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In-depth reviews

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

MPG, CO2 and running costs rating

4.2

How we review cars
RRP
£24,550 £32,855
Avg. savings
£2,439 off RRP*
Pros
  • Stylish looks
  • Frugal petrol engines
  • Maintains decent passenger space
Cons
  • Some cheaper materials in cabin
  • Fiddly touchscreen controls
  • Low speed ride comfort
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​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.

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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. 

You can get personalised car insurance quotes fast with our comparison tool powered by Quotezone...

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.

To get an accurate valuation on a specific model check out our valuation tool…

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Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    1.0 TSI Life 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • RRP
    £24,550
Select car

Most Economical

  • Name
    1.0 TSI Life 5dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • RRP
    £24,550
Select car

Fastest

  • Name
    1.5 TSI 150 Black Edition 5dr DSG
  • Gearbox type
    Auto
  • RRP
    £32,855
Select car

Shane is responsible for looking after the day-to-day running of the Auto Express website and social media channels. Prior to joining Auto Express in 2021, he worked as a radio producer and presenter for outlets such as the BBC.

New & used car deals

Volkswagen Taigo

Volkswagen Taigo

RRP £24,550Avg. savings £2,439 off RRP*Used from £16,795
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Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,080Avg. savings £3,743 off RRP*Used from £25,098
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,155Avg. savings £2,019 off RRP*Used from £15,299
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,515Avg. savings £3,834 off RRP*Used from £10,200
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
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