Rakish new Volkswagen Taigo crossover, which shares a platform with the Polo and T-Cross, will go on sale for some right-hand drive markets this year but Australia is not one of them.
Volkswagen’s first European-market SUV-coupe is the Taigo, a rakish-roofed crossover that’s closely related to the Polo and the T-Cross.
The Taigo has been on sale for a year already as the Nivus in South America, and it arrives in the UK in right-hand drive looking mostly the same, save for a series of tweaks aimed at bringing it into line with the brand’s line-up here.
European-market models will be built at Pamplona in Spain, alongside its MQB-A0 platform-sharing siblings, but Volkswagen Australia says that there is no plan for the model to arrive here.
At 4266mm long, 1494mm tall and 1757mm wide, the Taigo is comparable in size to the big-selling Nissan Juke, while its 2566mm wheelbase almost exactly matches that of the Polo and T-Cross.
With a seats-up boot capacity of 438 litres, luggage space is barely diminished compared with the straighter-backed T-Cross.
The Taigo is positioned as a “trendy crossover” with a “powerful, sporty appearance”. Key differentiators over the T-Cross include a roofline that slopes down towards a subtle spoiler at the rear, a new look front end with standard-fit LED headlights, contrasting wheel-arch trim and an extended rear overhang.
Inside, the Taigo bears a strong resemblance to the T-Cross and recently updated Polo. Standard kit includes a multifunction steering wheel, a central touchscreen with Volkswagen’s latest ‘MIB3’ infotainment software and an all-digital gauge cluster.
Touch-sensitive climate controls – as fitted to the Golf, Tiguan and ID 3 – are an option, as is the IQ.Drive package, which brings a raft of driver aids, including predictive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance, in addition to those fitted as standard.
The Taigo is exclusively front-driven and petrol-powered. Two engines are available from launch: a turbocharged three-pot producing either 70kW or 81kW and a four-cylinder that makes 110kW.
Depending on the engine specified, the Taigo comes with a five-speed or six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (DSG).
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