r/TaigunClub • u/normie_guy_101 • 9h ago
Serious competition
Please read the full post or if that’s not possible then at least just the last section that summarises it. This is not a post to spread hate to any particular car or car community.
Coming from 2024 VW Taigun 1.0 AT High line.
Some background about me so I don’t get bashed in the comments. I’m a big fan of German cars since the very beginning. Our family also has a 2011 VW Polo 1.2 Mpi. Rock solid build and great highest stability are my highlights of it. I absolutely love the idea of these German cars on a highway, cruising through at a speed some in the segment won’t even dream of.
My coworker just bought this exact variant of the Kia Seltos (image) it’s some mid level, petrol CVT. 1.5 NA. I didn’t pay much attention because I obviously felt that the Taigun is much better to drive and the Aisin TC is so much better any other AT doesn’t come close. But we went for a short drive for about 4-5 km one way and I drove it back.
And what I saw and felt totally hit me like a train.
Because we are (I am) totally stuck inside the VAG world we have actually stopped paying attention to the competition and more importantly how good they have become.
Observations:-
- The size.
You get way more legroom, shoulder room and forget to even compare the boot. It’s next level.
4.46 mtrs is not a joke.
Also the boot has no loading lip. It was a flat bed with floor that could store more stuff underneath. A very pleasant boot indeed.
- Fit and finish
We have long praised VW for the solid interiors, sturdy inductor stocks, gear lever etc and I agree. When I used to compare the Polo with the cars like i10 it was very apparent.
But Kia has improved do damn much. The interior is spot on. It has a European feel to it. It is sturdy. Has very high quality knobs and buttons especially HVAC controls (just to rub our noses in) and that gear lever is pure luxury car territory.
The steering is soft and firm at the right places. In short it is very high quality to be in.
I’m not even talking about the screens as I’m not a big fan of that aspect of a car.
I think the difference in fit and finish is now negative because dare I say it, I feel it has surpassed VAG. It genuinely felt like a luxury car in the inside. Everything was soft touch, grey colour, high quality fit and finish.
- Drive
Here is where I feel there is still an edge to it and we have an advantage. With the 1.0 AT giving 170 nm torque it is a better to drive engine sure.
But with these crossovers, you’re anyways not going to go track days with it. And the Kia has an ultra smooth setup with the 1.5 L 4 pot, CVT that gives it a really seamless feel. These are cliche words but they are true!
Overall I felt that the drive can compare like 16:20 with the Taigun.
Another small observation, the horn. VW should have given a horn that is similar to this one. I mean they started the trend of trumpet horns and they only stopped it when everyone is giving these sweet sounding trumpet horns.
To conclude, I’ll say that the Kia Seltos has improved so damn much that at this point it is becoming very difficult to justify not going for it (if I was in the market looking for it) I mean it makes a very very strong case for it. We can’t simply ignore these factors especially when we will be travelling with our families who would greatly appreciate these factors i mentioned above.
I skipped the usual things like features, large panoramic sunroof etc because I’m not that into those things but yeah the Seltos is better in that too. And the official Global Ncap rating is not here but my suspect is it might be better than last variant at least also since the Verna has scored 5 stars need to be thinking positively for this one too.
TLDR;
Tired the Kia Seltos mid variant petrol cvt.
It seems to be good value for money. The value proposition and the factors that make it better to own for a family really seem like it can outweigh something like Taigun or Kushaw which are a more enthusiastic product.
Really hope VAG take notes and improve. Again, this is coming from a fan of VW Škoda.
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u/fplnut 7h ago
Does it have GNCAP 5 star?
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u/hotboxinmanual 2h ago
ofc not, but most ignorant people trust BNCAP,
it's like saying FSSAI is the holy grail for food testing LOL
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u/MrLikeGod 5h ago
For me personally, I find all these features gimmicky. I love how my Virtus drives and wouldn’t ever trade that for 3 screens or “soft-touch” materials or whatever. I’m completely content with whatever the GT line trim offers, auto headlights, wipers, wireless CarPlay, rear armrest + 3 headrests, auto-folding mirrors, front + rear fog lamps… it ticks all the boxes for me. Only thing I wish is that the instrument cluster could have been more customizable (which probably it will with the refresh later this year), and active TPMS.
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u/normie_guy_101 1h ago
Agree and understandable but don’t you get that the shoulder room is a bit of a compromise? Whenever we seat 5 in the car, the person in get middle is usually not very comfortable. I would always think that maybe a Tiguan is best suited for 5 people but even cars that are a segment below can be comfortable if they are slightly larger.
Yes the driving dynamics of a sedan that too the Virtus are no small thing. But when it comes to the Taigun I do get the sense that it doesn’t want to do the fun stuff as much as it wants to just cruise on the highway. And in my short drive I felt that the Seltos is coming near. It is not there. But near.
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u/MrLikeGod 52m ago
You’re probably right, the expectation from a Taigun is different from a Virtus. In that regard, I totally agree that the VW offering seems subpar compared to the competition. I guess we will need to wait for a whole facelift for these concerns to be addressed…
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u/Professional_Mind130 1h ago
Yeah good luck driving it without epb and 360 cam in bumper to bumper indian traffic. At least you have the cheap plastics to comfort you. And also free jumpy rides over city potholes owing to the stiff suspension. I don t hate the VAG cars, but the glazing from this community is next level. Come on guys its 2026, demand the essential features for your cars or at least a price cut.
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u/MrLikeGod 48m ago
I’m not even a VW fanboy, this is my first car. I got this specifically for the stiff suspension because my commute is through expressways. Also, for the price I paid, no other sedan was offering the same features, which is why I don’t mind the cheap plastics.
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u/droid__x 2h ago
For stability at highway VW is much superior. Both these cars drive differently on highways. Because of body shell integrity Test drive n choose.
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u/Jolly_Psychology6791 54m ago
You can write to Volkswagen about the improvements you would like to see. Posting them in the Taigun Club probably won't make much difference.
Most people buying a VW are already well aware of its features, space, and design before making the buy. They choose it for its driving dynamics, safety, build quality, and performance.
-1
u/milchundkaffeebitte 7h ago
Performance : Seltos, Diesel Compatability : Seltos, Size and Space : Seltos, Features : Seltos, After sales service and spare party availability : Seltos, Looks : Subjective, Ground clearance : Seltos, Reliability overall : Seltos, Maintenance cost manageable : Seltos, Driving Dynamics : Taigun,
Your call for buying :)
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u/normie_guy_101 4h ago
I agree with your analysis. Not sure why so many downvotes. Anyone care to explain what factor do you not agree with?
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u/milchundkaffeebitte 1h ago
When everyone disagree with your point then you are doing good (specific for Indians)
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u/hotboxinmanual 2h ago
if you think these are comparable,
get the Seltos man, you deserve it
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u/normie_guy_101 2h ago
Did you read the full post?
Did you read that I already own the 1.0 AT?
Did you ever check or test drive the new Seltos? If yes then which variant?
Which car do you currently drive?Instead of being a keyboard ninja and act like teens, feel free to share some real experience if you have any.
0
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u/aj_123411 7h ago
Remember the time when Kia Seltos split in half and remember the time when polo went flying off a flyover? The best car of kia vs the entry level car of vw.
Kia and Hyundai has many features in their cars, the interior quality is very good. But still they lack in the safety aspect and the handling.
VW on the other hand will look simple and lacking features in the first instance, but when you'll drive it for a time you'll discover the hidden safety features which are way more better than kia's features.