Morning traffic in India rarely spares anyone. Weekend plans, on the other hand, tend to point towards the hills. The new Volkswagen Taigun is built to move comfortably between the two, without asking its owner to compromise on either.
Through the week, it’s the Taigun’s size that does the heavy lifting. At 4,221mm long and 1,760mm wide, it eases into narrow lanes without much fuss, and front-and-rear parking sensors along with a reversing camera take the guesswork out of tight basement spots. The Volkswagen voice assistant and turn-by-turn navigation handle the rest, so hands stay on the wheel, and eyes stay on the road even when the traffic doesn’t let up.
Around the weekend, the same SUV changes character. The 1.0-litre TSI engine producing 115PS and 178Nm is enough for confident overtakes on the highway, while the range-topping 1.5-litre TSI EVO engine, making 150PS and 250Nm through a seven-speed DSG, has the pull for steeper hill climbs. McPherson struts up front and a twist-beam rear keep the ride settled through switchbacks, and six airbags along with ESC and hill-start assist mean the mountain roads don’t feel like a risk. The panoramic sunroof and ventilated seats, both offered on higher trims, make the long drive up feel like part of the reward rather than something to get through.
Running costs matter too, especially for buyers counting every rupee: the 1.0-litre TSI returns 19.98kmpl with the manual and 19.54kmpl with the automatic, while the 1.5-litre TSI DSG with its Active Cylinder tech manages a reasonable 18.85kmpl. The 385-litre boot, expandable to 1,405 litres, doesn’t ask for compromises on a hill trip either.
What makes the Taigun genuinely work for most Indian buyers, though, is choice. There are seven variants in total, meaning there’s a Taigun for every customer. Spread across the Chrome and Sport lines. Comfortline, Highline, Highline Plus and Topline make up the everyday Chrome range, GT Line brings sportier styling without changing the engine, and GT Plus – offered in both Chrome and Sport styling – is the only trim to get the more powerful 1.5-litre TSI. Whichever one you pick, the essentials hold steady: six airbags, ESC, an electronic differential lock, LED headlamps and a touchscreen with wired App-Connect are standard across the entire range, so safety and everyday usability were never reserved for the top trim alone.
Volkswagen backs the car with its 4EVER Care programme too—a four-year warranty and roadside assistance, along with three free services, so the ownership experience holds up as well as the drive does.
For a country full of buyers who want one car to do the job of two, the Taigun makes a reasonable case for itself.
