How do Volkswagen’s T-Roc and Taigo compare?
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Volkswagen T-Roc v Volkswagen Taigo
Volkswagen has a broader range of vehicles than ever. Much of the German firm’s range is made up of crossovers and SUVs with the T-Roc and Taigo being two key members of both respective camps.
But if you’re looking at both cars, what do you need to know about them and how do they compare? Let’s take a look at what each vehicle has to offer.
Design
The VW T-Roc has proven to be one of Volkswagen’s most popular models over the years. It is placed between the smaller T-Cross and the larger Tiguan in the range, offering a little extra space than that more compact model but without the larger exterior dimensions of the bigger one. It’s got an upright, boxy shape which is quite ‘traditional’ while recent updates have brought in a more impactful-looking grille.
The VW Taigo, meanwhile, takes the traditional hatchback setup and adds some extra flair. It sits between the T-Cross and T-Roc in Volkswagen’s range, in fact, so takes elements of both to create what the firm calls a compact SUV. It’s got a coupe-inspired sloping roof, too, which brings some extra style to the whole car.
Interior
Since both cars sit within the same brand, it’ll come as no surprise that there are many similarities in both the T-Cross and Taigo’s cabins. Both have a user-friendly dashboard setup with easy-to-access buttons and a large central screen. You’ll find many good materials in both cars, too, though they’ve been designed to be robust so that they can handle daily life too.
Fortunately, both cars have a good amount of rear headroom, though if you’re taking taller passengers in the back more often then we’d lean towards the T-Roc as it offers slightly more space.
Boot space
The T-Roc has always majored in practicality and it’s this car’s square, easy-to-access boot that helps with that. In fact, there are 455 litres of boot space to play with when you’ve got the rear seats in place and you can lift that to 1,237 litres by folding down the rear chairs. Just remember that four-wheel-drive T-Roc models suffer a slight boot space penalty, dropping it to 392 litres.
When it comes to the Taigo, things are still more than respectable. At 440 litres, the boot is only slightly smaller than the one in the T-Roc and it’s a useful size given it’s a more compact car. However, the sloping roofline of the Taigo does mean that loading larger, bulkier items into the boot may be more of a struggle than with the T-Roc.
Engines
All of the engines available with the Taigo are focused on efficiency. The base, 1.0-litre petrol engine is peppy and clean-running while linked to either a five- or six-speed manual gearbox depending on the specification. If you’re after a little extra punch, then a range-topping 1.5-litre turbocharged engine - with an automatic DSG gearbox - is also available.
Switch to the T-Roc and it’s much the same story. You can get the same 1.0- and 1.5-litre petrol engines as the Taigo, though there are some 2.0-litre diesels to choose from which might be a better option for high-mileage drivers. At the top of the range sits the powerful T-Roc R, which uses a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine and four-wheel-drive to offer impressive performance for this size of car - though, naturally, efficiency does drop due to this.
Technology
Volkswagen has ramped up the technology in its cars of late and this is showcased in both the Volkswagen Taigo and Volkswagen T-Roc. Both cars get a large central infotainment screen and it’s here that you’ll access key functions such as navigation and media functions. You’ll find that most models include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, too, so pairing your phone should be easy.
A clever digital dial setup is in place on both models, too, providing an easy-to-read display which can be configured to show various other pieces of information, including simple navigation readouts.
