Used Volkswagen Taigo 2022-present review

Not sure exactly what kind of car you're looking at? We don't blame you. The Volkswagen Taigo belongs to a rare (though increasingly popular) group: small coupé SUVs.

Essentially, think of it as a sleeker, more stylish Volkswagen T-Cross. The two are a similar size and they're both based on the popular Volkswagen Polo small car.

You'll find a few of the T-Cross and Polo's engines inside the Taigo, too, starting with a 94bhp 1.0-litre petrol unit. This is the Taigo's entry-level engine and it goes by the name 1.0 TSI 95. It performs adequately enough out on the road – you don't have to work it hard to get up to speed and it does an admirable job of keeping momentum on uphill stretches of road.

The extra power in the 108bhp petrol is welcome, though. Dubbed 1.0 TSI 110, its official 0-62mph time is 10.4sec – about a second quicker than the 95. The 110 is available with either a six-speed manual or an automatic gearbox. We'd stick with the manual, because the auto can be a bit slow to shift down when you need a sudden burst of power.

For even greater pace, the 1.5 TSI 150 is worth considering. With 148bhp, it has a 0-62mph sprint time of 8.3sec, so it's even more willing when you need a burst of speed.

When you need a burst of equipment, even Life – your starting point within the trim range – provides a good amount. It gets 16in alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, electrically heated wing mirrors and adaptive cruise control. It has a 8.0in digital gauge cluster.

Taking a step up to Style trim adds larger 17in alloy wheels into the mix, as well as clever LED matrix headlights, silver roof rails, sports seats and built-in sat nav. It has a 10.3in digital gauge cluster.

The range-topping trim, R-Line, does without the LED matrix headlights, but gets sportier exterior styling alongside Style trim’s other toys.

As for sportiness out on the road, the Taigo has little of it, especially when compared to the playful Ford Puma. Handling is predictable and secure, though, and the ride is well sorted, striking a good blend of comfort and body control. Grip is good, too, but the steering remains a little too light to give you much confidence.

When you climb inside the Taigo, you’ll find it easy to get comfy. All trim levels come with plenty of driver's seat adjustment, plus you can move the steering wheel up, down, in and out. The only small demerit is that, while all trim levels come with built-in lumbar support, you can’t have adjustable lumbar support – it wasn't even an optional extra from new.

The quality of the Taigo's interior is better than it might seem at first glance, with pleasantly soft materials on top of the dashboard and a satisfying leather steering wheel on all trims.

Sadly, you’ll find no end of scratchy hard plastics everywhere else below eye level and it could do with a bit more colour than the vast expanse of grey used.

In the front, the Taigo offers plenty of head room and seats that slide a good way back for lots of leg room, so even people measuring north of six feet won’t find themselves struggling for space. Typically, cars with coupé SUV styling suffer when it comes to rear head room. We’re happy to report that the Taigo isn’t one of those cars. In fact, even your tallest friends will be pleasantly surprised by the amount of head room on offer – there's only marginally less than in the front.

If you plan to regularly carry lots of luggage, you’ll be happy to know that the Taigo gives you 440 litres of space to play with. That's more than you’ll find in a Seat Arona or Toyota Yaris Cross.

If you're interested in finding a used Volkswagen Taigo or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.

A 1.0 TSI 95 in Life trim will set you back around £20,000, while the range-topping engine and trim combo (1.5 TSI 150 R-Line) goes for around £24,000. This is a reasonable saving on the price of a new one. Expect a 2022 model for this money, with 2023 cars rising by around £3000 respectively.

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MPG

The 1.0 TSI 95 and 1.0 TSI 110 each have an officially average 51.4mpg, while the 1.5 TSI 150 drops that figure to 48.7mpg.

Road tax

No Taigo exceeds a £40,000 list price when new, so don't worry about luxury car tax. You'll just need to pay the current flat fee of £180 per year.

Insurance and servicing

Insurance groups range from a modest 13 to 22. For two services of a 2022 Taigo, we were quoted £480 via Volkswagen. Other service plans are available.

Engine

The 1.0 TSI 110 grants you a small yet welcomed boost in performance over the 1.0 TSI 95. However, it doesn't come with a large negative impact on fuel economy or purchase prices.

Trim

The entry-level Life trim is already well equipped – we wouldn't jump at paying the premium for a higher trim level.

Our favourite Volkswagen Taigo: 1.0 TSI 110 Life

The Ford Puma is a previous What Car? Car of the Year award winner. It's great to drive and economical, too.

You might also want to look at the Taigo's boxier sibling, too, the Volkswagen T-Cross. It's perhaps not as stylish, but it's slightly more practical.

If that coupé-esque roofline is a must and you still want something relatively affordable and compact, then the Citroën C4 ticks those boxes. It offers a quiet and comfortable drive as well.

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If you're interested in finding a used Volkswagen Taigo or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at a great price.