volkswagen taigo

SUV, coupe, urban: three words that clash, but which Volkswagen has managed to mix in an industrial shaker in order to release a new model. Marketing professionals will do the rest of the job, explaining why Taigo is unmissable.

For once, it is Europe which benefits from the inventiveness and audacity of Mercosur, and not the countries of Central and South America which receive crudely designed bioethanol sedans with trunks. The Taigo is in fact the fruit of the imagination of the Brazilian subsidiary of Volkswagen, which had sensed an interest in this type of bodywork and launched this model more than a year ago under the name Nivus. A bit like a singer who practices his tour in the provinces before attacking the capital, it was after the success encountered in Brazil, combined with the sudden demand for bodies with a biased roof leak, that the German brand initiated the production (in Spain) of this refined and enriched version for the European market.

A more trendy Polo

More than a coupe SUV, the Taigo is above all an enhanced Polo. It uses the same MQB-A0 platform which is also that of the Audi A1, Seat Ibiza and Arona or Skoda Fabia. It shares its upper part with the Polo (windshield, side glazing, roof, but also its front and rear doors). Only the two ends are new, with a rear light signature specific to our region. This allows you to get something fresh on the cheap, and try to attract customers who are put off by standard multi-purpose products. 4,27 m long, or 20 cm more than the Polo, the Taigo also measures 16 cm longer than the T-Cross (for an identical ground clearance of 18 cm), and 4 cm more than the T- Rock.

A bit of a bastard positioning, especially since its wheelbase and habitability are lower than those of the latter. However, it retains an attractive trunk volume, with a promised carrying capacity of 438 liters. On the other hand, it is minimum service in terms of modularity: 60/40 folding bench seat, but not sliding like the T-Cross. As the Taigo is longer, this choice was not obvious. In terms of height, this new urban coupe SUV positions its roof only four centimeters above that of the Polo (1,50 m compared to 1,46 m), but seven centimeters lower than that of the T-Roc. It is therefore the first to not respect the established codes with unusual proportions, but as the demand seems to be there and it does not cost much to produce...

Volkswagen opulence

The German manufacturer names all its thermal SUVs with the initial T: Taigo, T-Cross, T-Roc, Tiguan, Touareg. In the Volkswagen group, we generally put them every ten centimeters and according to several roof heights, with body variants (Tiguan Allspace) and even a convertible. And what about Audi which is pushing the slider even further? The opposite of the extreme rationality of many competitors, like Stellantis which sticks to addressing the three main categories by means of SUV cousins. Following the announcement of its investment of 73 billion euros in five years in electricity (compared to 30 billion by 2025 for Stellantis), we can think that the German giant will also benefit from freedom of design offered by “zero emission” engines to offer even more silhouettes. To the point of losing your own customers in the twists and turns of your ranges? More than ever, and while digital takes precedence over humans in the customer journey, the job of dealership salesperson has never been so important.

A simplified range

Volkswagen does not bother with a diesel, a fuel that is disappearing on the French market, but which is still popular in Germany. Even in gasoline, he thinks short: three cylinders of 95 hp and 110 hp, or four cylinders of 150 hp, only with two-wheel drive. No hope of electrification, either: the platform could support a plug-in hybrid hitch, but that will not be the case on this model, which seems to want to remain simple and accessible. Two terms which do not go very well with Volkswagen. On the other hand, the DSG7 automatic gearbox will be available with all engines.

In the cabin, those who know the Polo will not be disoriented, because it is the same dashboard. And that's good news, because the quality is there. In terms of equipment, the Taigo cannot however accommodate equipment that has become commonplace, such as the electric parking brake. The fault lies with this generation of platform, developed in the mid-2010s and put into service in 2017. Volkswagen is trying to make up for it with eye-catching finishes (Style or R-Line), but also some high-value features. technological, such as advanced headlights (known as matrix headlights), adaptive cruise control with lane keeping assistance, or autonomous emergency braking. Of course, the digital component has not been forgotten, and everything comes from the recently restyled Polo: 8-inch instrument cluster at entry level, accompanied by a 6,5-inch central touch screen to control the system infotainment. From the Style level (3rd finish out of 4), the counters rise to a size of 10,25 inches, and the central screen reaches 9,2 inches. This is already more serious and competitive. As always with Volkswagen, levels 3 and 4 will be the best-selling.

When we examine what the Taigo really is, we realize that it brings absolutely nothing apart from a figure of speech at the heart of the well-stocked category of city vehicles, but trendy. A recipe that works, especially when we observe the insolent performance of these models in comparison to certain other brands on the French market. Orders for Taigo will open fairly quickly – prices should be revealed at the time of the Munich show – and the first deliveries will take place at the end of the year. The base price should be around 21 euros, reaching 000 euros for the best equipped version.