2021 Volkswagen Taigo SUV prices revealed

• Prices start at £21,960
• Comes with a choice of two petrol engines
• Sleeker shape than T-Cross

The new Volkswagen Taigo is now available to order in the UK with prices starting at £21,960. The new coupé-SUV is VW’s competition for the Ford Puma and also gives its own customers a slightly more stylish alternative to the T-Cross.

2021 Volkswagen Taigo: design

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Rather than the boxy SUV shape of the T-Cross, the Taigo has a curvier roofline and a 10mm reduction in height to give it a sportier profile. It gets LED headlights and a sportier front bumper, with a full-width LED light bar connecting the rear lights. Roof rails, silver trim inserts in the bumpers and black wheel arch cladding also feature.

Interior and practicality

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The interior of the Taigo is shared with the T-Cross and the facelifted Polo hatchback, with a virtually identical dashboard and centre console design. There’s a glossy touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard and all cars will get a digital dial cluster. Higher spec models get touch-sensitive controls for the ventilation system.

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The Taigo boasts a reasonable 440 litres of boot space, which is only a small compromise on the more practical T-Cross with 455 litres.

Trim levels, equipment and technology

Buyers will be able to spec a Taigo in four trim levels. The entry-level model gets an array of standard equipment including a digital dial cluster, a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, LED headlights and heated electrically adjustable door mirrors. Standard safety features include autonomous emergency braking with front assist and lane assist. Above this, the Life trim adds chrome exterior styling, 16-inch alloy wheels, different interior upholstery, and additional USB-C charging ports inside.

At the top of the range, the Style trim adds upgraded IQ.Light LED matrix headlights, 17-inch alloys, redesigned bumpers and front and rear parking sensors. The R-Line version sits alongside the Style model but adds a number of sporty features. It gets larger 18-inch alloys and a sporty body kit for a more aggressive look.

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Optional technology upgrades include a larger 10.25-inch digital dial cluster and an eight-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Both the R-Line and Style models can be specced with a 9.2-inch infotainment screen, which adds connected car features and services.

VW’s IQ.Drive Travel Assist driving assistant is available as an option. This setup can be used at speeds of up to 130mph and uses adaptive cruise control to maintain a safe distance from the car in front, while also keeping the car in the centre of the lane under supervision from the driver.

A variety of personalisation options include different interior trims, a contrasting coloured roof panel and a Black Style design pack. There’s also a Visual Green design pack, which includes an exclusive ‘Visual Green’ paint finish with matching interior trim and seat stitching.

Engines and performance

The Taigo shares its platform and petrol engine range with the Polo, T-Cross and T-Roc models. The entry point to the range is a turbocharged 1.0-litre TSI engine available in 94bhp or 108bhp power outputs. The former gets a five-speed manual gearbox as standard, while the latter gets a six-speed manual as standard or an optional seven-speed DSG automatic. A more powerful 148bhp 1.5-litre TSI petrol is also available.

As for fuel economy, the entry-level 1.0-litre petrol claims around 50mpg. Specifications with more powerful engines and larger wheels, such as the R-Line trim with the 1.5-litre TSI petrol, are claimed to manage around 45mpg.

What does it mean for car buyers?

Volkswagen’s SUV lineup might seem quite confusing already, so an additional model to consider doesn’t make things any clearer. But the Taigo is essentially just a sleeker, albeit slightly less practical, alternative to the T-Cross. The car was originally expected to cost less than its £22k price tag, so some competitive finance deals will be needed to keep monthly costs palatable.

Read our reviews of the Volkswagen T-Cross and Volkswagen T-Roc here.