Is Volkswagen’s latest Polo-based SUV good enough to put sporty in SUV? We dive into the details of the newly released Taigo R-Line to find out whether the subcompact crossover can help monopolise the market along with the T-Cross and T-Roc.
Not another boxy SUV with the Taigo R-Line
The silhouette of the Volkswagen newcomer is significantly different to anything the brand has had on offer in their SUV range since the Touareg burst onto the scene in the early 2000s. That is because the Wolfsburg manufacturer has taken a page out of their premium Audi division book and decided to dabble with a swooping roofline in what has become known as a coupe-SUV or coupe crossover.
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Related: ROAD TEST: Volkswagen Taigo R-Line
Using the Volkswagen Group MQB A0 platform as a foundation, one that also underpins the current generation of Polo, T-Cross and T-Roc, many similarities can be found between the quartet of models. The Taigo not only has a familiar interior to the Polo, but its doors, windscreen, roof stamping and suspension setup have been borrowed directly from its low slung counterpart.
Familiar interior to the Polo
Therefore, the interior layout as well as all of the technology included in the model will be familiar to existing Volkswagen users which is reassuring since the Taigo has been strategically placed in their product portfolio as an upgrade to entry level models like the Polo.
What this means in terms of its interior details is that the Taigo boasts an active info display and in the case with the test vehicle, a Discover Media option which includes wireless screen integration, induction charging and voice command controls. In addition to this, the standard sound system has been replaced with a 6 speaker beatsAudio setup although this requires a space saver spare wheel in the bottom cavity of the boot to accommodate additional audio equipment.
On the outside, the Taigo measures in at 4 600 mm long, 1 700 mm wide and 1 490 mm tall which makes it longer than the T-Cross by 365 mm but slightly narrower by a margin of 82 mm. Despite the stretched dimensions to its boxier alternative, the Taigo comes with only 440 litres of boot volume, 15 litres less than the T-Cross. That is the compromise for a swooping roofline and sleeker aesthetics. Along with Isofix anchorage, The Taigo R-Line also comes with 60:40 split rear seats which can further lend itself to its intended versatile utility while the front R branded fabric seats provide good support and visibility with three way adjustment on offer.
Other niceties
From the 8 exterior colours to choose from including choices for solid, metallic or pearlescent finishes, ours was finished in Reef Blue Metallic with the tilt and slide panoramic sunroof atop. The rest of the exterior for the Taigo R-Line can be differentiated from other models since the sporty spec includes revised bumpers and an R-Line bodykit. The superlative IQ.Light option can also be fitted, which offers adaptive lighting for the road ahead while the foglights use LED bulbs.
As standard, the Taigo R-Line comes with 17-inch Valencia wheels but this example had the optional 18-inch Misano alloys sitting on each corner finished in the Black Styling Package. This also means the exterior mirror housings are finished in gloss black while the rear side windows and rear window receive 65% light-absorbing privacy glass.
The Taigo R-Line is tech filled with driver assistants which propel the 85 kW 1,0-litre three pot along. On the road safety features include lane assist, forward collision warning including autonomous emergency braking system and adaptive cruise control. The Comfort package which was specified on the Reef Blue Metallic press unit also includes a rear view camera, keyless entry and park assist.
Pricing verdict
The base specification Taigo, which comes in at R429 900 is quite a bit more expensive than the comparable T-Cross which would set buyers back R373 300 although better-equipped levels of trim are where the Taigo becomes a competitive option.
With all of the additional extras, the end product which started out with an asking price of R486 000 now demands an outlay of R571 500 which would make the model more affordable in comparison to its award-winning T-Cross R-Line counterpart.
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