VW RISING

VW hopes its fun-to-drive mid-size SUV will woo buyers

- Rivan RS

It’s getting crowded in the midsize SUV space. There’s no doubt that Volkswagen India is throwing itself in the deep end by entering the fiercely competitive mid-size SUV segment. The Taigun needs to have a hook to draw in buyers, which Volkswagen has underlined with its promotional hashtag — #hustlemodeon. The Volkswagen Taigun is meant to offer something none of its competitors do — a genuinely fun-to-drive nature — and the German brands hopes that it’ll be enough.

However, the Skoda Kushaq offers a similar proposition, which isn’t surprising if one considers both SUVs share the heavily localised (and satisfyingly stiff) MQB-A0-IN platform, and the brace of torquey 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engines. So, is this an Attack of the Clones or A New Hope?

We begin with the Taigun’s powertrain. The force(d induction) is strong with the 148-bhp 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, which is available in the top-spec GT variant. It revs up smartly from any speed and there’s an even surge of torque all the way to the redline. VW claims 0-100 kph in 9.1 seconds and a top speed of 190 kph when this 1.5 TSI unit is paired with the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which isn’t really in doubt. This automatic is a shining example of a well-engineered dual-clutch unit and is not as clumsy or random as its rivals’; an elegant transmission for a more civilised age. Upshifts are seamless, aggressive downshifts take a moment’s hesitation, and paddle shifters just add to the excitement.