling package, heated seats, the Beats sound system, keyless entry and start, lane-keep assist, automatic reverse parking, and adaptive cruise control – the latter being operable through both the buttons on the steering wheel as well as the shifter paddles.

1.0-litre performance

The 1.0-litre, turbo-petrol motor in the Taigo pushes out 85kW and 200Nm, getting it up to 100km/h in a decent 10 seconds.

The engine connects to a fast-acting, seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission that feeds power to the front wheels.

At the squeeze of a paddle, the transmission instantly switches over to manual and lets you change up or down at your leisure, but it’s also clever enough to know when you don’t want to do the shifting anymore, or that you might have forgotten, and it switches itself back into full automatic mode without a hiccup.

VW knows how to build a good drivetrain and it’s implementing those technologies successfully into its more entry-level products, leading to a quality driving feel that stands out in the segment.

Switching to Sport mode also makes a noticeable difference in engine response, resulting in a livelier ride.

Overall impressions

The overall Taigo package certainly mimics the automaker’s other SUVs, but it also brings a unique design, sturdy build, and – even if the optional extras list isn’t checked at all – generous features that make the R429,900 starting price not too difficult to swallow.

We reckon if you keep your eye out for one, it won’t be long before you see a new VW Taigo out in public.

VW Taigo