Volkswagen Taigun

On this drive we had the GT Line variants, which will exclusively come with the 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with both manual and automatic transmission options. The other variants will get the 1.0-litre three cylinder petrol from the Polo and Vento, but in a higher state of tune.

The 1.5 TSI is as refined as you’d expect a Volkswagen engine to be. However the most impressive part of the engine is the way it delivers power. There is a good amount of torque at lower rpms to let you pick up effortlessly in traffic. And beyond 2000rpm, the turbo takes over and you are in GT territory. The acceleration is effortless and the power delivery is smooth all the way up to the redline. The engine doesn't sound all that good but the acceleration is what will keep you entertained. Shift close to the redline and you fall right back into the powerband to keep the momentum going. 

Speaking of gear changes, the manual shifts are slick however the clutch felt a bit springy and hard. The good part is that because there is good torque at low rpms, you don't have to shift often and city commutes can be tackled in 2nd or 3rd gears. 

If you want to skip the leg workout altogether then the automatic is the one to go for. And for most, if you can spend the extra money, this is the transmission to go for anyway. The 7-speed DSG is quick to shift, smooth and is very intuitive--be it cruising, commuting or in Sport mode getting the power down. It just does everything effortlessly and gives you exactly the gear you want, when you want it. You also have the option to override this logic with paddle shifters for more manual control. With this transmission, Volkswagen claims that the Taigun will reach 100kmph in 9.1 seconds, which is pretty quick. 

Now, if you are chasing 0-100kmph times, fuel efficiency will fall into the single digits. However, on the highway, the engine will deactivate 2 of its cylinders while cruising to save the precious fluid. Still, it is not going to be as efficient as a diesel.