Volkswagen Taigo SUV Coupe Unveiled
The Volkswagen Taigo is the company’s first SUV-coupé designed for European markets. It’s a rakish-roofed crossover with a T-Cross-like appearance. Under the surface, the Taigo SUV and the planned Volkswagen Taigun SUV for India have a lot in common.
The Volkswagen Taigo has been on sale in South America as the Nivus for a year, and the Euro-spec vehicle is mostly unchanged, save for a few adjustments to bring it in line with the rest of the brand’s lineup. Models for the European market will be produced in Pamplona, Spain, with their MQB-A0 platform-sharing brothers. The MQB A0 IN architecture, which will be used by the Taigun, is closely linked to this platform.
VW wants the Taigo to be seen as a stylish and dynamic SUV. As a result, the Taigo sports a roofline that slopes down into a discreet spoiler at the back, a revised front end with standard-fit LED headlamps, contrasting wheel-arch trim, and an increased rear overhang to set it apart from the T-Cross.
Inside, the Volkswagen Taigo looks a lot like the T-Cross and the Polo that is available in other countries. A multifunction steering wheel, a central touchscreen with Volkswagen’s latest ‘MIB3’ infotainment software, and an all-digital gauge cluster are included as standard equipment. Touch-sensitive climate controls, as well as the IQ, are offered as options.
In addition to those already standard, the Drive package adds a slew of new driver aids, such as predictive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance.
The Taigo is a front-wheel-drive, petrol-powered vehicle. There are two engines available: a 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine that produces 95 or 110 horsepower, and a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 150 horsepower. The Taigo is available with a 5-speed or 6-speed manual transmission or a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, depending on the engine (DSG).
The Taigo is comparable in size to the Skoda Kushaq offered in India, measuring 4,266mm long, 1,494mm height, and 1,757mm wide, while its 2,566mm wheelbase is roughly identical to the sixth-generation Polo and European-spec T-Cross. When compared to the straighter-backed T-Cross, luggage room is hardly reduced, with a boot size of 438 liters when seats are up.
VW has yet to make a formal announcement on the Taigo’s arrival in the United States. The German automaker is preparing to unveil the Taigun, one of its most important models, in the next weeks, followed by the unveiling of the Tiguan facelift during the holiday season.
