Volkswagen Taigo review - MPG, CO2 and running costs
Solid real-world fuel economy, reasonable insurance costs and impressive residual values mean that the Taigo should be an efficient choice
You’ll pay a little more for the stylish Taigo than its more conventional T-Cross sibling, with entry models for each range separated by around £2,000. Both use the same frugal TSI petrol engines, with the 108bhp 1.0-litre (six-speed manual) unit being the most efficient in the lineup.
It manages a claimed WLTP maximum of 52.3mpg, which betters the 51.8mpg of the 94bhp 1.0-litre version, although both emit 123g/km of CO2. Pairing the 108bhp car with the DSG automatic transmission means fuel economy falls slightly to 48.3mpg with CO2 emissions of 133g/km.
No variant of the Taigo is particularly thirsty for fuel, and even the range-topping R-Line fitted with the 1.5-litre TSI engine and seven-speed DSG gearbox returns up to 48.5mpg on the WLTP combined cycle. Its CO2 emissions of 132g/km aren’t even the highest in the line-up.
Insurance
The entry 94bhp 1.0-litre Life model should be relatively cheap to insure because it occupies insurance group 13E (out of 50) — the letter E denotes that the Taigo exceeds the security requirements for this type of car, resulting in a lower insurance group. Upgrading to the 108bhp Life version sees a slight increase to group 14E, while combining this more powerful engine with the mid-range Style specification sees a further rise to group 16E.
Opting for the 148bhp 1.5-litre engine with either the R-Line or Style trim means you’ll pay the most for insurance, as these sit in groups 22E and 23E, respectively.
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Depreciation
Volkswagen cars tend to perform strongly across the used market, and the Taigo coupe-SUV is no exception. After a typical three-year/36,000-mile ownership period, our expert data suggests it should retain between 50.20 and 52.55 per cent of its original showroom value. In comparison, the VW T-Cross fares slightly worse, holding onto 47.02 to 53.55 per cent of its list price after the same three-year period and mileage.
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