The Volkswagen Taigun has been in the market for a couple of years now. It has been a successful product for Volkswagen India. VW has been selling a decent 1500-2000 units every month. I got the opportunity to use the Volkswagen Taigun GT for a couple of months. Here is what I feel about it after clocking 1000-odd kilometers on it.
Our Volkswagen Taigun GT
Before we begin, let me tell you the variant, and let’s also get the specifications out of the way Our long-termer is the 1.5L GT with the DSG gearbox. The entry-level 1.5 TSI with the automatic.
This variant comes with the capable 1.5L TSI EVO motor which is an inline 4-cylinder DOHC mill that produces 148 bhp of power at 5000 rpm and 250 Nm of torque which comes in between 1600-3500 rpm. In short, it is a powerful petrol motor that promises exciting performance. This one comes mated to the 7-speed DSG gearbox equipped with paddle shifters.
Performance
The 1.5 TSI has been the epitome of performance. It simply does not disappoint. I love diesel engines for the torque they produce and hence, love driving diesel cars. However, the past two months that I have been driving the Taigun, I have not missed my diesel daily driver. The 250 Nm torque comes in at a low 1600 rpm giving the Taigun enough to get a quick move on. Also, those quick overtakes when you are cruising on the highway are simple a breeze. Just put your foot down and let the DSG gearbox do all the hard work for you.
Where Did We Drive?
I could do about 1100 km over the 65-70 day period. Though the Taigun was my daily driver, I was not able to put in as many kilometers as I would have liked. This was owing to the constant travel for various events out of Mumbai. The Taigun was used mostly in and around Navi Mumbai and Mumbai.
About 550 kilometers came from two trips to Pune and back. So, the city-highway driving balance has been pretty much at par. That puts me in a good position to tell you how the Taigun performs both in the city and on the highway.
City Driving
Having done about 550-600 kilometers within the city, overall the Taigun is a great city car. It definitely is a very easy car to drive in the city. The DSG gearbox is smooth and gives you a comfortable drive. The gearbox shines in traffic too. Fuel efficiency is what must be on your mind. The 1.5 TSI is a powerful engine and it is an eager one too. Which means fuel efficiency bears the brunt of the performance. Or does it? The Taigun managed to return 10.2 kmpl in the city. This is with traffic and the AC turned ON at all times. However, the city is not where you will be able to enjoy the 150 horses this engine produces.
The Taigun is about 4200 mm long. Even with that size, it is easy to park the car and get it out of tight spaces. The reversing cameras and sensors help out
Highway Driving
The highway is where the Taigun GT shines. It is absolute fun. Paired with the sporty suspension and a responsive steering, this is an enthusiasts dream machine. Just put your foot down and watch the speedo needle cross the 100 kmph mark in no time. Overall, the drive is steady and even at 140-150 kmph the car is unshakeable. No vibrations, no wobbly steering, no uncertainty. It simply holds the line and will keep on going tirelessly. Also, if you want to have some fun, slot it in the sports mode and use the paddle shifters for an engaging driving experience.
Fuel efficiency you ask? Well, if you are not lead-footed, you will be able to squeeze out 15-16 kmpl on the highway. The enthusiastic ones will see 12-13 kmpl. The cylinder deactivation has a major role to play in these high fuel efficiency numbers. When you are cruising and not pushing the car hard, it simply puts off two cylinders to conserve fuel.
Overall, the car performs well in the city and outperforms most of its competition on the highway. It is a true driver’s car. If you are someone who likes to be behind the wheel, the Taigun won’t disappoint.
Comfort & Features
The Taigun GT is equipped well and most of its features are useful in day to day driving.
Lights: The Taigun GT gets LED lights all around. The headlamps have a good throw and light up the night roads really well. The connected taillamps look really good when lit-up in the night.
Infotainment: There’s a 10-inch display which is clear and bright in the daylight too. It is also equipped with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay which I feel should be standard on all cars. The touch response is quite good too. However, I miss the physical knob for the volume control. Some things should be left as they are don’t you agree?
Air-Conditioning: The AC on the Taigun is pretty powerful. The rear passengers too get a blower with controls to keep the overall cabin cool in the sticky Mumbai weather. It gets touch sensitive controls for the temperature and fan speeds. This can take some getting used to especially if you want to put the AC off completely. Get the knobs back, please!
Seats: This variant of the Taigun does not get ventilated seats. You get dual-tone fabric seats which are comfortable. The front seats especially keeps you snug with good side support. However, the cushioning could have been about 10% softer to make it more comfortable.
Boot Space: The Taigun gets a decent boot at 385 litres. I was able to do two airport runs with luggage for 2 and 3 passengers for each trip. It gobbles up 2 medium size and 1 cabin bag very easily. It should be more than enough for a weekend’s worth luggage for a family of four.
Safety: The Taigun is one of the safest cars in India today with a 5-star rating for adult and child passengers. The sturdy build is evident with the satisfying door closing thud. The build quality is top-notch and overall you feel safe inside even at triple digit speeds.
Sunroof: To be honest, haven’t used it even once, but it s there for the ones who want one.
Other mentionable features are the automatic rain sensing wipers, wireless charger, type-c ports at the front and rear, three-point seat belts for all passengers, rear seat armrest which are all useful in day-to-day driving.
The Niggles
It’s quite difficult to pick out the negative points as the Taigun pretty much ticks most of the boxes. However, like all things, the Taigun GT is not perfect.
- Rear view camera: The Taigun GT gets the rear view camera which performs well however, given the resolution of the display, the camera does not match up. A better quality camera would uplift the premium feel.
- Headliner: The headliner seems flimsy. The slightest pressure pushes it against the roof. One would expect better quality in a premium car.
- Price: Given the missing features as compared to the competition, the price of the Taigun GT might seem a little high for some.
Final Thoughts
We will be spending some more time with our long-term Taigun and might find some more things to report. For now, the Taigun GT is quite a practical purchase if you are in the market for one. It does everything a mid-size family car should do and some more. It will appeal to the enthusiasts as well with its incredible performance. Yes, it does lack some features but it does quite a lot to justify its price. The performance, build quality, safety being some of it’s highlights, the Taigun GT is an easy to recommend car.