Volkswagen Taigo review
When the Taigo arrived, we were shocked at yet another crossover. Volkswagen isn’t exactly short of SUVs – but with its coupé-like looks, desirable trim offerings and quality engineering, is it worthy enough to dethrone its T-Cross stablemate, as well as other compact crossovers? Read our Volkswagen Taigo review for the low-down.
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Pros
- Big 440-litre boot
- Comfortable and composed drive
- There’s no bad trim here
Cons
- Engine choice is limited
- Warranty is merely average
Interior
Our rating: 7/10
Driving position
The VW Taigo occupies a sweet spot between hatchback and SUV, with a slightly raised seating position that affords you extra outward visibility, yet it’s still low enough to feel relatively sporty.
It doesn’t quite feel as high as the T-Cross, and it actually feels far more like the Polo on which it's based.
Think of it as a slightly bigger, jacked-up Polo than a dedicated SUV – but then, that’s what many drivers want.
As with any VW, there’s plenty of seating adjustment, including far enough back to suit taller drivers, and the wheel also goes in/out and up/down enough.
While visibility is generally good, it does trail behind the T-Cross and T-Roc because of that coupé-like roofline. It's still very good, though.
Tech and features
Volkswagen Taigo trims
– Life
– Match
– Style
– R-Line
– Black Edition
It might be VW’s cheapest crossover (it even costs less than the not-so-sporty-looking T-Cross), but it’s far from basic.
That’s because it was launched at a time when VW had dropped previous trim levels like S and SE, which often felt under-equipped. It’s part of the newer family of trim levels, which kicks off with Life, and it’s all you need.
Every model gets a digital instrument cluster and a touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto – higher trim levels get a bigger 10.25-inch screen, but it does everything the same.
There’s also plenty of big-car tech filtering down, like VW’s IQ.Light matrix headlights (adaptive high beams), adaptive cruise control and other active driver aids.
Mid-spec Match has always been good value, and that hasn’t changed over time. For the Taigo, it means keyless entry and a reversing camera.
Style gets the bigger screen, adaptive high beams and dual-zone climate control, while R-Line and Black Edition models are more about sporty styling.
Performance
Our rating: 7/10
Engines and power
Volkswagen Taigo performance stats
– Power: 95hp, 110hp, 115hp or 150hp
– 0-62mph: 8.3 to 11.1 seconds
– Top speed: Up to 132mph
– Driven wheels: Front-wheel drive (FWD)
You get VW’s usual pick of engines here, with 1.0-litre petrols being the most common.
We’d suggest avoiding the lesser-powered 95hp unit in favour of the 110hp version (which later got upgraded to 115hp). It has an extra gear in manual form for more efficient motorway driving, and is the only 1.0-litre Taigo to get a DSG automatic gearbox if you prefer two pedals.
The 150hp 1.5-litre petrol is quicker, but the 110/115hp engine doesn’t feel slow, and we think the 1.0-litre powertrains are smoother and punchier.
Unless you’re doing a lot of motorway driving where the extra power can be useful, the 1.5 probably isn’t the best match for this light and efficient crossover.
Handling and ride comfort
If you’re already familiar with the Polo or T-Cross, it feels very similar in the Taigo.
By that, we mean it's very predictable – very little body lean despite the taller stature, sharp steering and a lightness that makes it easy to position around town (when you’re weaving in and out of potholes).
Comfort-wise, it’s probably slightly on the firmer side, especially on bigger wheels, but it never feels nasty. It’s just more controlled than wafty, which caters to most drivers’ needs.
Chances are, if you’re upgrading from a hatchback, it’ll all feel very familiar, and that’s important for compact crossovers that are designed to boost practicality without sacrificing on the aspects we love about our cars.
Practicality
Our rating: 8/10
Boot space
Volkswagen Taigo boot space:
– Boot space: Up to 440 litres
– Incl. Rear seats folded: Up to 1,222 litres
If you’re after value, here’s where you’ll get a lot of it. The 440-litre boot isn’t just bigger than hatchbacks like the Polo (351 litres), but it’s also very similar to cars from the class above like the T-Roc (445 litres).
It’s bigger than you’d expect, easily swallowing your weekly shop, a pushchair or even a couple of suitcases without complaining about it.
Rear seats
While boot space excels, rear-seat space is maybe not so generous. Leg and shoulder room are about on par with the T-Cross.
The Taigo has 2mm less rear headroom than the T-Cross and 4mm less than the Golf – so you don’t really lose any height from that sporty coupé roofline.
Storage solutions
Let’s not forget the Taigo is one of the smallest SUVs out there, so don’t expect tens of litres of in-cabin storage.
Still, there’s enough storage to keep the essentials tucked away. We’re talking about cupholders down low in the centre console, optional wireless phone charging and some space behind the gear selector, and decent-sized door bins.
Volkswagen Taigo dimensions
– Height: 1,518mm
– Width: 1,757mm (excl. door mirrors)
– Length: 4,266mm
– Kerb weight: Up to 1,296kg
Safety
As standard, you get VW’s Front Assist with autonomous emergency braking, Lane Assist and a driver monitoring system.
The predictive adaptive cruise control system even anticipates speed changes to slow you down when entering an urban area or a roundabout/tight bend.
Despite its size, the Taigo is a full five-star car in the eyes of Euro NCAP. That’s not the norm for compact cars like this, so it’s good news for VW.
Running costs
Our rating: 8/10
Fuel economy
Efficiency is one of the Taigo’s strong suits, with the 1.0-litre engine capable of getting over 50mpg on a long run. Even the 1.5-litre model stays in the high 40s.
There are no diesels available for motorway drivers, and mild hybrid tech from the likes of the Golf hasn't tricked down into the Taigo just yet.
Reliability
VW shouldn’t keep you up at night if you’re the sort of person who worries about long-term reliability – you know you’re getting quality engineering and manufacturing in this department.
The three-year/60,000-mile warranty is the industry average, and most rivals offer a lot more, so this may be worth considering.
But because it’s built on VW’s MQB platform, it shares tried-and-tested parts with the entire VW Group, so the track record is definitely proven.
Some related cars include the VW T-Cross, VW Polo, Škoda Fabia, Škoda Kamiq, SEAT Ibiza, SEAT Arona and Audi A1.
The verdict
Interior
7/10
Performance
7/10
Practicality
8/10
Running costs
8/10
The Volkswagen Taigo is one of those cars that slips under the radar – for many drivers, it's just another compact crossover – but we think it makes a lot of sense to a lot of drivers.
It’s easy to recommend because it avoids the usual pitfalls – the sporty looks don’t mean you have to sacrifice rear headroom or boot space, and the budget price tag isn’t indicative of a bargain basement interior.
On the road, it feels as much the premium product that it is with a composed and calm ride, to the point that it sometimes feels like a bigger car.
The 1.0-litre engines are great for town drivers, and the DSG automatic takes the strain out of three-pedal driving.
Is it enough to tempt you away from the slightly more conventional baby T-Cross? We really think so. But more importantly, should you buy one over a Peugeot 2008 or Renault Captur?
It’s got to be a yes from us.
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