Volkswagen Taigun : The Volkswagen Taigun has arrived to battle it out in India’s compact SUV space, pitting itself against segment titans such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, and Skoda Kusaq.
What sets the Taigun apart is its German design language, robust build quality, and heavy focus on driving dynamics.
Based on the MQB A0 IN platform – specifically developed for India – the Taigun boasts European levels of precision matched by features and practicality befitting local tastes and adaptations.
Bold and Youthful Design
At least from the way it looks, the Taigun wears Volkswagen’s familiar design language — simple lines, strong proportions, and a grown-up feel.
The front gets a mean and premium look with the wide grille with chrome inserts, LED headlamps and DRLs.
The back looks just as good, sporting a light bar that sweeps across the tailgate joining each of the LED tail lights, giving the SUV a stylish, contemporary and high-quality appearance.
The ratio of that car looks right. Not too tall, but muscular enough to look like it might hold its own on the road.
The alloy wheel pattern, roof rails and dash of chrome all comes together to give a car with an elegant outlook with ample sportiness.
Quality and Useful Interior Features
Climb in and the Taigun feels more European than many of its competitors. The dashboard is clean, dominated by a central 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
Build quality, like the soft-touch materials used and the finish on the steering wheel and gear lever, while not top notch, are testament to Volkswagen’s eye for detail.
There’s good room for five people in the cabin. Front-seats are very supportive, good bolstering on the cushy seats, although back-bench space is just average for legroom and headroom.
There’s a reasonable 385 litres of boot space, but not class-leading.
The digital instrument cluster, front-seat ventilation, wireless Android Auto/ Apple CarPlay, ambient lighting and sunroof (on higher trims) check right boxes for what we expect tech-laden buyers today to want.
Powertrain Performance and Driving Dynamics
The Volkswagen Taigun is offered with two petrol engines – a 1.0L TSI and a 1.5L TSI – both turbo unit for spirited drive.
The 1.0L comes with a 6-speed manual or 6-speed torque-converter automatic, and the 1.5L with a 7-speed DSG (dual-clutch) transmission that feels smoother.
And it’s the driving dynamics where the Taigun really excels. Steering is direct, body roll is minimal and the suspension offers a nice compromise between comfort and composure.
The 1.5L engine, in particular, with active cylinder technology is both powerful and fuel-efficient for lighter load use.
This makes the Taigun one of the most fun-to-drive compact SUVs, specially for driving enthusiasts who would prefer the car to exhibit that connected feel when they are behind the wheel.
Safety and Technology
Safety has always been on the top list of priorities of Volkswagen and the same seems to be with the Taigun.
On the safety front, the SUV comes with maximum six airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, hill hold, tire pressure monitoring system as well as ISOFIX mounts.
It also has garnered a 5-star rating from Global NCAP under new test protocols, consolidating its position among the safest cars in the category.
In terms of tech, besides the digital cluster and infotainment, the Taigun comes with connected car technology, wireless charging and voice commands.
Pros:
Great build quality and looks actually centuries old, old world, old Europe!
Potent turbo petrols with good performance proportions
Sporty ride and confident handling
Safety feature-loaded; 5-star crash rating
Appointed very well inside for tech features
Cons:
No diesel, may disappoint some people
Rear-seat room and boot space could have been more generous
DSG gearbox is also one of those stuff that can become slightly expensive to be maintaining out of warranty period
There are some competitors that are a little cheaper
Volkswagen Taigun: Conclusion
The Volkswagen Taigun truly shines by not trying to overwhelm buyers with gimmicks, but by offering a well-built, feature- Overall, Taigun is a good bet for buyers who are looking for driving dynamics, safety, and long-term reliability.
It may not be the least expensive choice in its class, but the way it drives justifies the premium — a tailored machine for those who appreciate the process of shifting and steering with purpose.