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The Volkswagen Taigun has been around since 2021 and in the last couple of years, it has established itself as the sporty choice in the mid-SUV segment. If you’re a keen driver, a Taigun is the one for you. The Taigun has now gotten a few updates for 2024. Now, Volkswagen has segregated the Taigun across three very specific trims — the Chrome, Sport and Edge. Each trim offers unique design personas catering to diverse customer preferences, ensuring visual differentiation and an appeal for every taste while giving the options of both 1.0 and 1.5 engines. The ‘GT Edge’ trim was revealed last year. It offers the ‘Edge Collection’, featuring matte and gloss colour options. The Sport Line branches out further to GT Line and GT Plus Sport and the Chrome Line continues with the Taigun as we know it.
I'm a huge fan of Volkswagen’s 1-litre TSI engine because of its split personality. The mill churns out 113bhp and 178Nm of peak torque and has a good Jekyll & Hyde personality. Following in the footsteps of its elder sibling, the 1.5-litre TSI engine, it doesn't lack in the Thrill of Driving department, despite delivering on the efficiency front. So to back its sporty creds, Volkswagen has now introduced the Taigun ‘GT Line’, as a part of the Sport Line trim, exclusively for the 1-litre engine.
On the outside, the Taigun GT Line is dressed with a whole host of black elements including a blacked-out grille that’s flanked by black LED headlights, outside rear view mirrors, roof rails, spoiler, matte black C- and B-pillars and dark chrome door handles. The SUV rides on 17-inch Cassino black alloys and gets black Taigun and TSI lettering on its boot lid. Not to forget the GT Line badge on the front doors.
On the inside, the black theme continues with a black dashboard trim, headliner, grab-handles, sun visor and roof lamp housing. All these black elements are nicely contrasted by grey stitching on the steering wheel, centre and door armrests and the fabric seats which have leatherette bolsters.
With the GT Line you also get the option to choose a six-speed manual transmission, if you don’t want to indulge in the chill of driving with the buttery smooth six-speed torque converter. The GT Line enhances accessibility to the coveted GT badge. It backs the excellent driving dynamics of the 1-litre mill and I think it's safe to say that Volkswagen has absolutely hit the nail on the head with it.
The hot-shot 1.5-litre Taigun GT also gets a more dynamic looking exterior and a blacked-out interior. In addition to all the blackened bits on the outside from the GT Line, it features red GT badges on the front grille, fender and boot lid. But unlike the GT Line, it gets gloss finishing, instead of matte, on the B- and C-pillars, and a ‘Carbon Steel’ roof, for an even stealthier look. On the inside, that smidge of red which accentuates the ambience, is continued by ‘GT’ badging on the seats, and red stitching on the four-spoke steering and armrests. In addition to this it also gets red ambient lighting and aluminium foot pedals that look absolutely ace.
Even three years down the line, the 1.5-litre engine which churns out 148bhp and 250Nm of peak torque in the Taigun remains the benchmark for performance in its class, and the GT Sport Plus trim offers it with either a manual or an auto ’box. The manual is the same five speed unit as the one on the GT Line but the gearbox is Volkswagen’s renowned seven-speed DSG that offers oh-so-snappy shifts. With the Sport Plus trim, the Taigun GT has definitely become a more attractive proposition for someone like me who appreciates de-chromed, sleeper cars.
Speaking of chrome, if you still like the Taigun the old school way, with an abundance of chrome slapped on its outside, worry not, the original Taigun continues with the ‘Taigun Chrome’ tag now. So as a result it offers both the 1-litre as well as the 1.5-litre TSI engine with manual and automatic transmission options.
The Taigun has been a roaring success for Volkswagen in India. It is the perfect mid-size SUV for you and your family. It rides well without compromising on the handling front, is loaded with kit and offers two potent engines. And with the introduction of these new trim levels now, you can spec your Taigun exactly as per your taste.
