Bucket Seat: VW Taigo 1.0 TSI R Line

Volkswagen still remains one of the chart toppers in the monthly NAMSA figures and it’s no surprise why. Apart from being one of the countries favourite brands, the variety of offerings in the various segments make the choices wide for the consumer. With the success of the T-Cross crossover, it was no surprise that the sportier version of the car, the Taigo would also have some fanfare with it. While sales on the T-Cross still trump the Taigo, the appeal of the sleek coupe style crossover has a younger target market but still delivering the performance of its much more mature looking sibling. I got to drive the updated version of the Taigo a few weeks ago and this is what I made of it.

DESIGN

Subtle changes from the original do make a substantial difference to the overall appearance of the Taigo. Most notable would be the solid LED light that runs above the new honeycomb grille and is illuminated at night. The car I had came fitted with the aggressive R Line package which add’s black detailing, including 17-inch blacked out split 5-spoke rims. The profile of the Taigo gives it that fast back look with the sloped roof line and hatch like rear. The design of the rear remains pretty similar and it’s probably a good thing since in my personal opinion it looks great. The rear bumper with the R Line has a very sporty finish with the twin exhaust pipes having cutouts and finished off in black as well. The interior remains mainly unchanged to the launch edition with updates to the VW infotainment OS that will be discussed later.

PERFORMANCE

Powered by that 1.0-litre TSI engine that’s been a star in most models coming out of the Volkswagen stable, its performance in the Taigo is no different with it producing 85kW and 200Nm of torque. With the 7-speed DSG automatic transmission, it makes the Taigo quite frugle with its fuel usage but can be adapted for a more sportier drive with the usage of the paddle shifts. While many think this is suited to the more aggressive driver it could also be quite the opposite as it allows you to dictate when and how the car transitions through the 7 gears. Sitting on 17-inch rims the car handles quite well on the open road and urban streets. The size of it makes it nimble and easy to manoeuvre around. Parking the Taigo doesn’t break a sweat with its PDC’s and reverse camera but one could opt for the auto park function and have the car do it for you!

COMFORT

The Taigo’s interior remains similar to the launch edition model with some extra textures and trims to choose from. The R-Line comes with patterned material seats with the R logo stitched in of the seat, black plastic dash with R-Line sports style 3-spoke multi-function steering wheel. The start/ stop button is located at the top of the center unit where the gear changer is along with the parking assist button, auto start/ stop control and pdc. In front of that you will find the wireless charging tray for mobile devices along with twin USB C charging ports. One of which being for the use of mobile car apps. Yes, unfortunately the Taigo does not have wireless car play or android auto but regardless, I still find myself plugging the device in as the wireless connection does tend to drain the phones battery. Single zone climate control cools or heats the cabin, heated seats are an optional extra that you could have. Space in the cabin is decent, many would think with the lower roof like it would affect the space at the back but it’s still pretty roomy there. Another misconception is that the luggage capacity would be compromised because of that roof but that’s not the case, as it can fill 440 litres compared to the 377 litres of the T-Cross.

VERDICT

While the Taigo might be considered the sporty, more youthful alternative of the T-Cross, it certainly warrants a lot more than that title. In a new segment it stands out as a the front runner offering not only the consumer the name tag but a brilliant car that comes along with it. I admit, the pricing is a bit stiff when compared to the T-Cross but like I said, this does offer a bit more that the other. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Motor	1.0 TSI
Gear Box	7-speed DSG
Torque	200Nm
Power	85kW
Fuel consumption	5.4 liters per 100km
Price	R537,100

Bucket Seat: VW Golf 8 R

It is probably the most anticipated car in the country, could be the last ever Golf R, a badge which took over the monarch from the much famed Golf Mark V R32 when the Mark 6 hit the market. The Golf R rose to fame properly in the outgoing  Mark 7 and 7.5 where it had cult status on the roads and the underground drag racing scenes so when VW revealed the 8 R, many couldn't wait to see what their favourite OEM had to offer in their latest iteration of the hot hatch. Unfortunately, due to a number of factors included the global microchip shortage and Covid, the arrival of the car onto local shores was delayed by over 2 years! It's official launch locally took place in April this year and still to this day there are few and far to be seen on the roads. I had the opportunity to spend time with the car last month to see how VW  have improved the model from the last one and what the big fuss over the car was. As someone who isn't the biggest fan of the Golf models, I was going in with an open mind as it has been one of their best selling models, and has developed a cult status in the city of my birth so it was only fair for me to give it some respect. 

DESIGN

With VWSA only opting to bring two models of the Golf 8 to the country, namely their performance models in the GTI and the R, the styling of the R follows the same sporty cues as the GTI with a low stance, large rims, sleek body kit and large front difuser. Unlike the GTI, the R's grill is a full air-intake with no fancy LED fog lamps. The front headlamps feature VW's new iQ LED lighting house in the winged shape housing which has a solid LED light that runs across the front end joined in the middle by the VW emblem. The profile of the car features a sill that flairs at the rear passenger door to give it that aerodynamic sporty look. The side mirrors are finished in brush aluminium and the rear has the quad tail pipes as quite a prominent feature. The model I had didn't come with the optional extra Akropovic pipes but still looked the part. There is no mistaking this is an R, with badges all around the car and on the brake calipers, it's hard not too. The Golf 8 R comes fitted with 19-inch Estoril diamond cut 5-spoke alloy wheels which are wrapped around Goodyear 235/35 rubbers. The interior of the Golf R is almost a carbon copy of the GTI's with a few colour modifications and badges to suit the R. I'm a big fan of the racing bucket seats which are covered in leather had have the R badge stitched in, definitely looks the part. Overall the 8 R is a stunning looking car and definitely has people turning their heads to get a better look everywhere I went. 

PERFORMANCE

Well, given the reputation it's predecessor had, VW had to up the anti with this one and with the group announcing that the 8 generation of the model being the last one with an internal combustion engine, it would be the cars swansong and it they have to end it on the right note. While there is a face-lift planned for late next year and I'm sure a few special edition models to come, this launch edition packs quite a heavy punch with its 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder TSI motor, giving a total power output of 235kW and a torque reading of 400Nm, all that power controlled by their famed 7-speed DSG gearbox is enough to put a smile on any drivers face when behind the wheel of the car. With the various driving modes, the car can turn from a hot hatch ready to take on the fastest in the streets in R model to a comfortable cruising family car in Eco mode and first up on my list was a long distance test with it, completing a 550km journey I averaged just 8.5L/100km, which is not that far off from the 7.8L claimed on their brochure that is normally tested in ideal conditions. The car can get extremely thirsty when switched into Race mode as I soon found out after refueling the car and spinning around on the weekend with it, from giving me close to 600km on the first tank, I was battling to reach 300km with the second, did I mind it? Of course not! Having done the long distance fuel economy run on the first day, it was time to enjoy this car they way it was meant to be enjoyed! Thrusting down the straights, flinging it through the bends, testing out that 4Motion technology and seeing if it is as adaptive as the Quattro from its sister company. It definitely is a fun sports car and while its center of gravity might not be that low, it still gives the driver a good feel for the road and handles like a champion. The fast changing DSG box helps on most occasions but when you feeling racey, I'd suggest you give the paddle shift a go, limiting this bad boy in to the red lines provides some extra excitement to your driving experience. 

COMFORT

Being a sporty hatch back, you wouldn't expect this car to give you the same level of comfort as a sedan or normal hatch would but truth be told, even with the bucket styled sport seats, the Golf 8 R is pretty damn comfy and it has seat heating for those cold winter days, with steering wheel heating to go along with it! The suspension is stiff but adaptive when in Eco mode to provide you with some level of softness despite the large rims and low profile tyres. I even took the 8 R on some short gravel roads, which it managed quite well at low speeds. The multi-function steering wheel also features the haptic touch sensitive buttons like the GTI, which takes some getting used to when you first use them but you get the hang of it after a while, where I don't like them is on the sunroof controls which become an issue when you're trying to operate it when driving, trying to tilt the roof? You have to get your finger in the exact center to get this right so rather just wait till you at a complete standstill before doing that. The Golf 8 R comes with the same 8.25-inch infotainment touch screen which UI is pretty easy to you but with App-Connect and wireless mobile apps such as Android Auto and Car Play, you very rarely find your self accessing the cars menu other than to check values, using the radio or resetting that damn tyre pressure monitor! Coming back to the seats, I like the band of suede which I presume is colour coded to the cars exterior paint work, the model I had was in Lapiz Blue so the band around the front two seats were blue, I could be wrong and the blue is standard across all cars but it does give the interior a nice contrast from all the black. As far as the new gear selector goes, still not won over it, while I know most of the brands in the greater VW group are opting for these, I still miss the old style gear "knob". 

VERDICT

While the Golf 8R does feel much more mature and sophisticated, there is an animal waiting to be unleashed in that engine and when you let it out, it brings about tonnes of fun. Seeing there they are few and far to be found, I took the car to some VW purists who live and breathe the brand. I honestly though they would be disappointed seeing that not much mods can be done to the car and the high price tag but after going for a few short sprints, they were very much pleased with what the car offered. Most of the cosmetic mods VW had as standard already, so there was no need for them to go out and get large carbon paddles for the gears, or line the car interior with ambient lighting because that was catered for too. Down pipe? Who needs that when VW have Akropovic as an optional extra. No need to change the headlights because you're not getting better that the IQ Matrix LED lights which are based of Audi's technology and being a Durbanite, that Harman Kardon sound system bangs so you can forget about buying that biryani pot sized subwoofer for it. Everything about this car was well thought of when designing, so that it could be the perfect farewell to what is an extremely loved model from the brand. It really changed my perception on the car and what it means to many, while the car is still in high demand and selling for some eye brow raising prices on the second hand market, for the fans, its a winner. 

SPECIFICATION

Engine	2.0-liter, 4-cylinder TSI
Gear Box	7-speed automatic DSG
Torque	400Nm
Power	235W
0-100km/h	4.8 seconds
Price	R918,200*

*base price

 

Bucket Seat: Volkswagen T-ROC 2.0 TSI R-Line

It feels like just the other day I had the very first T-Roc on test, it was a brand new model from Volkswagen, another variant of their crossover/SUV range and one that was set to break boundaries in the segment. You see, the T-Roc is based of a Golf platform and with the market trend moving to SUV's and Crossover, VWSA took a brave decision by not bringing in other engine variants for the much loved Golf in the country as the only one in the Golf 8 range is the GTI with the R coming in early next year. So if you wanted a different engine but in a Golf sized car, you either opted for an Audi A3 or this, the T-Roc. A few weeks ago I got to spend time with the face-lift T-Roc, funny enough it was the same engine as I drove when the previous model was launched so it gave me a good opportunity to gage the difference between the older and the face-lift model, here's experience on the new T-ROC. 

DESIGN

Much of the T-Roc design remains the same, with minor tweaks made to accentuate the looks and overall shape of the car. The major changes to the front comes with the large chain type grille with the VW badge being prominent in the center. The headlights have been revised with it sporting the latest in VW's IQ light technology, the day time running lights have also moved up from the fog lamp house to the bottom of the headlamps which form part of the solid bar which are prominent in all of VW's latest models. The fog lights also have changed shape with it going for a more modular shape that's vertically. The bottom end of the bumper has a more sportier styled diffuser which is part of the R-Line kit which this car was fitted with. It obviously does give the T-Roc a more aggressive look, with the car being a crossover more than SUV, its essentially a hatchback with a raised suspension so it gives the designers a better platform to work from. The large wheel arches give the car a bolder look with the 19inch sport rims, and the chrome detailing makes the side profile look sporty but elegant at the same time. Moving onto the back, the general shape remains the same with the rear lights benefitting from a new design styling with new LED lights which follow the lights of the car and make it a very integrated finish rather that stick out like a sore thumb. The rear bumper and diffuser feature fake air-vents with gills that make the rear look menacing and with the R-Line it features the quad tail pipe look which is finished in chrome that is a lovely contrast between the deep black pearlescent paint work. The interior remains more or less the same as the previous model with subtle changes to the infotainment screen and a lot of high-gloss black finishes. 

PERFORMANCE

The engine gets some slight tweaking but power output remains the same with the 2.0 TSI engine producing 140kW @ 4500-6,200 rpm and 320Nm of torque. All of this is controlled by the 7-speed DSG gearbox, which does wonders  to control the revs and maximizes the power delivery to the wheels. This particular model came with VW's 4MOTION technology which is essentially there four-wheel drive system and works rather well, when navigating on bends and high speeds and also in wet weather where I got to experience it the most. The handling is superb as it feels like a hatch but with the raised ride height gives you a better view of the road ahead. The 0-100km/h speed is 7.2 seconds which isn't bad for a car of this nature and the top speed maxes out at 216km/h. Volkswagen claim a combined fuel consumption of around 7.3-litres per 100km but with my mixed driving, of which mainly being urban pumped it up to around 10.2-litres per 100km which still gave me a decent 530km from a tank of which has 55-litre capacity. 

COMFORT

The T-Roc is super comfy, even with it being just slightly bigger than the golf, the seats are nicely padded to ensure you have a good ride. The options fitted in this model included a panoramic sunroof which I didn't use a lot but it had a curtain which was great to let in the natural light. It had wireless mobile phone integration with mobile apps preloaded, the front passenger and driver each get a USB C outlet as well as an option wireless charging tray. Dual climate control is always a handy feature to have, especially in Durban with its sporadic weather changes. It came with front and rear PDC's as well as a reverse camera which is neatly hidden in the VW badge at the back. Another optional extra that was fitted to this car was the Adaptive Chassis Control which features on the front and rear shocks and has a rear stabilizer bar with progressive steering, this coupled with the four-wheel drive added that extra precision when driving. The rear passengers have their own ventilation but its temperature is controlled by the front passenger and it has one USB C charging port for them to fight over. Luggage capacity in the T-Roc is generous with the boot normally coming in at 392-litres and with the rear seats folded down, 1237-litres. 

VERDICT

Overall the revised T-Roc is pretty much the same as the previous model but with much need technological upgrades. The IQ Drive system which has a host of safety features which includes blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control with collision detection, all of which are vital safety features in cars for today. The ride quality for a car like this is exceptional and feels like a much large SUV. While the love for the VW Golf in South Africa will always be there, one can understand the compromise VWSA made in opting to bring variants of this into the country and limit the Golf models to just the high performance models. The T-Roc is a perfect fit for the young families with it have an elegant appeal with luxury aspects that rival some of the other German brands. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.0-litre TSI
Gear Box	7-speed DSG
Torque	320Nm
Power	140kW
Fuel economy	7.2L/ 100km/h
Price	R660,400*

 

Bucket Seat: VW Polo GTI

The VW Polo has been a the darling child of the VW line-up locally, since it’s first introduction badged as the Polo “Playa”, it took the market by storm and afforded the buyer a budget friendly hatch back from the Volkswagen brand. When the first GTI version was introduced in the second generation Polo, it proved to be a massive success, not only was this the most affordable hot hatch on the market, it also gave buyers the opportunity to own a car with the GTI heritage. Fast forward to today and the latest version of the Polo GTI has hit South Africa, like other models it has gotten a keen interest from the public, with an eye catching starting price and striking good looks many are intrigued by this latest offering. I got a chance to spend a week with the latest Polo GTI and did a fair amount of driving with the car, close to 1000km! Here I my thoughts and experiences with the car.

DESIGN

There’s no denying VW did a sterling job in this latest generation of the Polo, from the solid bar LED lamp in the front to the revised rear end that features new tail lights, the car looks bolder, modern and more mature than the previous generation. The GTI gets the sporty treatment with honeycomb grille, a red detailing along the front, dual LED fog lamps and large multi-spoke rims. The side profile is the same with an added side skirt that gives the car more of a sporty appearance, with the GTI badge mounted behind the front wheel arch. Moving to the back of the car, the iQ LED rear lights are a standout feature at the back with its new L-Shaped design, and VW badge mounted dead centre that also houses the reverse camera. The GTI badge is mounted just below this badge and gives the car a more aesthetically pleasing look. The rear diffuser ends off at the bottom with dual tail-pipes with rear fog lamps either side of it. Overall a very attractive package from the outside, this particular model came with a panoramic glass sunroof which added to the coolness factor of the looks. Moving in on the inside, much of it is standard from the normal Polo with the excel of the steering wheel which is a smaller version from its bigger brother the Golf 8 GTI. The interior features special materials that are unique to the GTI such as colour coded dash inserts and suede sport seats. 

PERFORMANCE 

The Polo GTI comes packed with a powerful 2.0-litre, 4 cylinder TSI engine that produces 147kW and 320Nm of torque that's married with VW's infamous 6-speed DSG gearbox that is just a synergy of fun. The power to weight ratio of the Polo GTI is perfect to deliver that go-kart like experience, with precise handling and control. While the new Polo GTI does have a soft limiter installed that reduces the vrrpha effect, this car is still plentiful of fun to drive. While in urban cruising the car may prove to be quite thirsty as you would expect, with the average fuel consumption just north of the 8.2L per 100km range, on long distances it quite surprised me with me getting it down to as low as 6.0L per 100km and that was without cruise control! The car does offer a good mixed use consumption as well so it's quite note worthy that it can be light on the pocket when driven efficiently. Standstill to 100km takes 6.7 seconds with a claimed top speed of 238km/h. Fuel tank size is just the same as regular Polo with 40 litres so you maybe be frequenting the filling stations just about every week with this one. 

COMFORT

The interior of the GTI is stunning, I quite love how everything is laid out in the cabin and the choice of materials and finishes. The GTI does get some added luxuries that the normal Polo misses out on, like the multi-function steering wheel that has touch sensitive buttons with sliding functions like the GTI. The climate control functions have the same touch sensitive keys with sliding function for the fan speed. The Discover media infotainment system includes navigation with map care, wireless App-Connect, Voice Control, Wireless charging tray, 4-USB C ports (two in the front and two at the back), a virtual cockpit that has multiple view options. The car came with the "Beats" sound system with is an optional extra, its a 6-speak system with dynamic sound but I wasn't overly impressed by it. The car has dual-zone climate control for driver and front passenger with vents in the back for the rear passengers. The front seats get to enjoy heated seats as an option as well as the tilting and sliding glass panoramic sunroof. Other note worthy options included the comfort park package when has keyless entry, park assist and reverse camera. The Safety Package which has travel assist, adaptive cruise control with speed limiter and lane assist as well as pedestrian monitoring. 

VERDICT

With the only note worthy rival to the Polo GTI being the Ford Fiesta ST being scrapped from the SA offering, there is no better alternative if you're looking for a small performance hatchback. While many would point at the GR Yaris, the pricing point on that is way off when compared to this. The love interest with the Polo in South Africa continues to grow as I've seen quite a few of the new models on the road of recent and I'm pretty sure the GTI model will follow suit. It's a great little package from VW with an attractive price, the quality of the build stays true to VW and many fans of the brand wont be disappointed with what it has to offer. 

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine	2.0L TSI
Gear Box	6-Speed DSG
Torque	320Nm
Power	147kW
Top Speed	238km/h
Price	R489,400*

*Base Price