Volkswagen Taigun GT 1.5 TSI Long Term Review: An SUV With A Punchy Engine
The Taigun GT with the 1.5 TSI makes it the SUV for the enthusiast and while the 1.0 TSI has enough performance, the 1.5 TSI has its own appeal.
The Polo GT was one of the first enthusiast hatchbacks and it remains a loved car but while the Polo isn't around anymore, the GT badge is. The Taigun GT with the 1.5 TSI makes it the SUV for the enthusiast and while the 1.0 TSI has enough performance, the 1.5 TSI has its own appeal. We drove the car for three months and it always made us smile with its engine. It really is about the engine and this four-cylinder 1.5 TSI comes with ample power and torque- 150 bhp and 250Nm. Coupled with a slick DSG automatic and it is fast enough to pass off as a proper driver's car.
However, our long-term report goes beyond that and the usual performance stuff. For starters, the Taigun is a subtle design but the GT badge and this colour made it stand out, even though quite a few Taigun's are seen in this shade. Then, there are the typical VW traits with the way the doors close to the toughness it exudes- it is all high quality and pure Volkswagen. Plus, the colour isn't as loud as you'd expect and we recommend this over the usual ones. Inside, the cabin is too subtle but everything works and appeals in a sober way. It is not as flashy or loud but everything has a purpose. You get the sense that the car is built to drive, rather than poke at the touchscreen. Speaking of which, the touchscreen itself is slick and feels nice to use along with not overburdening you.
In the Delhi heat, the AC works very well- one of the best from VW cars and even the seats are comfortable. During our 3 months with the car, the interior also held up well and there are no squeaky plastics. The inclusion of a sunroof, ventilated seats, and the usual goodies is nice too. We will add that the cooled seats do get a bit noisy. It is an SUV and that means, space is more than enough even though it is more of a four-seater with two passengers sitting comfortably at the back- fitting another one would be a squeeze. That said, you'll buy it for the driving experience.
The engine seals the deal and dominates the entire driving characteristics so much so that it is well worth the premium over the 1.0. It is smooth and tractable while low-speed stop-go traffic is very smooth with only the DSG automatic being slightly jerky. The whole car has an aggressive feel and that works but it is not uncomfortable or difficult to drive. The compact dimensions are a plus and the ground clearance makes it a VW for all roads or no roads as I found one day while scouting for a photo shoot location. The good amount of ground clearance can be a boon and it will do the usual SUV things.
Back to the driving experience and you have to say that the Taigun 1.5 TSI makes you drive it in an enthusiastic way. The ride is firm but not uncomfortable but the handling along with the crisp steering feedback is what separates it from others. You end up driving it like a Polo GT and not an SUV. The engine is refined but has a huge amount of power to impress while also being an eager powertrain in terms of driving it hard.
The 1.5 TSI comes with cylinder deactivation and when driving with a light throttle, you get the sign which tells you that this feature is on. Despite our heavy-footed driving and the engine size, the efficiency hovered around 10-12 kmpl- not bad at all! In fact, the 1.5 TSI is one of the most efficient engines of this size.
The Taigun GT is for the driver at heart and if you love driving then the GT 1.5 TSI is a no-brainer. The engine performance, handling, and the DSG (there is a manual too) make this easily the best driver's SUV. The GT 1.5 TSI is harder, stiffer, and costs more than the 1.0 TSI but our three-month test pretty much confirmed our belief that the 1.5 TSI GT is the best Taigun. At this price, you can get bigger SUVs or more gadgets but the GT is still the most fun SUV right now in its class.
What we like- Performance, looks, quality, efficiency, handling
What we do not- Stiff ride quality, rear seat space
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