Volkswagen has unveiled its new small SUV, the Taigo, a compact coupe-type crossover aimed at lifestyle-oriented buyers. Positioned between VW’s existing T-Cross and T-Roc SUVs in terms of price, the Taigo is expected to start at around $20,000 when it goes on sale later this year.
Four equipment levels have been outlined, but the lineup is yet to be finalized before sales begin ahead of early 2022 deliveries.
The Taigo is based on VW’s Nivus SUV from the South American market but has been “technologically adapted for Europe,” featuring a more advanced kit and adding a sporty R-Line finish exclusive to Europe.
Depending on the equipment level, the Taigo will be available with features typically found in larger premium cars, such as VW’s IQ Light LED adaptive matrix headlights and the semi-autonomous IQ Travel Assist cruise control.
Other available features include a digital dashboard and an infotainment system of up to 9.2 inches with VW’s latest MIB 3.1 operating system.
Volkswagen Taigo: Engines and Power
As the Taigo is based on VW Group’s MQB A0 platform, shared with the Polo and T-Cross and T-Roc SUVs, it will use a similar range of engines.
The brand’s 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder TSI gasoline engine will make up the majority of the lineup, with 94 hp and 108 hp variants on offer. The former is paired with a standard five-speed manual transmission, while the latter gets a six-speed manual. A seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission will be offered as an option on the 108 hp TSI 110. The more potent engine option will be a four-cylinder 1.5 TSI turbo unit, producing 148 hp.
Volkswagen hasn’t confirmed 0-62 mph times for the different powertrains but has announced top speeds of 113 mph, 118 mph, and 131 mph, respectively.
Despite the sportier appearance, VW has confirmed there won’t be a performance-focused model in the future, although the Polo GTI powertrain would fit the Taigo’s body.
Volkswagen confirmed that while there’s no plan to electrify the Taigo for now, mild hybrid technology could be implemented at a later stage if customer demand is significant.
Volkswagen Taigo: Design, Finish, and Equipment
The Taigo’s look is characterized by its sportier fastback-style rear end with a sloping rear hatch. A full-width light bar at the rear connects the light clusters, while LED headlights and a deep front bumper make the Taigo the sportiest-looking car in VW’s small SUV lineup. It is aided by pronounced folds on the car’s flanks.
There’s also a strong focus on customization, with VW offering the Taigo in a unique green color called Visual Green. This can be specified with a Visual Green design package bringing a green insert for the dashboard and green contrast stitching around the cabin.
Four equipment levels have been outlined, although it’s yet to be confirmed if all of them will be part of the UK lineup. The base car will come well-equipped, including a digital dashboard, a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone connectivity, LED headlights, and electrically heated color-coded exterior mirrors. Front Assist with autonomous emergency braking plus lane-keeping assist will also be installed as standard.
The Life trim sits above this, offering features like puddle lights and more chrome-effect trim on the car’s front, along with another USB-C charging point, 16-inch alloy wheels, different upholstery, and the option of a panoramic roof.
The trim structure then splits into two divergent paths; Style focuses on “visual elegance” and offers features such as IQ.Light LED matrix headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, front and rear parking sensors, and tweaked bumper designs.
A larger 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro, an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and different interior finishes are all features. There’s also even more potential to customize the car’s look with different design packages.
R-Line sits alongside the Style trim and offers a similar level of standard kit but with a greater focus on the sporty appearance. New R-Line distinctive features, as well as a different body kit to give the Taigo a more aggressive look, plus wheels up to 18 inches in diameter.
Both the Style and R-Line models are available with an optional 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and the two larger setups also feature an online connectivity unit that opens up more connected car functions and services to owners.
The semi-autonomous adaptive cruise control IQ.Drive Travel Assist will be available as an option and will maintain a set distance from the car ahead, in addition to keeping the Taigo in its lane on the highway at speeds of up to 130 mph.
The Taigo is slightly longer and wider than VW’s T-Cross SUV but with a more sloping rear roof, headroom could be affected compared to its boxier sibling. However, the car’s 438-liter trunk means the Taigo should offer a high level of practicality. The T-Cross offers up to 455 liters of space, so it’s not too far off from its sibling when it comes to cargo volume.
