Volkswagen have a new Tiguan on sale, a model that has consistently performed well for them in the sales charts. Absent at launch are the two plug-in hybrid models, our recommendations for company car driver, but both will land in late 2024. Until then we put the R Line 2.0 litre diesel 7-speed DSG to the test & as we currently run a Tiguan, there’s some significant improvements to it as we found out.Model choice Five specs are offered. Tiguan, Life, Elegance Match & R-Line with prices running from entry level petrol Tiguan at £34,075 – £48,220 for the range topping R-Line 272PS PHEV.
Engines
On entry level Tiguan there’s just a 130PS 7-Speed DSG 5 DSG 1.5 TSI petrol engine offered, but as you step-up through the range from Life on you can also select the more powerful 150 PS petrol, a 2.0 litre 150 PS diesel, a 2.0 litre, a 204 PS 1.5 TSI e-Hybrid & on R-Line a more powerful 272 PS PHEV is also available. All are automatic.
Performance, emissions, MPG
Our test car was the 2.0 litre diesel with a top speed of 129 mph & a 0-62 time of 9.4 seconds. Maximum power is 260Nm’s. Emissions of 148g/km are coupled to a combined fuel economy of 50mpg. On delivery our diesel showed a full tank range of over 650 miles & after a 450 mile driving week it still had a further 250 miles left, so a 700 mile tank & range is not to be sniffed at.
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. We’ll vent our spleen at the still not fantastic climate controls. 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.
The new front seat headrests are also worth a mention. They were fixed to the bucket seats fitted to our R-Line model in a triangle configuration with a small hole in each & look the part.
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. A massive 652 litre boot is on offer with an adjustable floor height & the rear seats also fold usefully flat.
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
First up, like our own 2022 Tiguan, the ride is harsh over poor road surfaces. Whether it’s the suspension or larger 20”wheels we couldn’t say but it’s still there. On the plus side new Tiguan handles well. Belying its size & 2240 kg kerb weight it will enter & exit tight twists & turns easily & in Sport mode, there’s just enough power on offer to make it fun. From a junction in Eco or Normal drive modes there’s a lack of response when you put your foot down hard so be aware of the slight lag as you turn right. Its better in Sport mode as the throttle is more responsive & the gearbox will drop down accordingly when you accelerate.
In town it’s a quiet & capable companion aided by the light power steering & with four adults on board a cross-country journey in the Peak District was a highlight. On the motorway where we had a 270 mile round trip to contend with, it’s a beauty. 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 20” wheels.
Pros
Very well built, with much improved safety, tech & infotainment on offer. Hugely practical & looks the business too.
Cons
The plug-ins will be the ones for fleet but they aren’t here yet. All models are expensive. Beware of the harsh ride on 21”wheels.
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 the cavernous Tiguan 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’re expensive compared to the likes of the Qashqai & Sportage. Even though they’re costly, we’d strongly suggest that company car drivers wait for the plug-in’s which will come with likely 5% or 6% BIK.
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