The Taigun is no longer new to the Indian market; it has been around for a few years, and car buyers have acknowledged its presence. It has also proven itself to be a well-engineered product. In my experience, not many cars come close to how effortlessly it switched roles from being our steed around the icy Himalayan passes to a daily commuter in Mumbai traffic.
I have fond memories of a high-altitude expedition from Leh, Nubra Valley, to the base camp of the Siachen glacier at 17,000 feet. The Taigun, with its equally mighty 1.5-litre TSI powertrain, took everything in its stride, never complaining about the challenging terrain, but completely justifying its ‘Mountain Goat’ monicker. It didn’t even have a four-wheel drive system! A year hence, I’m lucky to be behind the wheel of one again, although this time, the uphill task is the perennially busy streets of Mumbai. Let’s see how the Taigun GT fares.
Dynamic Presence
On the outside, the Taigun represents what Volkswagen is famous for: a great mix of aggression and sportiness, without losing out on sophistication. The GT Line amps up the sporty quotient with its blacked-out honeycomb grille, LED headlights and DRLs, and subtle red accents. It also has handsome-looking 17-inch dual-tone alloy wheels, roof rails, and skid plates.
Its flared wheel arches and chiselled bonnet give the car an assertive stance — typically seen on European cars — while the dynamic turn indicators add some flair to the decent-looking rear. The bold VW logo and dual-tone bumper at the rear further the car’s appeal. Every element on the car’s bodywork has a purpose, but nothing is overdone; thus, what you get is an SUV that looks as good in the urban environment as it does when tackling mountain passes.
Passenger focus
The Taigun GT’s interior is a clear masterclass in German engineering — it cocoons the occupants in a nice, feature-rich environment, which feels premium but doesn’t lose out on practicality. It has great space inside with ample legroom, even for taller adults. The inclusion of ventilated seats makes travelling in the Taigun even better, especially during the scorching summer. The seats are quite well-bolstered, and with added lumbar support, no drive in the Taigun GT seems too long. The 380-litre boot space can be increased by folding the rear seat down, too.
A 10-inch floating touchscreen infotainment system is the first thing you’ll notice on the well-designed dashboard. It supports wireless connectivity suites like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and it looks quite in line with the ‘Digital Cockpit’, VW’s digital instrument cluster.
Effortless Performance
Powering our test car was a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which makes 148 bhp and 25.48 kg-m. It comes with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which transforms every drive into a thoroughly engaging affair. Within city limits, the added convenience of an automatic gearbox is worth appreciating. In addition to this, the Taigun GT’s light steering and well-tuned suspension ensure that driving through traffic isn’t an issue. The gearbox has no problems with the stop-go nature of Mumbai traffic, and it consistently provides smooth, jerk-free shifts, without any lag whatsoever. Features like hill-hold make traversing challenging situations pretty effortless for the Taigun GT.
Out on the open highway, the Taigun GT shows its true prowess. It never lacks confidence, whether it is overtaking slow-moving traffic or comfortably cruising at triple-digit speeds. It’s stable throughout, and nothing disturbs you, not even wind or road noise, as the cabin is well-insulated to keep the majority of that outside. If you’re in the mood for fun, the Taigun responds to its Sport mode quite enthusiastically; its throttle response becomes sharper, and it tends to hold gears for longer, ensuring that you get the most of the 1.5 TSI engine has to offer. It’s remarkably fun, the whole experience of driving the Taigun GT, so it’s hardly a wonder why enthusiasts still swear by Volkswagen.
It’s not just the straight-line speed that makes the Taigun stand out, though. Its suspension might be firm, but it offers a great ability to provide cornering stability while at the same time absorbing bumps without making the car unsettled. The best of both worlds? Quite possibly, yes. The steering is light at slow speeds but weighs up nicely as you drive faster. The car also exhibits minimal body roll, and unlike other SUVs in the space, which tend to falter in corners, it offers a balance between composure and predictability, often rewarding the keen driver without compromising safety.
Safety first
In terms of safety, the Taigun, when tested by Global NCAP, proved its crash-worthiness adeptly. It scored 29.64/34 for adult occupant safety and 42/49 for child occupant. The comprehensive safety package of the Taigun GT also includes six airbags, ESC, and Hill-Hold. Other features like rear parking sensors and a camera, TPMS, etc., make living with the car hassle-free. Plus, with 14-16 km/l on the highway and 11-12 km/l in the city, the Taigun GT turned out to be decent, if not the most frugal to run. There’s an Eco mode for those who wish for better economy, and the Taigun’s onboard computer can very smartly deactivate two of its cylinders when the load on the engine is minimal.
There’s a lot of competition in the segment, especially from cars like the Creta, which offers a softer ride and a longer list of features; the Seltos, which gets a futuristic design and a more premium cabin; and even the Kushaq, which has similar mechanicals but is styled differently, among others. Despite that, the Taigun GT is equipped with a great balance of comfort, performance, and practicality that’s hard to achieve in the segment. It is also well-engineered, something that its robust build complements, and the high-tech powertrain only makes its case stronger.
Verdict
Regardless of where you drive it, the Taigun GT has ample performance and handling prowess to keep you grinning. Even when negotiating city traffic, it provides great comfort and convenience. Some buyers might feel the absence of a diesel powertrain, while others might wish for a more cushioned low-speed ride.
Overall, as a complete package, the Taigun GT is hard to beat, especially if you’re after a performance-focussed product in the segment. With it, Volkswagen has set a benchmark, exactly as they did with the Polo years ago. Need we say more?