Volkswagen have a new Tiguan on sale, a model that has consistently performed well for them in the sales charts. In the company car sector it’s the two plug-in hybrid models that we’d recommend & we drove the
Plug-in hybrid engines & fuel economy
The new plug-in hybrid comprises a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine alongside a new 18.5 kWh which offers customers an electric range of 60 miles between charges & couple to the petrol engine, the Tiguan eHybrid is capable of 620 miles between fuel stops.
Charging
The battery can be charged up on a home wall box at an improved 11 kW while both Tiguan eHybrid models can also be charged at DC fast charging stations with up to 50 kW charging capacity.
Performance, emissions, MPG
The eHybrid is offered with two power outputs of 204 PS (150 kW) & 272 PS (200 kW) offering 250Nm respectively. The 204 PS engine will go from 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds, the 272PS engine a faster 7.2 seconds. Top speeds are 130mph & 134mph. Combined economy is a WLTP 706mpg & 565mpg with emissions of 9g/km & 11g/km.
Specifications
All versions are well equipped. For example entry level Tiguan features 17” alloys, a 12.9” infotainment display, a 10.25” digital cockpit, wireless App-Connect, Front Assist, Front Cross Traffic Assist, a rear view camera, front & rear parking sensors, Lane Keep Assist, Side Assist, Rear Traffic Alert, an exit warning system, oncoming braking with swerve support & black roof rails.
Our top spec R-Line adds amongst other things, 20”alloys, Keyless-Go, an electric tailgate, 3 zone climate control, a multifunction front-facing camera for distance control, twin front wireless smart phone chargers & Volkswagens Park Assist system with remote-controlled parking using a smartphone.
Exterior
The latest Tiguan looks sharper & more upmarket than before. There’s new LED headlights that run into a full-width black panel, a more rounded front & rear, another full-width rear light panel on the boot lid & on our tigers car body-coloured ‘R-Line’ Sports style bumpers, air intakes with chrome trim & silver roof rails.
Interior
Here you’ll notice the biggest changes. The largest is the addition of a new dash top 12.9’ touchscreen, then there’s a lovely 10.25”digital cockpit. The starter buttons in the centre binnacle alongside a dial volume control. The familiar steering wheel controls for cruise & adaptive cruise control are on the left with the infotainment ones on the right.
What’s also different is the that the gear lever is now located on the right of the steering wheel, meaning the lights & wipers are all controlled by the left sided stalk. Located in a slim bar under the display the icons are small & a little fiddly to adjust. So underneath the screen you’ll find some touch-sensitive sliders that can control the volume or temperature, but again we’re not fans.
Overall quality is better, gone are the cheap plastics you’ll find on much of our Tiguan replaced by more soft touch finishes, better quality seat fabrics & a new dashboard light up panel. It’s definitely the right side of premium.
Infotainment
As a family we run a 2022 Tiguan which still features stand alone controls for many of the functions such as climate. The new Tiguan sees most functions now controlled via the touchscreen, utilising VW’s new operating system MIB4 for the infotainment.
There are some useful configurable shortcut buttons across the top & bottom of the display, so you can for example turn off lane departure & speed warning very easily. The driving mode icon is also located at the top so here you can choose between Eco, Comfort, Sport & Individual driving modes. Default is Normal.
The large central home screen shows the SatNav & infotainment plus outside temperature. Connecting wirelessly to CarPlay is quick & the Apple icons sit handily on the right of the screen for easy driver inputs. Overall the new system is fast & responsive with large, bright, clear graphics. Another nice touch is the twin wireless phone chargers, which sit beneath the screen with a neat cover to keep your phone out of site when you’re driving.
Practicality
There’s a height & reach adjustable steering column, two front USB C connections with two more in the rear, two 12V outlets, one in the centre console & the other located in the rear luggage compartment.
The glovebox is a good size as are the door pockets which are fabric lined & there are twin adjustable cup holders in between the front seats. The armrest lifts up to reveal more storage.
In the back the rear seat has a hatch with a built in armrest & a tablet rest. The 490 litre boot loses 162 litres over the capacity in the petrol or diesel, but is still a useful size.
The cabin is spacious with we think room for five adults at a push. Certainly with four on board you don’t feel cramped & both front & rear head & legroom are very good. The driver sits quite high & all around visibility makes parking or overtaking easier too.
Driving
Just like our own petrol Tiguan, the ride is harsh over poor road surfaces. Whether it’s the battery weight we couldn’t say but it’s still there. On the plus side the latest Tiguan handles well. Belying its size & kerb weight it will enter & exit tight twists & turns easily & in Sport mode, there’s just enough power on offer to make it fun. Eco or Normal drive modes aid economy & comfort.
In town it’s a quiet & capable companion aided by the light power steering & on the motorway it’s a beauty, offering instant kick-down overtaking power when required.Volkswagens adaptive cruise control works extremely well & unlike some others is easy to turn on or off & adjust on the fly.
Some of the newer safety features such as Travel Assist, when other vehicles are approaching or you’re going past them, are clearly visible in front of the driver in the cockpit screen, which adds to a feeling of security when you’re in heavy traffic. You will notice some road noise entering the cabin at motorway speeds & again we’d apportion the blame to the battery weight.
Pros
Very well built, with much improved safety, tech & infotainment on offer. Even with the smaller boot it’s very practical & looks the business too. Low CO2’s equates to low BIK at least for now.
Cons
Plug-in models are expensive. Combined mpg a likely 60-70mpg. Rides a little harsh
Verdict
Volkswagen have improved the Tiguan that’s for sure. All models are now come packed with the latest tech & safety. The larger touchscreen & digital cockpit are both great additions too. If you need to carry loads of stuff even the eHybrids boot will oblige & the cabin is spacious as well as comfortable. Only the fiddly climate controls & sometimes harsh ride let things down a bit & although all models are highly specced they eHybrids are expensive compared to the petrol & diesel models. And you can take 700mpg with a pinch of salt.
A Computer Welt 4.25/5
