Had a chance to sample both the ATs, that is the 1.0 TSI paired to the AISIN 6-Speed TC and the 1.5 TSI paired to the DQ200 7-speed DSG. Will list my observations down here:
1.5 TSI DSG
- Good low end punch even though DSGs are known to be a tad sluggish in lower gears
- An almost flat torque curve which was very surprising. There's no "pushed back into the seat" feeling when you floor the car or any drama. Power delivery is very quick and all that power is well spread out over the revv range unlike her 3-pot sibling
- Make no mistake though, the 1.5 TSI is fast. Couple the point I mentioned before with the mature suspension setup, and it's very easy to miss that you have reached silly speeds
- DQ200 lived upto all the hype. The GT came equipped with paddles but I decided to let the GB do the math and swap cogs. And it did that job brilliantly. Upshifts and downshifts were both equally quick and the infamous jerks that most people complained of in the previous iterations of this GB were non existent.
- Overall refinement was also very good, though I personally wasn't a fan of the engine note at higher revvs. Won't say it sounds strained (quite the opposite infact), but I somehow prefer the raspy and raw engine note of the 1.0 TSI. It assumes more of a thrum upto 3000rpm which then turns into a muted growl
- Didn't get to sample the ACT (active cylinder technology), but the salesperson was quite enthusiastic in pointing out that the larger 1.5 TSI 4-pot gets better FE than the 1.0 TSI 3-pot due to this very reason
All in all, this engine+GB combo will sure be a USP for the Taigun. VW has got it spot on with mating the dry clutch DSG to their TSI (as always). Having said that, the long term reliability (especially clutch pack and flywheel replacement costs) coupled with the price (around 19.68L OTR here for the GT 1.5 TSI DSG) are dampeners apart from the overall interior quality (will come to that later).
1.0 TSI TC
After sampling the 1.5 TSI, I didn't have high hopes from the 1.0 TSI. I think it's obvious why. Even on paper, the 1.0 TSI (AT especially) is a lot slower comapred to the 1.5 DSG. However, I was in for quite a surprise.
- Bottom end was average as expected. The TC was doing a good job of masking a majority of it though
- Beyond 2000rpm is where the punch lies. After the below average low end, the mid range and the top end feel explosive relatively. This makes the 1.0 TSI feel faster than it actually is. It's an engine which just begs to be driven hard and fast
- I constantly found myself keeping the revvs beyond 2000-2500 rpm at any cost and gunning the car at every given opportunity. The raspy engine note (might not be appreciated by the average Joe) was also keeping me good company through all this
- The 6-speed AISIN TC did its job well, but not as well as the DSG. Shifts were perceptible and sudden throttle inputs were met with a slight delay in downshifting as expected. Having said that, it is butter smooth under low to medium throttle inputs and did a good job of masking the 1.0's turbo lag
- Coming to refinement, I would say it's excellent for a 3-pot. The engine comes to life with minimal vibration and there's not much of a giveaway on the inside that it is a 3 cylinder. Having said that, there's no comparison to her 4-pot sibling here. The 1.5 TSI is definitely better, especially for someone who isn't a fan of the engine being very audible inside as the revvs climb
In conclusion, the 1.0 TSI doesn't feel like a slouch, even in comparison to the 1.5 TSI. However, that's subject to one major factor, the driving style. If you are a sedate driver, the 1.0 TSI's constant demand for throttle inputs won't bode well with you. The turbo lag will further make matters difficult.
The 1.5 TSI on the other hand is an all rounder. It doesn't mind being driven sedately, it doesn't mind being driven hard either. The ACT might also mean you get better fuel economy in the end (if driven sedately that is).
- Coming to the ride and handling, I found the suspension setup to be very competent by segment standards. The Tiagun and Kushaq both use ZF Dampers (Made in China), which I believe should be a step up to the Monroe and Gabriel's used on the Polo/Vento that had several complaints.
- Low speed ride is a touch on the stiffer side (it's not as stiff as my Jetta though). As the speeds increase, most bumps and potholes are dismissed off with a muted thud audible inside the cabin
- Having said that, high speed handling has two minor dampeners. The first is the steering. Make no mistake, it's pinpoint accurate like most of the other VAGs, but it doesn't weigh up all that much. The second is the body roll. Though well controlled, it's not as good as the VAG group sedans one might be used to
- Braking was very reassuring even with drum brakes on the rear axle. The brake pedal feel and overall bite (even after several rounds of hammering on the highway) didn't leave any room for complains
All in all, I feel the suspension setup is actually quite well suited for the 'aam junta'. In the end, ride quality takes precedence over pinpoint accurate, razor sharp handling for most people and the Taigun manages to strike a good balance here.
A few more points about the car itself:
- Overall exterior and paint quality is the same as her Skoda sibling with little to no difference visible
- Interior quality is a notch better than the Kushaq. I found bits like the steering mounted controls and even the quality of leather on the steering to be better than the Kushaq
- Having said that, I won't call it class leading by any means. The Astor takes the lead there. The quality of some plastics on the door pads and even the dash does leave a lot to be desired. The headliner is still the same cheap one used in the Kushaq.
- The only ergonomic flaw in the entire cabin was the touchscreen climatronic console. It sits too low and I found myself constantly glancing down at it to adjust the air con settings.
- The centre armrest and rear ac vent console in both TD cars had developed an extremely annoying rattle. The entire console was shaking and rattling badly over less than ideal roads
- The map light console switches (especially for the rear) felt cheap to touch. They were rock hard and had very poor tactile feedback, though the lights themselves are very cool looking LEDs
In the end, is the Taigun a good car? For someone who values driving dynamics and engine options over everything else, it's an excellent car make no mistake. However, do I think it's good enough to command 19.7L for the top end GT 1.5 TSI DSG here in Vadodara? The answer to that would be a no IMO.
The features on offer, the slightly premium pricing and most importantly the interior fit and finish (or rather the lack of it) are deal breakers in my opinion. The MG Astor has taken the game forward in terms of features and interiors apart from being priced on par with the Taigun. Adding salt to the wound is the fact that VAG brags about 95 percent localisation, yet couldn't really undercut rivals in terms of pricing or outgun them in terms of equipment. An OTR price band of around 11-17L would have been ideal for this car.