Volkswagen Taigun facelift: still India's best driver's mid-size SUV? | Drive Review | evo India

The Volkswagen Taigun was already the driver's choice in the mid-size SUV segment. The facelift does not change that. What it does is fix the things that genuinely need fixing and add a few things that make a real difference. On the outside, the 2026 Taigun facelift gets new headlamp housings with a central DRL strip, an illuminated Volkswagen logo, a new alloy wheel design and matching changes at the rear with sequential indicators. It looks sharper, more in line with the new Tiguan, and the illuminated logo at both ends gives it a premium presence at night that the outgoing car did not have. Inside is where the meaningful changes are. The infotainment screen goes up to 10.1 inches and the digital instrument cluster to 10.25 inches, both significant upgrades over what was there before. The sunroof is now a panoramic sunroof and then there is the AC. The Taigun facelift AC has been updated with a variable geometry compressor, the same change made to the Skoda Kushaq, which means it takes more power from the engine when it needs to cool the cabin fast and backs off when it does not. On a 45-degree highway run from Jaipur to Chandigarh, the difference was immediate and obvious. This is the upgrade Taigun owners have been waiting for. The 1.0L Taigun also gets a new 8-speed automatic gearbox, replacing the old 6-speed unit. Smoother shifts, slightly better fuel efficiency, and a noticeably more refined driving experience — the same gearbox that has impressed in the Kushaq. The 1.5L Taigun carries over its DSG unchanged, which is no complaint because it was already the best gearbox in the segment. Mechanically, everything else carries over, the platform, suspension, engines — and that is genuinely not a bad thing. The Taigun was already the most rewarding car to drive in this class. The chassis is stable, the steering is direct, and it puts a smile on your face in a way that not many mid-size SUVs can. That has not changed. What it does miss compared to some rivals: no rear sunblind, no 360-degree camera, no ADAS, and no guided parking lines on the rear camera. These are real omissions at this price point and are worth knowing before you decide. But if you like driving, if being behind the wheel matters to you, and you are looking at a mid-size SUV in India, the Volkswagen Taigun facelift has to be on your shortlist. #evoIndia Want more #ThrillOfDriving videos? Subscribe to the evo India channel: https://bit.ly/2VfzioP Read our stories here: https://evoindia.com/ Buy #EvoIndiamagazine here: www.evoindia.com/magazine Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evoindia/ Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evoindia/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/evoindia Official merchandise on 100kmph: http://www.100kmph.com/evoindia