Volkswagen has also announced a price hike of up to 2% across its product range effective April 1, 2023.

Volkswagen has updated the Taigun and Virtus with RDE-compliant engines. Both cars also get new features.

Volkswagen now offers Auto Headlights and Auto Coming Home and Leaving Home lights on the 1.0L Highline and 1.5L GT variants of the Taigun, while the Virtus gets rear fog lamps as standard across all variants.

The Taigun and Virtus are powered by a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine that makes 113 BHP and 178 Nm as well as a 1.5-litre TSI motor that put out 148 BHP and 250 Nm. Transmission options include a 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic and 7-speed DSG.

Volkswagen has also announced a price hike of up to 2% across its product range effective April 1, 2023.

Got a software update for A/C, felt no difference as such and wasn’t facing any issues with cooling prior to the update as well.

BHPian Atharva14 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

11 months & 13.5k kms update:

So far the drive has been really great, of course ignoring the auto up-down window issue. Got a software update for A/C, felt no difference as such and wasn’t facing any issues with cooling prior to the update as well. Got a few cosmetic changes, gloss black ORVM caps for 1500/- from VW ASC. Didn’t like the empty void on the fender of 1.0 cars, tried sourcing non-GT fender badges but had no success hence went with the GT fender badge from ASC as well:

Changed the boot light from halogen to LEDs, easy swap, DIY. Bulb sourced from Durvient.com Specs- T10 W5W 5watt:

Reverse light bulbs were also swapped with LED, completing an all-LED setup for me as I already have led turn indicators. Looks amazing. Spec for reverse Bulb- P21W(BA15S). Also sourced from durvient.com:

Left side halogen, right side LED:

Got some VCDS tweaks done as well from Parth(IG-@vasretrofits).

Litres to fuel, DRLs blinking with indicators, rear light bar blinking with indicators, tyre angle in the virtual cockpit, AC control on the infotainment screen.

That's it for now, servicing due next month and 15K kms.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Earlier, ventilated front seats were offered on the Topline trim powered by the 1.0L turbo-petrol engine.

Volkswagen is now offering ventilated front seats on the Taigun. This feature is available on the top-spec 'GT Plus' trim for a premium of Rs 25,000.

Besides ventilated seats, the Taigun GT Plus variant also comes equipped with a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a digital instrument cluster, wireless charging and an electric sunroof.

The top-spec Taigun is powered by a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine that comes with idle start/stop tech. It develops 148 BHP and 250 Nm and is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Earlier, ventilated front seats were offered on the Topline trim. That being said, it is an optional feature on the top-spec GT Plus variant.

The Taigun didn't even feel like it had been in an accident still handled just as well aside from the increased wind noise and also a minor heaviness on the steering.

BHPian al90 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

No matter how safely you drive on our roads, you cant control your fate or others on the road.

The trip:

We had planned for a trip back to my hometown in Trivandrum from Chennai via Velankanni on the 14/01 (reach Velankanni) & travel down to Trivandrum from there on 15/01. We had started off around 9 am in the morning, we usually start even earlier as am not a big fan of driving at night, I prefer to drive as long as there is traffic and people on the roads so we call it a day by 10pm, before the truckers are on the roads

The accident:

So on 14th at around 8.20pm we were nearing a place called Thirukadaiyur about an hour from Velankanni and we were doing 70-80 kms as it was already night and low lighting on the roads plus this was a narrow section of the ECR.

We were about 5kms from Thirukadaiyur when disaster struck, A man on a Bajaj discover coming on the opposite side decided to turn into our lane and right into our car just as we reached the other side of the road. This is the part where am glad I chose the Taigun over the many other options that I had, we didn't feel any vibration or backlash from the hit, the man was riding at a considerable speed as well I assume, all we heard was the sound of the hit and the right hand mirror breaking off, along with the sudden bight light from the headlamps of the bike right in my face from the right and nothing else, my son who was sleeping didn't even wake up. We pulled over to the side and luckily the only other vehicles on the road were a guy on a bike behind the guy who ran into us and a few locals in an Innova behind us ( we were lucky that they didn't cash into us or the motorist).

People started to gather and I got out to check on the guy after moving the vehicle to the side of the road, called 109 and by then the locals in the Innova behind corroborated my version with the other locals that I was not at fault. Its worrisome when a crowd gathers even if you are not at fault. The ambulance took a good 30 mins to reach and a few locals suggested to take him to the hospital in my vehicle. I agreed but a few were against it since we didn't know the extend of his injuries other than the bruises we could see. We checked the man, he was breathing and then we got the root cause, the man was drunk to the brim, we could smell the alcohol in his breath.

Finally after 30 mins the ambulance and the cops arrived. If that man had some serious injury he would have died by the time it took them to get there. The cops took the statement from the people in the Innova and the locals and told us to take the car and the family to a nearby town and to drop the family and return the vehicle to the police station. The Taigun was still running, no error on the dash except for when I turned right because of the broken fog lamp and the right hand mirror. (this made me really happy with my decision).

The locals were extremely helpful in getting us a place to stay, because it was Pongal the next day hotels were not taking in guests as people were taking rooms to get drunk, atleast that's what we were told. After going in and out of 3 hotels with 2 locals they finally made some calls and got us a room.

The next day:

Now begin my rounds of the police station. Called the cop who was at the scene, he said that they haven't been able to find the guy and did not get any information on which hospital he's been taken to. By around 11 am I went back to the station post which they took the number of the bike from me and made a few calls to trace the guy's whereabouts. Now came the talks of how much it would cost to get my car, have the FIR filed, compensation for that guy. I was lucky to have people help me who made a few calls and finally the cops told me that they couldn't file an FIR without knowing the condition of the guy and told me it would take about 5 days since it was a long holiday because of Pongal.

Now the cops suggested taking the blame as then it would be an open and shut case for them else they will have to treat it as a drunk drive case on that guy and it might take about 1.5 -2 years to be closed with me having to go down to Thirukadyaiur every time they summon me, and the injured guy might get some compensation. Nothing for me as the guy riding didn't have a helmet, no license and neither insurance or any other documents on him. Iprotested, but later agreed as this was the best option as suggest by a lawyer friend and this is the norm.

The aftermath:

We didn't return to Chennai, we went ahead to Velankanni as the misses suggested. We were originally heading there to offer prayers for my deceased father. We returned back to Chennai via cab on 16/01 and waited for the call from the cops.

Finally got the call and went back to pick up the car on 19/01 with a friend. There were some minor hiccups but finished at the police station with the FIR took the car to the ME at the RTO and then we drove it back to Chennai.

The Taigun didn't even feel like it had been in an accident still handled just as well aside from the increased wind noise and also a minor heaviness on the steering, which am not sure was with the car or something physcological.

Drove it to Chennai and gave it to the Volkswagen service center on 20/01.

The service centre:

They took the car and told me an estimate of 1.3 -1.4 lakhs. I had already initiated a claim with the insurance. They made me fill out a claim form and also a satisfaction letter, the latter which I wasn't very happy to sign without seeing the work done, but on the service centers insistence, I signed as they told me else I have to pay from my pockets and claim from the insurance. For some reason they kept insisting on polishing the car which didn't fall under the insurance. I told them that the car was anyways due for its second service so polishing can be done post that if required.

Tata AIG insurance has been hassle free up until now, will keep you updated on the details as things progress, I have comprehensive insurance with addons for consumables and hotel stay and transport and also with engine protect.

So what's giving me restlessness is that the body shop manager told me that it would cost 1.3-1.4 lakhs and I will have to shell out 3-4K from my pocket. They gave an estimate of 80K to the insurance and yesterday 31/01 they called me and told me it will be 1.5 lakhs and I will have to shell out 20K from my pocket.

Again insisting on polishing, I told them today 01/02 morning to hold off the polishing until after the 2nd service is done, first repair the car and let me inspect it.

I will keep you all posted on things as and when they progress, attached are the pics, I really pray I get her back the same way as she was before the accident.

Both, the Kushaq and Taigun are hands down best in performance, dynamics and safety in this segment. Looks are subjective, and features is the only area where they are slightly behind.

BHPian shashank511 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Last month I purchased a Wild Cherry Red Taigun GT+ MY23. I wanted to upgrade from my Baleno to the compact SUV segment (not sub 4-meter) and my final shortlist was the Kushaq, Taigun, and Seltos.

Many folks out there always have this question Taigun or Kushaq. I hope this post will help them take a decision.

Let's start:

My priorities - Good looks, great to drive, both engine and dynamics wise, space, practicality and decent feature list. Above all, safety.

There are more models available in this segment including the Grand Vitara, Hyryder, Creta and Astor.

First, let's talk about how I eliminated them one by one.

Didn't even bother about MG. MG belongs to the SAIC group which is a Chinese state owned company, and I know we will always have some dependency on them when it comes to commodities, I don't want to relate with them on such a large scale. Have even stopped using Chinese phones or any other major devices.

P.S: I am not judging anyone who buys Chinese products, everyone has their own personal preference.

Next, Grand Vitara or Hyryder. Anyone who is looking for these can easily take a decision based on the brand they trust and the look of both. These two differ very slightly only in front looks, and rest is exactly same. From engine tuning, to suspension, to interior, etc. I went to Nexa once, just to check the Vitara, and it surely is a good looker with plenty of features. But I was never interested in either of them, purely based on two reasons:

• Hybrid, I am not currently much confident in, besides it eats into boot space. And the 1.5NA mild hybrid is a very dull engine for a car this big. I have even heard in many reviews  that hybrid is good till around 80, but slows down when achieving expressway speeds.
• Rear space, leg room wise I felt it was slightly small, even though it was not a deal breaker. I am a tall guy.

Now, lets come to the Seltos and Creta. These two share a similar platform, but come with biggest differences when it comes to sibling rivalry. For me, the Creta was instantly eliminated, because personally, I don't like its looks. Even though its interior is really good, and is feature packed. The Seltos, for me is a good looker, is feature loaded and good to drive. Some prefer the Creta in terms of features, but I think Seltos has more useful features, four sands apart when compared to the Creta - 360 camera, lane watch camera, HUD, and telescopic steering. I can easily trade panoramic sunroof and electronic parking brake for those.

The Seltos 1.4 Turbo is a good engine. DCT gearbox is fast, ride is stiff, handling is good, steering ok. Stiff suspension does give it decent body control, but ride I felt was very harsh among all the ones which I took a test drive of. The Creta on the other hand has slightly softer suspension, making a bit more prone to body roll, but much better ride. Also the Seltos is a good looker, but its very common on road these days and doesn't stand apart. I know it would have had a great after sales experience, but for me the real kicker was safety. Everyone knows Koreans have heavily compromised on structural safety against their international counterpart, and hence an average 3 star GNCAP rating.

Now comes in the Kushaq and Tthe aigun. Lets talk about the experience one by one:

• Design - I like design of both cars, they look more crossover than SUV, but for me its not a bad thing. I prefer the rear of Taigun in comparison to the Kushaq though.
• Engine - I test drove the 1.5L with DSG. Both excellent, best in the segment. Fell in love with it. Upgrading from Baleno, it was a huge difference for me. I also drive my father's Verna 1.6 petrol(121hp) a lot, and even compared to that it was a huge step-up.
• Ride and Handling - Very good. Its obviously not sedan like, but is really good for a crossover/SUV. Suspension is bit stiff. Low speed ride feels a bit harsh, but high speed stability is good, and occupant movement on undulations is very well contained. The car also doesn't bounce much, I think the suspension rebound is very nice. I felt the Kushaq had slightly plusher ride. Not a huge difference though.
• Features - Both have good amount of features but competition is slightly ahead. It was not a deal breaker for me, but I would have loved powered seats, 360 camera or at-least front parking sensors, and adaptive cruise control. ADAS in India is currently not a priority for me.
• Safety - No debate, 5 stars for both adult and child. Shows how far they have gone in ensuring structural safety of the vehicle. Was one of the prime deciding factors for me.
• Practicality - Space all around is very good, except the rear middle seat. Its best for kids below 14 years of age. Legroom is very good, front and back, and the boot space though not class leading, the way its designed can take in lots of luggage. Don't go by numbers here.

Both, the Kushaq and Taigun are hands down best in performance, dynamics and safety in this segment. Looks are subjective, and features is the only area where they are slightly behind. Its not a deal breaker, as they come with plenty of good and useful features like wireless Android Auto and Apple Car Play, auto start/stop, ventilated seats, sunroof, cylinder deactivation, etc.

Now finally the reasons why I chose the Taigun. In terms of driving experience, I felt the Taigun gearbox was bit smoother and quick, and the Kushaq's ride was slightly more plusher. The difference was not day and night, and both are felt only when driven one after another. But this was not the obvious reason I went with the Taigun. There were three main reasons why I selected it over Kushaq:

I loved the tail light and the front headlight design. Even though the second barrel is a dummy, overall it looks good, and comes with LED turn indicators in comparison to the Kushaq which has a halogen one. Also the interior color of the Taigun including seat color is I found more appealing. The Kushaq has a dull grey color on seats which I found a bit depressing.

Exclusivity. You can't tell the Kushaq 1L and 1.5L apart. They don't have any difference in and out. I don't think its a bad thing to do a little bit of show off if you are spending more money on a bigger engine. The Taigun has GT branding all around, and even the infotainment system displays it while booting up. The Kushaq's Monte Carlo edition does have some exclusivity, but its very pricey for just a bit of cosmetic upgrades.

More consistency with the feature set. The Kushaq 1.5 Style comes with digital instrument cluster, but it is compromised on the infotainment system which is an older 8-inch one and even lacks wireless Android Auto and Car Play. The 1.5 Style Anniversary Edition does have a 10-inch screen, but has the analogue instrument cluster. And though the Monte Carlo has both, again, the pricing for me was not justified. The Taigun doesn't have this problem. It comes with both 10 inch screen and a digital instrument cluster. And MY23 is now coming with ventilated seats and rear fog lamp as well.

So there you go. These were the three main reasons why I eventually went ahead with the Taigun. That aside, these both are similar in almost all aspect sand are excellent cars overall.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I filled a form on the VW website for 1st paid service. Surprisingly, nobody called even after 1 week.

BHPian captain planet recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hello BHPians!

Last year, I purchased my VW Taigun after reading through the forums for a long time. Thanks to all of you.

Since, I'm one of the early buyers of the vehicle and a part of TAIGUN SQUAD (prebooked before price reveal) I think I can be of some use to other members in the forum.

Here's the 1st service experience of my Taigun as it completed its 1st year at the start of October:

About the vehicle:

VW Taigun Highline AT purchased for Rs. 16,70,000 (14,10,000) from VW Indore with RTO regitstration and insurance.

Appointment:

Indore has only one VW dealer & that is also the authorized service center.

Of all people that I knew from purchase of my vehicle from VW Indore either left the firm or changed their number. And my home is 70 km from the dealership. So, I filled a form on the VW website for 1st paid service.

Surprisingly, nobody called even after 1 week. So, I decided to pay a visit to the dealership on Saturday. Service advisors declined to service the vehicle asking to come after 3-4 days even after I told them about raising a service request.

But somehow, the guy who actually does the servicing heard me saying to my friend outside (mail likh dete hain VW ko, Team BHP pe bhi mention krdenge) & saw Advocate badge on the vehicle. He convinced service advisors to book appointment next day "Sunday". I managed to stay at somebody's house that night.

Service:

• Next day I went to the dealer at 10 a.m. & asked the guy:
• To do periodic 1 year service.
• My fender got loose so asked them to tighten it.
• Rear seat belts were not buckling up because of the seat covers installed by dealer earlier. (leather top line ones).
• Horn upgrade.
• Creaking noise from center console (around gear knob silver part).
• Loose lower window rubber beading & chrome garnish for the same.
• Window one-touch up-down not working.
• Install dashcam.
• Tyre inflator with auto cut.
• 3m Anti rodent coating.

Out of these, they:

• Did the periodic service. Parts used were: pollen filter, cleaner, lubricant spray, engine oil, oil filter, screw, air filter, another cleaner, antifriction tape.
• Fixed loose fender, but put a small dent (sad).
• Didn't pull out the rear seat belt buckles citing accessory guy is not available. very bad.
• Horn upgrade - declined (due to warranty).
• Didn't fix center console creaking & applied saint gobain tape instead (doors were already fine from day 1).
• Once again, they lubricated the window rubber and didn't replace the window winding motor saying part needs to be ordered. (did the same on 6 month service).
• No info for the dashcam & tyre inflator - accessories guy was not there and others didn't bother to provide information.
• Updated software (AC was already fine but is now super chilling).
• 3M Anti rodent coating - 3m guy present at the delaership did coating only on engine top. All wires at the bottom were left, wheel arches were left, didn't even bother to lift the vehicle to cover underbody wires. I realized I have been looted later after reading the 3m rat attack thread. Very very poor.
• Car wash - nicely done specially interiors.

My experience:

I didn't ask (what & why) about any inclusions/exclusions in the sheet as I wanted to see what they do by themselves for the first paid service. Total bill for the 1st service was Rs. 3681 only with labour charges waived which was very nice! Surprisingly they used VW's LONGLIFE IV FE 0W-20 engine oil for my Taigun.

But what I found weird and unexpected was 3M Anti rodent coating's charge of Rs. 1984.

I didn't see the details at that time as the total sum Rs. 5,666/- looked to me in the expected range & I was happy I didn't have to go back empty handed.

But later realized that 3M guy at the dealership didn't even cover wheel arches and bottom wires. So, I bought a spray myself later (Rs.531 - Amazon) and did it. Another bad thing I experienced is part availability for window winding motor - it has been almost an year and my window does not work. Yesterday I called them to place the order already so that next time part is already available but they told me, we can't order the part without your vehicle present here. So, they are asking me to visit again just to place an order and later visit again to actually install the new motor. Disappointing!

Overall I found behaviour of the staff very ignorant because they are the only option we people have here.

Here's a picture of the squirrel attack on battery cover after which I ordered 3m spray:

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Love the ease of driving an AT and the above-average ride quality. This car is a pleasure to drive on the highways and really saves the left knee in Bengaluru traffic.

BHPian drive.helios recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Allow me to introduce myself and share a review of my beloved "Helios", our VW Taigun 1.0 Topline AT. For most of my life, I was a bike guy, even though I had my driver's license for nearly a decade. But then, the pandemic struck and I found myself back in my hometown of Kannur, Kerala, after spending the last 12 years in Bengaluru. As I began to venture out in my trusty Tiago, I started with short trips and gradually worked up to 200+ km drives. This was partly because my usual ride, Jasper, a 2014 Royal Enfield Classic 350, was stranded in Bengaluru and I had to get it shipped and repaired (a story for another time).

I spend my daytime as Product Owner for a Petro-chemical Major's IT wing and nights as a wannabe poet. I enjoy good food - some of our future trips will thus be food tasting I wish, literature and talking, apart from biking and being on the road. A couple of accidents (was hit by a bike that did not have the headlight on while crossing the road at night, another time an Uber car jumped the signal at a 4-way crossroad and T'd me and Jasper all the while the traffic cop has stopped the traffic from that end and it was a Go for me) and covid had slowed me down. I'm a newbie car owner/driver, and hardly have got my hands dirty, I trust the service centers / FNGs to get this done, but I compensate for the lack of such expertise by being a super careful and sedate driver on road. Often, I'm the last driver to pass through a congested road or in traffic.

Fast forward to 2022, when I asked my best friend to marry me - out of nowhere, our lives changed! We were set to tie the knot in September, which meant it was time for me to return to Bengaluru. Until then, I had been on the fence about getting a new car, opting instead for the convenience of ride-sharing services like Ola and Uber. But after several frustrating experiences trying to book a cab, combined with the exorbitant wait times and prices, I knew it was time for a change. My then fiancé, now partner ("D") and I love going out and taking midnight drives, and as the biker in me evolved to prioritize safety on long trips with a partner, we decided it was time to upgrade. We would end up gifting ourselves a wild cherry red Taigun 1.0 AT in August 2022.

The selection process, but first the demands in no order:

• SUV preferred for visibility and driving comfort.
• Automatic transmission.
• Petrol engine with acceptable mileage.
• Reverse assist with camera preferred.
• 360-degree cameras optional.
• Budget range of 12-16L, but also flexible to go up, with intention to keep car for at least 7-8 years.
• Emphasis on safety, as car will be driven frequently.
• Decent boot space.
• Delivery before Sept 2022.

Our usage pattern:

The cars at our respective homes are only used for short city drive and occasional visit to relatives, hospitals and mostly cover 5-8K kms a year. With the new car, we do not foresee a lot of city drive but quite a lot of outstation drives. in the Last few months we have perhaps driven around 500kms in Bengaluru city and the remaining 6K kms are all outstation trips. we are anticipating a monthly usage of 1000-2000 kms, with a few vacation / road trip plans already in the pipeline. The car remains parked during the week days unless we decide to take a late/mid night drive. We do not drive for work.

Cars, TD experiences and why we chose a Taigun:

Tata Nexon: I had initially considered the Nexon as my first choice for a new car. I had a positive experience with the Tata Tiago and believed the Nexon would offer similar value for money and good build quality. However, my experience with Tata service centers (TASS) had been hit and miss in the past. Despite this, I had built connections with the local dealership and service center and knew the issues would be resolved. I also knew a few local mechanics / FNGs who could fix any problems with the car. The Nexon also has an AMT transmission, which my friend had recently purchased and seemed to enjoy. In addition, the Nexon had received positive safety ratings and I felt confident in its build quality. Despite not having test driven the Nexon, I almost convinced my partner to book one.

Other cars: My brother, who is a better driver and knowledgeable about cars, convinced me to test drive other vehicles in the SUV segment to get a feel for them on the road. This ended up being a great decision as it helped me make an informed choice.

Tata Altroz: The salesperson recommended we try the Altroz, specifically in the MT guise. While I liked the car, I ultimately decided not to purchase it due to issues with visibility and confidence in the seating position.

Tata Harrier: I did not initially consider the Harrier, but after test driving it, I was impressed by the 2.0 diesel engine and the car's strong road presence. Discarded as it’s a huge car, also a diesel one.

Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos: I test drove the Creta 1.4 DCT and while I liked the features it offered, I ultimately discarded it due to safety concerns and a long waiting period (5-6 months). The Seltos dealer gave us the GT top variant for a test drive and I was impressed by the features it offered. It was also a better car than the Creta under similar considerations. However, I had concerns about the maintenance of the DCT gearbox in the long run, along with their safety ratings. I had by then spent enough time in the TBHP forum consuming content. Two weeks after declining the Hyundai Creta, the SA called back to say that a Knight edition was readily available. I declined the offer and he then made an unusual request to book the car regardless and cancel it later, as he had not met his quota. While I felt sorry for him, it was not a wise decision for us and I politely declined. Another reason to discard the creta was the frequent face-lifts and we were told that seltos is due for a face-lift in 2023 as well.

Kia Sonet: I did not test drive the Sonet due to safety concerns.

Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq: I was blown away by the 1.5 DSG Taigun, but it was beyond our budget. We test drove the 1.0 AT Taigun as well and were impressed by its refinement. Driving these two cars also meant we no longer liked the AMT transmission and head nod associated with them. The car was also smaller in size compared to the Creta and Seltos, which we liked. We ultimately decided on the Taigun due to its shorter waiting period (2 months) and other options discussed in the pros and cons below. We also considered the Skoda Kushaq, which had a similar experience to the Taigun but with a more subtle, less chrome design that we preferred. However, we ultimately decided against it due to a lack of service centers in my hometown and the need to drive 100+ km to get it serviced.

MG Astor - never got the test drive scheduled.

Maruti S-Cross - Did not do a TD as the SA confirmed the end of life for this model.

Maruti Baleno - The new model ditched the CVT for an AMT, hence did not do a TD. It did fit a lot to the requirements otherwise. 360-degree camera, improved design language and perhaps the only car that has factory fitted tinted glass other than the XL6/Ertiga.

Cars not considered:

• MG Hector: a huge car for a first time - full time owner.
• Mahindra XUV700 - long waiting period and budget issues
• Jeep Compass - beyond our budget.
• Mahindra XUV300 - after Nexon's AMT experience, decided against AMT.
• Mahindra Thar - not practical for us, but in the Wishlist for a future car.
• Maruti XL6/Ertiga - did not consider as they were a tad bit bigger in size.

EVs weren't considered at all given both our home runs are over 350kms one way.

Shortlisted car: Taigun or wait for 5/6 months to get Seltos and borrow our family car until then

The deciding call:

Since my brother and I had been the ones test driving the cars, D and I decided to take a second test drive together to ensure she was also comfortable with the car we chose. We were unsure between the Kia Seltos and the Volkswagen Taigun AT, but ultimately chose the Taigun. There were both emotional and logical reasons for this decision. On an emotional level, the car felt good to drive and instilled confidence in me as a less experienced driver. We were also confident in its safety ratings. The dealership and salesperson's attitude were also important factors in our decision. The salesperson, Ashish, was patient and listened to our demands and concerns, and even brought the car to D's home for a test drive after reports of AC issues emerged. Overall, the way we were treated at the PPS Richmond Road showroom and Ashish's positive attitude sealed the deal for us.

The logical reasons though defied our initial budget and we ended up paying upward to 20+L for "Helios", are listed towards the end.

The booking & delivery experience:

We walked in to the showroom on a day that seemed relaxed for them. We were greated by the gentleman who also became our SA and handled all the affairs from our initial visit to multiple TDs to delivery. We stated that we were looking for. The SA made a suggestion to select the 1.0 AT and not the DSG version after listening to our requirement and driving style. We complied. We wanted the Carbon Steel Grey color but was recommended to go with the Wild Cherry Red. We were informed that the Grey color fades after couple of years. The Wild Cherry Red was appealing as well, so we complied with this recommendation as well. Thanks to the various threads in this forum, I was very direct with my timeline and delivery requirements stating if it cannot be delivered before Sept 2022, we would walk out of the deal. If we cannot do a PDI before payment was initiated/settled, we would walk out of the deal. The SA complied and promised delivery by August 2022, and he came around it. Got the car delivered in the last week of July 2022. We did the PDI twice - at their Yard before disbursement of the payments and on the day of delivery. We were driven to the yard by the SA and given enough time to look at the car. The ODO was at 65 kms when we took delivery, I do not remember what it was when we checked the car out at their yard. There were no offers running in May/June 2022 so we negotiated on the insurance and they matched my external quote without any changes to what was covered. We did not also purchase the essential kit priced at 10K, but instead placed an immediate order at the service center in Kannur for few items that we wanted - specifically the mud flaps, read window blinds, car cover, and a dual horn. Collected and fixed them during the "Swagat" service. We did not spend much time there as this was more of a checkup and not a service. I will have to wait for the next service to comment on the service experience in detail, this one was trouble free. We asked for the 7D door mats to be installed and paid a discounted price for it before taking delivery. Again, did not negotiate hard. I had seen a few models in amazon and the price was matched. We were slightly disappointed at the way the car was presented even though when asked, I sought no special arrangements. I did ask that all plastics items (seat covering etc.) be removed. There were a few hand marks, dirt etc., which were cleaned promptly. We had carried sweets for the showroom staff and a small gift for our SA. We were kept updated all throughout the waiting period. I continue to have a cordial relationship with Ashish though he moved jobs.

• Ex-showroom price :16,89,900.
• Extended Warranty - 4+2 Years, No discounts.
• SVP - 4 years, No Discounts

Short summary of the car specs & observations on them:

• Model: Volkwagen Taigun 1.0L Topline AT - absolute love the AT, we hardly notice the shift ups/downs. Hoping to master driving using the paddle shifters/taking manual control. Have experimented it, the downshift to generate power is a adrenaline push.
• Engine: 999cc, 3 cylinders - Peppy, confidence inspiring. have not let us feel like like we should have gone for higher displacement.
• Max. power - 114 bhp @ 5000 rpm - pulls along quite well, as mentioned earlier faints above 150kmph, but dont foresee us doing it again.
• Max. torque - 178 Nm @ 1750 rpm - the initial torque available is fantastic. Took us a couple of days to get used to it. Brings a smile on our face every time we drive out.
• ARAI Mileage - 16.44 kmpl - Currently average mileage is around 10.2KMPL. have see the lowest of 7 and highest of 16.9 so far.
• Dimensions (lxbxh in mm) - 4221x1760x1612 - smaller than competition, but we love it.
• Kerb Weight - 1275kg. Love the planted feel this adds, along with other dynamics of the car.
• Ground clearance (unladen) - 188mm - scratched the bottom twice, once on an unscientific super high bumper and once on a broken road in the ghat section.
• Brakes - Front discs, Rear drums - super confident, and the drums work well enough.

What we liked and considered as pros:

• Helios drives so well and effortlessly that we do not notice it touching 80kmph or move until the chime comes on. we have to enforce restrain ourselves to slow down.
• The ease of driving an AT and the above-average ride quality. This car is a pleasure to drive on the highways and really saves the left knee in Bengaluru traffic. The on-demand power surge is addictive. We hardly use the S mode but we do the Bengaluru - Kannur via the makkuttam ghat road at least once a month and it's where it really is fun. We also do the Palakkad-Coimbatore-Bengaluru route on our return leg and enjoy the benefits of cruise control. We were fortunate to take the new Bangalore Mysore highway for few stretches when it had initially opened and pushed the car to its limits. The 100-110 kmph range in cruise control is the sweet spot. The car tugs until the 140+ easily. Anything beyond seems demanding. We clocked 175kmph and decided not to repeat. This was attempted on an empty stretch, with enough visibility upfront but in no way is recommended.
• Convenient features such as cruise control, ACC, automatic headlights & wipers, and a cooled glove box, which have all been used and found to work well in the first 6500 km of ownership.
• The smaller size compared to other cars in its class which makes it easier to maneuver and park, also the design language that has sharp lines, an upright stance.
• The well-contoured seats with sufficient thigh support, although they are not suitable for a third passenger in the rear.
• The good front visibility.
• The cornering lights are quite handy and substitutes okay for the white LEDs at times.
• Touchscreen infotainment is very good. Sound quality is decent enough. We are not audiophiles but have music playing in the car always at the lowest of volumes.
• The sunroof, albeit small makes the cabin airy.
• The ventilated seats.

What we wish were better in this car:

• The AC. We have a Tiago and Altroz at our respective homes and when compared, the AC is an under performer. With just two of us onboard, we keep it at 22-23. With more people in the rear, we have to reduce further to 18-19.
• The lack of 360 cameras in this price range. Not a deal breaker though.
• The passive TPMS.
• The AC controls. This duty is now designated to the co passenger and not the driver, not intuitive at all.
• The windshield and side windows - not tinted and the heat gets through. Couple this with the underperforming AC and it's a struggle.
• Sunroof mechanicals - an eyesore when opened.
• The wireless AA disconnects randomly or hangs.
• The empty barrel in the headlight cluster. We don't drive long distances in the night but have found it to be inadequate when the vehicle in the opposite side has a better beam.
• The rear wiper feels cheap.
• The dummy sunglasses holder.
• The reverse assist camera quality is not up to the mark.
• The IRVM/ORVMs are one size smaller. It serves the purpose after taking a while to get used to.

Ownership experience until now:

The car continues to be a pleasure and we have driven over 6500kms now across South India. The engine noise gets into the cabin. I did not notice this until a while ago. But this is a sweet note, and I have come to enjoy it, especially when we accelerate a bit more. We always have music playing in the car, so it helps to mask this to an extend as well. We have a few more trips planned for 2023 and hopefully will make them come true. We got almost all the chrome parts wrapped in matt black. I'm considering painting them black after a few months, D disagrees on spending unnecessarily on Helios. We are trying to use the cruise control as much as we can in highway drives. The average mileage in Bengaluru hovers around 10-11kmpl in bumper-to-bumper traffic with the lowest so far being 7. Otherwise, we get around 12-13. On highways, without CC we clock around 14-15 and with CC 15-17. We drive with the AC on all the time. We do let my brother and cousin drive Helios occasionally with the mileage dropping to 12-14kmpl on highways. Clearly, the car responds to how you floor the pedal.

Unforeseen issues faced so far:

• Third day after delivery, an Activa fell in love with Helios and crashed on to the rear. Minor scratches which we decided not to fix for "Drishti". No time was wasted in getting out of the car and arguing with him.
• The infotainment system hung once - fixed itself after engine was shut down and restarted.
• The defogger didn't work and in fact made it worse - had to roll down and drive for a while. Issue not reproduced.
• Driver side window one touch doesn't always work. Hit or miss.
• Scratched the left rear door and the right front bumper to a gate. My fault as I was preoccupied in thought as I started the car and panicked.
• Somebody left another scratch mark on the rear door by slamming their door to ours while parked at the Inox Galleria mall. I'll get this fixed during the 7500 kms service. I have a minor OCD and the itch is really bad.
• A dog crashed on to the front right-side bumper on a highway run. We were blinded by a lorry in the right lane. Fortunately, the dog survived, Helios did too. Had to replace the right fog lamp as its clips broke. We asked for the car to be picked up from our place of residence and dropped back after getting it fixed. Owning the tiago had given me enough wisdom to request that no additional work be done without my explicit consent. The car was dropped back in the same day evening. The rest of the parts didn't suffer any damage. We are sedate drivers and this was something that couldn’t be avoided. Read about the horrors of such hits later and consider ourselves lucky.
• Filled diesel instead of petrol accidentally - we always fill XP95 or from the Reliance station when we travel to Mangalore and avoid everything else. If we are in Kannur and is driving south - we drive to Mahe and tank up. This unfortunate day, traffic was redirected and the immediate next station was seeing rush that they didn't expect. Even though I had got out of the car and told the person to fill XP95 - he filled diesel. Noticed it when approximately 5L was in, cut it off at 8L as I took some time to process what to do and called for RSA immediately. We were on a long drive and did not want to risk it. The pump owner offered to call local mechanic but we knew that we had to get it to the authorized service center. This was at 2300kms in the odo. We neither started the engine nor allowed anyone to do it and waited for 90+ mins until the tow truck arrived. Not starting the engine saved us the service cost and warranty I think now. We got the tank, fuel pump and spark plug cleaned, refilled and took a test drive and set off for the rest of the journey. The pump owner paid for the service and petrol. I did not find the need to penalize him more. He did ask us if we would take lesser money. Since I had explicitly stated to fill XP95 by getting out of the car and walking to the attendant, I politely told him that if I do so, and something happens in the future, I'll regret it. The service manager at Phoenix VW Calicut was very approachable. We found his number from the dealers' website and appraised him of the situation. By the time we reached the service center, folks were informed and they worked at the best speed they could. It took three hours for us to resume the drive. We were told to drive without caring for milage and burn as much as we can. So, for once, we filled any petrol we could and drove away. Once we reached Palakkad, we switched back to XP95. We have not faced any issue so far because of this mayhem. While I now ask the attendants thrice to fill petrol and is a little paranoid, the experience has not deterred my love for the car or driving.

What next for Helios:

• The 7500km checkup is due. Hoping to do it in January itself. Will get the paint fixed this time.
• I have spoken to drcodemyvw to get few items coded but have not been able to. I need to find some time to work with him and get the usuals done.
• Replace the rear wiper with the one from Polo.**
• Install a dash cam. I have shortlisted Viofo A229 duo for now with the parking surveillance hardware hit.
• Drive a lot more, responsibly, safely.
• VW on a response to my tweet confirmed that a phase 1 solution is now made available for the AC performance issue. I'll get this done during the 7.5K km checkup.
• Not considering performance tires at this point.

Wish list:

I'm not a fan of aftermarket customization of physical parts. I try to run everything as they come. We opted for an XZ+ Tiago for the parents because of this. Opted for Topline AT for the same reason. But I do want to make a second exception for an aftermarket headlight unit that gets rid of the empty barrel. This is the only time I wish if we had opted for the Highline Variant and swapped the units to aftermarket solution. But the other features were on the no compromise list, so we stuck with Topline.

Where I need help/guidance from the forum/other owners:

Is it worth doing a PPF or ceramic coating on the car? A friend recommended Kriti car care ( also read here in the forum) but I've been in and out of Bengaluru for various personal reasons and never quite visited them. (The cost is exorbitant for PPF, I can actually paint over the scratches once a year, but the OCD for clean cars is quite high).

The windscreen and windows are a pain. We do not drive long distances in the night. Is it worth getting the tints (CR70/Ice shield) ? I know it's illegal but placing convenience over the fine it may attract..

Suggestions on fixing the dash cam with the hardwire kit. Is it recommended or not?

As i wrapped up writing, i realized that all the pictures have been clicked in my head, and not really in my phone. Nevertheless, adding some of them from our Dec 2022 drive to Gandikota. Helios needs a wash now, and i can possibly click some pics after:

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The most common issue with VW 2.0 cars is the auto-up-down feature of the driver-side window. That thing really has a mind of its own. sometimes it works, sometimes doesn't.

BHPian Atharva14 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Well, it really has been a great drive so far for me. Many road trips and daily commutes have really been a joy.

However, during my last trip to Konkan, I happen to hit a deep pothole at almost 50-60km/hr. Knew something is wrong and within a few meters got the deflation warning on the cockpit. The front left tyre got a cut on the sidewall (not repairable).

Changed it with stepney and carried on with the journey.TPMS error. On a break, I happen to notice that the rear left tyre also has a bulge on the sidewall. Bad luck max. Contacted a bunch of tyre stores in Kolhapur for the available size but Volkswagen decided to put such a unique size(205/55 R17) that it is hardly available! Also being a Sunday, VW Kolhapur was also shut. Risked it and carried on with the journey to Mumbai at a speed below 80km/hr every time.

The next morning visited VW Autobahn(Goregaon west). Advisor advised me to change the front left with a new one and to claim warranty for the bulged tyre. My car has MRFs and they're the worst in warranty processes. Obviously, the warranty claim was rejected, and had to pay for both tyres.

Also, the advisor checked for any strut leakage and alignment. Found everything to be perfect. Drove almost 1K kms after that no issues.

The other and most common issue with VW 2.0 cars is the auto-up-down feature of the driver-side window. That thing really has a mind of its own. sometimes it works, sometimes doesn't, and sometimes it does the opposite of what you do. I'm on my third power window motor now(1st changed due to faulty, 2nd changed while adding auto fold mirrors). The issue starts to persist again and this time I really want a robust result. Went again to the service center, Mr. Purshottam( Asst. Service Manager) promptly looked into the matter and kept the car for a day, and did the necessary changes needed. The window lifter was changed this time under warranty. The motor remains the same. A great experience as always at the workshop (VW autobahn Goregaon). Mr. Purshottam looked into the matter carefully and gave me timely updates on the same. All warranty claims were handled by him and the part was also made available quickly.

The car was washed and returned the next day. The auto-up-down works fine now and I feel the speed by which the window comes up has also fastened.

Changed the fogs to LEDs! A simple yet tricky swap. Need to remove the wheel liner to access the fog light housing. Easy swap after that. Used Osram's H8s. The throw is 10X better now. No glare of any sort:

Well, that's it for now folks.

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The entire trip saw me refill my car with normal petrol. I was dreading the performance & fuel economy drop.

BHPian asmr recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Just wanted to post an interesting update. During my weekend trip to Madurai, I did not get any RON95 fuel. The bunks near my place were not having XP95. And I didn't have the mind to go out of the way to get Speed 97. The nearby BPCL outlet didn't have standard Speed too. The same was true for Madurai.

So this entire trip saw me refill my car with normal petrol from BPCL. I was dreading the performance & mileage drop. I couldn't have been wrong.

5 people - 3 adults, 2 children (9+ yrs). 3 suitcases, 3 bags. Tyres set to 38(F) and 42(R).

I got an average mileage of 17.7Kmpl on the onward journey. On the return journey, thanks to the wide open, empty stretches from Madurai to Trichy, a steady 80-85Kmph cruise saw my car touch 20+Kmpl for real! Here's a screenshot taken after driving 110km from our hotel in the southern end of Madurai:

I had even driven to Vaigai dam on Sunday through 2 lane highways, with good bit of traffic and I was able to see 15+Kmpl on the instrument panel. The car was not sluggish but the "pep" you get with RON95 was missing surely.

Just thought I will post this here, since I have been telling people to stick to RON95 petrol. I think it is still the recommendation, but on long trips, where RON95 petrol might not be available, I think we should be fine with good quality normal petrol IF mostly running on highways.

Also, since these are connected topics, I would like to bring the question up that I had asked several months ago. If anyone has had any luck with octane boosters in their Taiguns, I would request them to share their experience here.

During this drive, I did face one issue. The steering wheel, when centered (visually, aligning to the side stalks) saw the vehicle drift to the left. I then started noticing that I had to hold the steering 2 or 3 degs turned to the right to keep the vehicle straight. Is this the same as the left drag issue that people have been complaining about? or Something that got to do with wheel alignment? I had checked the tyre pressures and they were fine. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Here's what BHPian MismatchD had to say on the matter:

Yes, there's almost NO 95RON fuel pumps here in Madurai (though I've seen advertisements of it here, haven't seen an actual pump yet). But ever since I got my Taigun delivered (1.0 Topline MT), I have only been using regular fuel (91RON) and never have we filled anything else.

Mileage on the city hovers around 12-14km/l with AC, which is pretty good for me. On highways, it's around 15-17, as we love to rev it hard when we find empty long stretches.

By the way, we went to my dad's native for a visit today, and the roads were almost deserted, so we did some triple-digits (100-120kmph, though cruised at 90-ish when the road had other vehicles), and after the 60km to-and-fro run, the mileage was 15.7km/l on the display.

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In fact, if not for the recent scrappage policy, we would have invested in refurbishing our SX4 with new suspension and better door insulation.

BHPian BrabarusMark recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

After 11 years, the family is finally ready to upgrade the family car (not by choice). This will be the third new car in the family but it will be my first purchase. For the last 4 years, the SX4 was handed over to me and it is serving us quite well.

In fact, if not for the recent scrappage policy, we would have invested in refurbishing the SX4 with new suspension and better door insulation. Everything else works just perfectly. It's also a perfect fit for my height (6ft3in) and is feels open inside for my mom to not feel claustrophobic.

To make the most of whatever resale our 11 year old SX4 has left, we plan on upgrading the family car later this year. Here are the cars I've test driven or test seated myself so far:

Maruti Grand Vitara & Toyota Hyryder:

When it launched the family loved the Grand Vitara. We were quite excited and recently did a few test drives of both cars. The real life experience was closer to disappointment. Both cars look spacious from the outside but the inside does not reflect the same. I checked out both the non-hybrid and hybrid Vitara and found front headroom to be lacking on both. The rear headroom has been documented on other reviews and it holds true.

Apart from headroom, the front does feel spacious and comfortable but the rear felt like the car was narrowing. Quite a strange experience. In terms of driving, the hybrid did fit perfectly to my already sedate (borderline hypermiling) driving style. It's a shame there's a huge compromise with comfort for what is an excellent powertrain for me.

Hyundai Creta:

I did an extremely short and rushed test drive of a diesel automatic variant. This felt great in the front, even with the seat not set perfectly to my liking. I would lean towards this more but I've been vetoed by the parents, who did not have a great experience travelling a long distance in a friend's car. I'll be attempting one more test drive with the family, but so far this one is low on the list.

Skoda Slavia:

I test seated the Slavia at the airport to see if I could fit into it. With proper adjustments, it is possible for me get into a driving position, although my knees are quite high compared to the SUVs with little thigh support. The rear, however, did not feel comfortable for me but was just about fine for my 5ft11in brother. Anyone shorter than him (which is my parents) should have enough headroom and legroom. Only issue is the low ingress that won't be too friendly for my aging parents.

We plan on testing the following in the upcoming months:

• Skoda Kushaq / Volkswagen Taigun.
• Honda City.
• Mahindra XUV700.
• Mahindra Scorpio-N.

Do provide any insights (especially if you're a tall driver) as well as any additional cars I should check out. Our budget is strictly locked to a maximum of 17 lakh and the car should be a petrol.

Here's what BHPian bijims had ro say on the matter:

Based on my experience with our family members, I will provide my insights on the following cars:

• Honda City - It provides good headroom for people up to 6 feet in height, But for taller occupants, it may not be the best in egress. Moreover, with aging parents, a low-slung sedan may not be the best choice.
• Skoda Kushaq/VW Taigun - A good SUV all round with an impressive recline angle for the rear seats, adequate under-thigh support, and posture but best suited for two at the rear.
• Mahindra XUV700 - The roomiest of the lot, with loads of space, elbow room, and knee room at the front, and can easily accommodate three at the back. i feel this car could be the one for you.
• Mahindra Scorpio-N - It is reasonably spacious as its counterpart the XUV700, but being a ladder on frame chasis, I would recommend the monocoque XUV700 for better comfort.

Hope it helps!

Here's what BHPian Knightrider had to say on the matter:

I am 6 feet tall and can understand your situation and criteria for searching a suitable car.

Last year we checked out the Slavia, XUV700, Scorpio-N, Safari and Kia Carens. I was particularly looking for a 7 seater. Still went to check out the Slavia. But ingress was difficult for me. XUV700 had good space in first two rows, but since the 2nd row seat does not slide, the leg-room in the 3rd row cannot be adjusted. Same is the case with Scorpio-N. My parents found it difficult to 'climb' into it. I had a similar budget of 17-18L. The variants of XUV700, Scorpio-N & Safari in this budget did not have much features.

Finally went for Kia Carens as it provided good space, features and seating flexibility. You too can check it out with your family.

Here's what BHPian DCEite had to say on the matter:

Well, I am 5,11, but my body structure is such that the proportion of lower part (legs, thighs) is longer compared to the upper part of the body. Result ? Most cars which have dashboard as a single unit towards gearbox, I find my left knees touching rather uncomfortably to the lower part of dashboard/gearbox console unit.

Cars I found problematic ranged from hatchback like Punch to SUV like Harrier and pseudo SUV Nexon.

So, my point here is that do sit, test drive with seat height set to your position and be careful observing and evaluating the ergonomics. From your list I can suggest VW Taigun/Kushaq. I found XUV700 to be quite good, in case your budget permits do consider it.

Here's what BHPian CoolFire had to say on the matter:

I am over 6'2" and I find my Skoda Kushaq, bought a year ago, quite comfortable. The longer wheelbase really helps and even at my driving position the rear leg room is quite good for a 6' Ft. tall person. The rear head room is just enough for me - you may want to check it out. The scoop after the sunroof is helpful in this aspect.

All other cars you mentioned should be okay too, but if you are looking for compact exterior dimensions and SUVish body shape, Kushaq/Taigun is the best bet.

On niggles and issues - I had some issues like noise on braking and too aggressive engine response at start, but these have gone away after 4-5k kms of usage. However two minor ones still remain - A/C not too good and error in driver side auto window up/down. The first service is due this month-end. Mine is a 1.0 Style AT.

Here's what BHPian RijuC had to say on the matter:

I am 6 feet, broader build and had TD in all these cars except XUV700 and Honda City.

The Kushaq was best to drive. Seating position was excellent.

The XUV700 was most comfortable for tall persons, with very good thigh support. I didn't drive it. Ergonomics were good. No problem of knees hitting anywhere. The Scorpio N will be very comfortable. No problem regarding the ergonomics. However, in Scorpio N review thread, Kushgandhi recently reported his knee/ leg was resting on door handle which gave him discomfort during long drive. Kindly check this aspect while doing the TD.

For Creta also I didn't face any problem while sitting or the ergonomics. The CVT was not good to drive.

You can try the new Brezza also. Sitting is better than the Grand Vitara or Hyryder for taller and broader driver.

Avoid the cars with sunroof, if sunroof is not an essential requirement.

Sedans won't be comfortable for long drives.

The Alcazar or Carens were also okay for AT. For MT, knees will touch dashboard.

The Grand Vitara and Hyryder both were no good for taller drivers/ co-passenger.

What about the new XUV300 mStallion with MT? I just sat inside but didn't drive it. This was also good for tall drivers.

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