Volkswagen Taigo Review 2023
Volkswagen has taken the crossover SUV market by storm, and the Taigo is yet another addition to the segment. Practical and versatile, the Taigo is perfect for small families looking for a stylish lease car.
Rivals to the Taigo include the Ford Puma, Skoda Kamiq, Mini Countryman, Nissan Juke, and Peugeot 2008.
Our Volkswagen Taigo review covers:
- Modern exterior design with sloping roofline
- Simple interior with plenty of tech as standard
- 440-litre boot
- Two petrol engines
- Three trims: Life, Style, and R-Line
Pros:
- Plenty of equipment as standard
- Comfortable ride quality
- Affordable to run
Cons:
- It's a bit boring
- Rivals are more fun to drive
- A few more cheaper interior materials than we'd like
The Taigo follows the same exterior design as all Volkswagen crossovers. You get a Polo-like wide front grille, a lightbar connecting the headlights, and a sleek side profile with a small spoiler.
Even though the Taigo is a small SUV, there's a generous amount of interior space. The driver and front passenger have loads of head and legroom, and both front seats have height adjustment and lumbar support. Space in the rear is also decent, but if you're tall, your head will be touching the roof. If you have a big family, look towards the spacious Skoda Kamiq.
Open the tailgate, and you get 440 litres of space, which is more than you'll find in the Seat Arona and Toyota Yaris Cross. You'll be able to fit luggage for a weekend away or a weekly shop, and the rear seats can be split 60/40 and folded flat.
The Taigo's cabin is what you'd expect from a Volkswagen; it's got a sensible design and is fit for purpose. The dashboard is straightforward to use when driving, and there's a good range of soft-touch plastics used and a leather steering wheel. As you move down, a few cheaper materials do appear, so if this isn't to your liking, look towards the Mini Countryman or Audi Q2.
All versions of the Taigo come with an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system that has a DAB radio, smartphone mirroring, and sat-nav (top two trims only). Incorporated into the dashboard, the screen looks good and is easy to use, being responsive to touch and displaying crisp graphics.
You also get an eight-inch digital cockpit display behind the steering wheel, which is upgraded to 10.25 inches from the Style trim and above.
Three trims are available: Life, Style, and R-Line.
Life has 16-inch alloy wheels, black roof rails, LED lights, ambient lighting, a leather steering wheel, manual air conditioning, an eight-inch digital cockpit display, sat-nav, park assist, and semi-automated driving assistance.
Style has 17-inch alloy wheels, silver roof rails, two-zone air conditioning, LED matrix headlights, sports comfort front seats, a 10.25-inch dash display screen, and interior lighting.
R-Line adds grey alloy wheels, black roof rails, R-Line seats in fabric, a driving profile selection, rear tinted glass, and exterior R-Line styling.
A couple of petrol units make up the engine range for the Taigo. You can choose between a 1.0-litre unit with two power outputs or a 1.5-litre unit. The latter is available with either a manual or automatic transmission, while the latter has an exclusive seven-speed automatic dual-clutch transmission. All come with front-wheel drive.
For the 1.0-litre units, you can choose between 94hp or 109hp. The entry-level 94hp unit is paired with a five-speed manual gearbox and achieves 0-62mph in 11.1 seconds. It's most suited to around-town driving and will return a good fuel economy of around 51mpg.
The 109hp unit is our pick of the engines. Paired with a six-speed manual or a seven-speed automatic, you'll get to 62mph in just under 11 seconds. Its main appeal is that it feels better at higher speeds, and you'll be able to overtake it much easier on the motorway.
The range-topper is the 145hp 1.5-litre engine that's paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. You'll do 0-62mph in just 8.3 seconds, which is faster than the 153hp engine in the Ford Puma.
The Taigo is a composed car on the road and will serve your family well, but it lacks a bit of excitement.
Around town, the Taigo feels completely at home navigating tight urban roads and dealing with potholes. Its handling is light, and the slightly firm suspension doesn't impact ride quality at all. You also get plenty of driver assist systems like park assist and surround parking sensors to help in extra-tight areas.
Increase the speed, and the Taigo is a good cruiser. There's limited wind and engine noise and the adaptive cruise control that comes as standard makes for a relaxing drive on longer journeys.
Find yourself on a country road, and the Taigo errs on the side of caution. It feels safe and secure, with plenty of road grip when cornering. The R-Line trim is the sportiest and still feels a bit safe, so if you're looking for fun, go for the Ford Puma or Peugeot 2008.
Prices for the new Volkswagen Taigo start from £23,420.00 OTR* or to lease from £246.05 per month.
Looking to get behind the wheel of the Volkswagen Taigo? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.
Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.
*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.
