Volkswagen India recently revealed the much-anticipated Volkswagen Taigun facelift SUV in the Indian market. The pre-bookings for the new SUV are now open, with customers able to reserve one either online or at authorised dealerships by paying between Rs 11,000 and Rs 50,000. The facelifted model brings a refreshed design influenced by Volkswagen’s global lineup, along with updates to the cabin that add more features and safety equipment. It also introduces a new 8-speed automatic gearbox for the 1.0-litre TSI engine, aimed at improving efficiency. Prices are yet to be announced and are expected next month, while showroom displays and test drives should begin shortly.The Volkswagen Taigun facelift continues its competition with the Skoda Kushaq, Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Maruti Victoris, Grand Vitara, Honda Elevate, Tata Sierra and Renault Duster. In this article, let’s compare the base models of the Volkswagen Taigun facelift with the Skoda Kushaq facelift. Talking about the engine options first, both SUVs are offered with two engine options – a 1.0-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 115hp and a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 150hp, with no change to the engine line-up. The 1.0 TSI variant in both cars now gets an 8-speed automatic gearbox in place of the earlier 6-speed torque converter, with Volkswagen claiming a fuel efficiency improvement of up to 5.8 per cent. The 1.5 TSI engine continues with the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.Talking about variants next, the VW Taigun facelift is offered in seven variants – Comfortline, Highline, Highline Plus, Topline, GT Line, GT Plus Chrome and GT Plus Sport. The new Kushaq facelift is offered in five variants: Classic Plus, Signature, Sportline, Prestige, and Monte Carlo. Entry-level variants of both SUVs are offered in a single 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine paired with a 6-speed MT or an 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission. Skoda Kushaq facelift Classic Plus Rs 10.69 lakh (MT), Rs 12.69 lakh (AT)Skoda has equipped entry-level Classic Plus variant generously, the SUV gets a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay via USB-A, six speakers, an analogue instrument cluster with a monochrome MID, single-pane sunroof, automatic climate control with air purifier and rear vents, paddle shifters and cruise control (AT only), automatic LED headlights, LED DRLs, front LED fog lamps with cornering function (AT only), powered ORVMs with LED indicators, LED taillights, 16-inch alloy wheels, black roof rails with 50kg capacity, a roof-mounted spoiler, boot lamp, 12V front charging socket, black and Greige fabric upholstery, front scuff plates with ‘Kushaq’ branding, a leatherette-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever (AT only), tilt and telescopic steering adjustment, four power windows, a sliding front armrest with storage, six airbags, rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, rear wiper and defogger, auto-dimming IRVM, anti-glare ORVM, hill hold assist (AT only), and safety systems including ESC, ABS, EBD, TCS, brake disc wiping, 3-point seatbelts with reminders for all passengers, and ISOFIX child seat mounts.Volkswagen Taigun facelift Comfortline (Prices yet to be announced)The Comfortline is the entry-level trim and gets features such as auto-levelling LED headlamps with LED DRLs and rear LED tail-lamps featuring sequential turn indicators, along with chrome detailing on the front bumper. It rides on 16-inch steel wheels with wheel covers and also gets functional roof rails. Inside, it features a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, paired with a 6-speaker setup. The instrument cluster uses analogue dials with a monochrome MID, and the cabin gets a dual-tone theme with fabric upholstery, a sliding front centre armrest and a height-adjustable driver seat.Comfort features include automatic climate control, rear AC vents, rear wiper, washer and defogger, along with a 12V plug and steering-mounted controls. On the safety front, it is equipped with six airbags, ESC, ABS, EBD, TPMS, reverse parking sensors and ISOFIX mounts. It also gets an idle engine start/stop and remote central locking.
