VOLKSWAGEN’S new Taigo is now open for ordering, offering the latest safety and driver assistance systems, connectivity and infotainment, versatility and desirability, wrapped up in a stylish SUV-coupé body, and fitted with an array of efficient and flexible petrol engines.

The three model line-up starts at £21,960 on-the-road for the model in Life specification, allied to a 1.0-litre, 95 PS TSI engine and five-speed manual gearbox.

At 150 mm longer than the entry-level SUV in the Volkswagen range – the compact T-Cross – and shorter and lower than the stylish T-Roc, the Taigo complements neatly the brand’s SUV line-up, which also comprises the Tiguan, ID.4, Tiguan Allspace and Touareg.

The entry-level Taigo Life is generously equipped as standard, with a suite of driver assistance systems providing safety and assurance. These include Lane Change Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Park Assist with front and rear parking sensors, and more.

From the outside, the Taigo Life’s 16-inch ‘Everett’ Black alloy wheels, front fog lights, LED headlights and black-finished roof rails complement its sharp styling. Comfort and convenience features include logo projection lighting from the car’s door mirrors; a multifunction camera; lumbar support for the comfortable front seats; electrically-folding door mirrors with electric heating and adjustment; and a multifunction steering wheel.

Standard equipment for the Taigo R-Line builds upon that of the Life, offering a sportily-styled alternative with 17-inch ‘Valencia’ alloy wheels and R-Line exterior styling with bespoke bumpers. On the inside, more R-Line styling cues are present, with a black roof-lining, R-Line badging on the floor mats and an R-Line specific multifunction steering wheel; while luxuries such as ambient lighting; 2-zone Climatronic climate control; an upgraded, 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro dashboard display; and an 8.0-inch Discover Navigation infotainment system, are all fitted.

Majoring on luxury and comfort, the Taigo Style builds even further upon the model’s generous equipment package, with the standard fitment of IQ.Light LED matrix headlights. These feature individually controlled modules that are able to automatically switch modes to suit a variety of driving situations.

The Taigo Style also features 17-inch ‘Aberdeen’ alloy wheels, as well as Dynamic Light Assist for the IQ.Light headlights as standard.

The Taigo range features four engine and gearbox configurations, with the combination depending on specification. The entry-level Taigo Life is available with a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, 95 PS TSI petrol engine, fitted with a five-speed manual gearbox, as well as a 110 PS engine of the same size, mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox, or a seven-speed DSG automatic.

This 110 PS unit is available across all three Taigo specifications – with the manual version of the 110 PS arriving across all Taigo specifications this week. A second DSG-equipped option – a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder TSI engine with 150 PS – is available in the Taigo Style and R-Line, while the 110 PS, six-speed manual-equipped Taigo returns the greatest fuel economy within the range of 52.3 mpg, and the lowest CO2 emissions, of 124 g/km (WLTP, combined).