Used Volkswagen Taigo (Mk1, 2021-date) buyer’s guide: a charming T-Cross alternative
A full used buyer’s guide on the Volkswagen Taigo, which has been on sale in the UK since 2021
Verdict
The Volkswagen Taigo is pretty much everything that you’d expect of a VW, which for most people is a good thing. It’s generally well-made and easy to live with, plus it cuts a dash and comes with some impressive engines. Practical and well equipped, it may not be an especially high-profile model within VW’s range, but there’s a lot to like about the Taigo, even if it won’t set your pulse racing. Be thorough with your pre-purchase checks though, ensuring that everything works as it should and that the interior isn’t damaged, because as our Driver Power surveys show, some owners have found their VWs to be less bullet-proof than they were expecting.
It’s easy to be bewildered by Volkswagen’s extensive SUV line-up, which stretches from the T-Cross to the Touareg, with the T-Roc, Tiguan and Tayron along the way. There’s a lot to take in – no fewer than 10 models by the time you’ve included the electric options – but one of the lesser-known offerings is the Taigo, which VW added to its range four years ago.
Essentially a coupé version of the T-Cross, the Taigo is one of VW’s smallest SUVs – it’s the size of a Polo supermini – and thanks to the brand’s pragmatism it’s a very appealing small car. Stretched by 150mm over the T-Cross it’s derived from, the Taigo offers a roomy cabin and a spacious boot despite having a more rakish back end, plus in terms of affordability and availability it’s as accessible as you’d expect a small VW to be. So, is there a catch?
History
Volkswagen unveiled the Taigo in July 2021, then four months later it went on sale. There was a choice of Life, Style and R-Line trims, while buyers could pick between 1.0 TSI and 1.5 TSI petrol units; the former came with either 94bhp or 109bhp, while the latter had 148bhp. The 94bhp engine was offered only with a five-speed manual gearbox, the 109bhp unit was available with six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (DSG) transmissions, and the 1.5 TSI came in DSG form only; all were front-wheel drive with no four-wheel-drive option.
Used - available now
2026 Volkswagen
Taigo
20,645 milesManualPetrol1.0L
Cash £15,160
2026 Volkswagen
Taigo
38,927 milesManualPetrol1.0L
Cash £13,380
2026 Volkswagen
Taigo
31,882 milesManualPetrol1.0L
Cash £13,850
2024 Volkswagen
Taigo
10,027 milesAutomaticPetrol1.0L
Cash £17,790Since the Taigo’s arrival four years ago, there’s been no facelift, although we expect one to be announced imminently; we scooped an updated car being tested back in February 2025, so it can’t be far away from showrooms now.
Prices
There are lots of used Taigos for sale. Life and R-Line trims are equally popular, with Style by far the least common. You can buy a used Volkswagen Taigo for just over £11,000 through our Buy a Car service.
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On the road
The driving experience is the weakest part of the Taigo’s make-up, according to owners. However, compared with rivals, we reckon the VW stacks up pretty well because it feels light and agile, and delivers decent economy. The steering is pleasant enough and the suspension provides a well judged balance of ride and handling.
The manual gearbox is slick and the DSG alternative shifts cogs smoothly, although it can be slightly hesitant from a standing start. The Taigo doesn’t excite, but it’s accomplished enough for a supermini-sized SUV and handles safely and predictably.
Which one should I buy?
The entry-level 94bhp engine offers a reasonable level of performance, but we’d aim for the 109bhp 1.0 TSI, which was uprated to 114bhp after a couple of years. The 1.5 TSI is significantly more rapid and makes even lighter work of long-distance drives, but the high-powered 1.0-litre engine is fine. Life is the entry-level trim, but it’s still well equipped. The R-Line is the sportier-looking option but it has the same equipment as the Life; the range-topper is Style.
All Taigos come with LED lighting front and rear. Buy a Taigo Style and it’ll have matrix LED headlights, as well. Other standard kit on the Life and R-Line includes digital instruments, a 6.5-inch touchscreen, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, Park Assist and 16-inch alloy wheels. The Style has an eight-inch touchscreen, 17-inch wheels, ambient lighting and heated front seats, which also feature in the R-Line’s standard equipment, along with a choice of driving modes.
Alternatives to the Volkswagen Taigo
There are plenty of supermini-sized SUVs, although most don’t have a coupé-like profile. The closest rival is VW’s own T-Cross, which is much the same car. The toughest adversary is perhaps the Ford Puma, which is great to drive, well equipped, and plentiful.
You should also take a closer took at the Renault Captur, the Citroen C3 Aircross and its cousins, the Peugeot 2008 and Vauxhall Mokka. Other worthwhile buys include the Nissan Juke, Hyundai Bayon, Toyota C-HR, Renault Arkana, MG ZS and Mazda CX-30. Meanwhile, the SEAT Arona and Skoda Kamiq share much with the Taigo and T-Cross, so you may wish to shortlist those as well.
What to look for
In the black
The Taigo Black Edition arrived in July 2024. Sitting above the R-Line in the range and costing £500 more, it came with 18-inch alloy wheels, a bodykit, matrix LED headlights and heated front seats.
On the pull
Not many people buy cars this small to tow, but you can do just that with the Taigo. Buy one with the smaller engine and you’ll be restricted to 1,100kg, whereas cars with the 1.5 TSI will pull up to 1,200kg.
Screen test
VW has taken a lot of flack in recent years because of glitches with its infotainment systems. The Taigo can suffer from the screen freezing or being unresponsive; the latest software should fix this.
Fade to grey
The black plastic wheelarch and bumper trim can go grey after a while, and squeaks or rattles from the interior aren’t unknown, especially in low ambient temperatures.
Interior
It’s generally good news in here. The instruments are clear, and there’s ample space for four adults if those in the back aren’t unusually tall. Boot space is good at 440 litres and versatility is aided by a sliding back seat. But some of the cabin materials aren’t that great, while the lack of separate switches for the climate control is annoying.
Running costs
The Taigo was designed to be cheap to run, and you certainly shouldn’t be disappointed on this score. Although the 1.5 TSI editions are in insurance groups 22-24, 1.0 TSI models sit in groups 13-19. All Taigos cost £195 per year to tax, because none is liable for the expensive car tax supplement, and economy won’t wilt your wallet. The thirstiest Taigo is the 1.5 TSI DSG, which promises 46mpg, whereas anything with a 1.0 TSI engine can achieve around 50mpg on a run.
Maintenance costs are also pretty manageable. The service schedule is set at every 12 months or 10,000 miles, with an oil and filter change priced at £240; add a new pollen filter and it’s £285, while fresh brake fluid every two years costs £89 each time. All Taigo engines have a cambelt that needs to be replaced every 60,000 miles, at a cost of £799.
Recalls
There has been just the one recall for the Taigo so far. That came in June 2025 and affected just a handful of cars made between September 2022 and February 2025. These left the factory with potentially faulty passenger airbags, which could fail to deploy properly, risking injury.
A secondary problem was the gas generator housing disintegrating, leading to the car’s occupants being injured by flying debris. If you want to check whether or not a Taigo that you’re thinking of buying is subject to an outstanding recall, you can put its VIN into the VW consumer website and it will let you know if any work has been done or is due. The web page, at https://tinyurl.com/4yv3vyyj, will tell you about any models made by the brand within the past 15 years.
Driver Power owner satisfaction
Volkswagen doesn’t tend to excel in our surveys. In our last survey, in 2024, it came 29th out of 32 and in the 2025 Driver Power New Car survey there were three VWs in the top 50: Polo Mk6 (34th), T-Roc (38th) and Golf Mk8 (49th); the Tiguan Mk2 came 51st. The Taigo hasn’t appeared, but the T-Cross came 21st out of 75 in our 2023 survey. The safety features, dash, visibility and infotainment got the thumbs-up, but owners slated the driving experience, refinement and quality.
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