Volkswagen’s Taigun is doing fairly well in a very competitive mid-size SUV segment. It was their big launch after several years and it has been quite successful in the market. It also has to go against some of the variants of the XUV700 because of the way both SUVs have been priced. Here, we have a video in which both the SUVs can be seen against each in other a drag race.
The video is uploaded on YouTube by Ashish Beniwal. He is the owner of the XUV700. It is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces 200 Ps of max power and 380 Nm of peak torque. It is mated to a 6-speed torque converter automatic transmission.
Then there is the Volkswagen Taigun which is powered by a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces 115 Ps of max power and 178 Nm of peak torque. It is mated to a 6-speed torque converter automatic gearbox.
On paper, it is the XUV700 which has significantly more power and torque. However, it is also heavier. The XUV700 weighs around 1.9 tonnes whereas the Taigun weighs around 1.2 tonnes.
The driver of the XUV700 first turns off the air conditioning and traction control. Both the SUVs have four occupants in them. The first drag race is won by Mahindra XUV700 quite easily. It was ahead at the launch and maintained the lead throughout the race.
In the second race, the driver XUV700 keeps the traction control and air conditioning on. Now, both the SUVs stay neck to neck at first but then eventually, the XUV700 takes the lead.
In the third race, the XUV700 has 6 occupants and in the Taigun, there is only the driver. The driver keeps the air conditioning on but turns off the traction control. Now, the XUV700 is slightly ahead of the Taigun but then the XUV700 starts increasing the lead.
So, all the races are won by the XUV700. The margin between both the SUVs could have been less if it was the Taigun 1.5 TSI. It produces 150 PS of max power and 250 Nm of peak torque. The only thing is that it needs to be launched properly because Volkswagen has tuned it in such a way that it protects the gearbox. It is a 7-speed DQ200 DSG dual-clutch unit.
Taigun might have lost the race but that does not mean it is a bad vehicle. It is still currently the most powerful mid-size SUV along with the Skoda Kushaq. This is because both the SUVs get the same 1.5-litre TSI. Moreover, the Taigun is also the most enthusiastic friendly mid-size SUV in the segment. The XUV700 on the other hand falls into a different altogether. It is just that the pricing of both SUVs is quite close. The XUV700 starts at Rs. 13.18 lakhs and goes up to Rs. 24.58 lakhs whereas the Volkswagen Taigun starts at Rs. 11.40 lakhs and goes up to Rs. 18.60 lakhs. All the prices are ex-showroom.
Keyword: Mahindra XUV700 vs Volkswagen Taigun in a drag race [Video]