Observations & driving impression: Volkswagen Taigun 1.5 TSI GT

Quick shifting, barely noticeable gears. Manual mode using paddle shifts adds an altogether different dimension to the drive.

BHPian dailydriver recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

Test drove the 1.5 TSI GT on behalf of a friend today. Below are my observations:

What I like:

• Drives really well - difficult to wipe the grin off the face once you get hang of the automatic.
• Quick shifting, barely noticeable gears. Manual mode using paddle shifts adds an altogether different dimension to the drive. Sport mode is the icing on the cake (revving the engine in lower gears does give rise to a harsh note though).
• Brakes are good. Sudden stops as well as gradual deceleration gave no cause for worry.
• Ride is compliant and the handling competent. Potholes are dismissed with disdain although one does feel the road surface a bit.
• Front seats are supportive; sufficient width and depth on the seating surface and enough bolstering on the back rest. But I am a 5.5 ft, lean built gent and therefore my perception could be subjective.
• Rear seats are spacious and can seat three average built men without much trouble. But the middle seat is, as usual, a bit uncomfortable; the width of the transmission tunnel providing the guidelines for placing the two legs of the occupant.
• Legroom is generous.
• MID & ICE look nice.

What irks me:

• Quality of the seat cover, headliner, dashboard, certain switches and door pad plastics remind me of much much cheaper cars. The roof feels hollow - as found using the tap test.
• Boot space could have been more. High loading lip makes placing luggage difficult.
• Priced at around 20 big ones, the car does feel a bit overpriced by at least 2-3 lakhs. But so do many others in the segment. Hence, can't do much here.

Misc:

• Looks are subjective; I certainly didn't like it. It lacks a distinct identity and character.
• Couldn't explore the ICE, MID and sunroof in detail. I missed noticing the FE display too.
• The SA insisted that the DSG is an improved, India ready variant and therefore chances of failure are minimal. In the same breath, he also suggested we go for maximum warranty - just for peace of mind.

As the friend isn't keen on spending 20 lakhs on a new car and since he can manage easily without the automatic, we are looking to test drive the 1.0 manual. The SA was full of praise for this engine-gearbox combination and promised to get it next week.

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