There’s a stylish new crossover in town - the funky Volkswagen Taigo.
We know what you’re thinking… With the T-Roc and T-Cross, isn’t there already a healthy choice of compact SUVs from VW?
The thing about the Taigo is that it’s doing something very different in the styling stakes, being an SUV coupe - complete with that all-important rakish roofline - in a similar vein to the much more expensive BMW X6 or Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe.
And with an emphasis on practicality as well as being easy on the eye, the ‘trendy Lifestyle’ Taigo should prove popular.
The Taigo is, like the T-Cross, based on the same platform used in the VW Polo. And it’s a car that’s also already been on sale in South America, where it was known as the ‘Nivus’.
Speaking about that Latin flair now being brought to the UK, a VW spokesperson enthuses: “The new Taigo focuses on design, individuality and emotion. With full LED head-lights, an all-digital cockpit and the latest generation of infotainment systems (MIB3) as standard, the SUV coupé - measuring in at just under 4.26 metres - sets high technology standards in its class.
“The expressive body shape is the first of its kind in the Volkswagen brand’s model portfolio. With a crossover body style and a silhouette like that of a coupé, the new Taigo – just like its Brazilian counterpart the Nivus – is perfectly equipped for winning over new, predominantly young and young-at-heart groups of buyers for Volkswagen.”
There’s a healthy 438 litres of luggage capacity and while the rear of the car slopes backwards, it doesn’t restrict headroom in the back seat.
There’s a no-nonsense approach to the powertrains underpinning the Taigo. There’s no hybrid or electrical wizardry, and don’t expect a diesel, either.
Instead there’s a choice of two petrol engines. A 1.0 litre mill is offered with either 95 or 110 PS or the more powerful 1.5 litre engine offers 150 PS.
Meanwhile the Taigo comes fitted with a host of driver assistance and safety systems. Every model gets VW’s ‘Front Assist’ monitoring tech, including city emergency brake function and the lane departure warning system “Lane Assist” as standard. The ‘IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist’ is available as an optional extra, enabling semi-automated driving up to a system-determined top speed of 210 km/h.
And the fully-connected infotainment system includes an online ‘eSIM’ control unit that unlocks everything from over-the-air software updates to the latest parking updates.
The Taigo is due to launch later this year and we’ll bring you further updates as and when we get them.
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