VW Taigo R-Line 1.0 110PS (2021 - )

There was a time when sporty compact SUVs with coupe styling were few and far between, but these days they are the go-to models for active families who don’t want a bulky load lugger.

And the latest arrival is the VW Taigo which is 150mm longer than the entry-level SUV in the company’s line-up, the T-Cross, and slightly shorter and lower than the T-Roc.

There are generously-equipped trim levels called Life, Style and R-Line, and buyers can choose from a number of engine and gearbox configurations. There is a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine with 95PS or 110PS, along with a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder engine with 150PS. Models, depending on engine and trim, feature a five or six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed automatic transmission.

The Taigo is a coupe-styled compact SUV that’s easy on the eye with a crisp modern design, a full-width rear light bar, sloping roof and wheel arch mouldings.

Our model featured R-Line styled bumpers, tinted windows, plus a few options, including a panoramic sunroof, black contrast roof and mirror caps, IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights and upgraded 18-inch Misano alloys.

The interior is clutter-free with heated front seats as an optional extra. There are plenty of soft-touch surfaces, but unfortunately some rather nasty hard plastic areas that would be prone to scratching.

The sports seats are manually adjustable and an 8.0-inch infotainment system is the main focal point offering access to the navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, climate control, DAB radio. There is a flat-bottomed steering wheel and lots of R-Line badging.

The many on-board driver assistance systems can be controlled via this screen, so if the lane keep assist is not required, it can be de-activated. As a default setting, it will come back on each time the car is started. A smart 10.25-inch driver information screen behind the steering wheel displays all the vital driving data.

There are four USB-C charging ports to stay connected on the move.

We tested the Taigo R-Line powered by the 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. With 110PS and 200Nm of torque it could complete the 0-62mph dash in 10.4 seconds and maxed out at 119mph.

The front-wheel drive Taigo is a very easy car to drive. It offers good acceleration with ample power on tap to overtake slower moving vehicles. It is nicely balanced on twisting country lanes and can cruise on motorways at 70mph, although it does get slightly noisier inside the cabin.

The steering is well weighted although a little on the light side. This makes it ideal for town centre driving, but not so rewarding when faced with switchback lanes.

In the city, the Taigo is agile to manoeuvre with good all-round driver visibility, plus the advantage of a rear-view camera and park assist system to help squeeze into tight parking spaces.

There are drive modes called Eco, Normal, Sport and Individual that alter the reactions of the car. Comfort is the best for everyday driving and special mention to the highly efficient suspension set-up that smooths out bumps and dips along the way.

The VW Taigo stretches 4,266mm in length, 1,757mm wide (excluding mirrors) and 1,518mm high. Those dimensions mean there is ample room inside for an active family along with all their kit.

The sloping roof design does rather impact on rear head room but it is better than many rivals. Alternatively, a trio of youngsters could sit comfortably in the back. 

It’s easy for the driver to quickly find a comfortable driving position and the all-round visibility is excellent thanks to the slightly elevated position.

The boot is well sized with an adjustable floor for added convenience. With all seats in an upright position, it can hold 440 litres (measured to the parcel shelf). Drop the 60:40 split-folding rear seats and that capacity increases to a generous 1,222 litres. Handy bag hooks will help stop shopping bags from rolling around.

And there are plenty of storage options throughout the cabin, including a glovebox, compact central cubby, door bins with room for a bottle, trays, quite small front cup holders, a sunglasses compartment, seat back pockets, plus a compartment beneath the front seats.

There is good access to fit child seats with Isofix fixtures for the two outer rear seats.

The VW Taigo line-up starts from a very reasonable £21,960 for the entry-level Life model powered by the smaller 1.0-litre 95PS engine with a five-speed gearbox. At the other end of the scale is the Taigo R-Line driven by the 1.5-litre, 150PS engine with a seven-speed automatic gearbox. This costs £29,140.

Our test car was priced at £27,565, although it also featured numerous optional extras that saw the cost climb to £32,135. These included a Beats audio system with six speakers, rear-view camera, keyless access along with the superior matrix lights, sunroof, upgraded wheels and black roof design.

Our car could deliver a combined 51.4mpg with carbon emissions of 125g/km (under WLTP testing). This CO2 figure would result in a first year road tax bill of £190 dropping to the standard fee of £165 after 12 months.

The Taigo R-Line, as tested, sits in insurance group 15.

While there are certainly more dynamic coupe-styled SUVs out there to drive, the Taigo is a fabulous all-rounder that is very easy on the eye. It drives really well in all conditions, is generously equipped and offers impressive space for occupants, while keeping costs low at the same time. 

And with its maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating with scores of 94 per cent for adult occupants and 84 per cent for children, it is definitely worth exploring for anyone in the market for a stylish family car.