VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN 1,4 TSI 110 KW COMFORTLINE DSG

Nearly three million people bought versions of the previous Tiguan. There’s a lot riding on the new model, then

HAT’S correct: globally, more than 2,8 million buyers opted for a Tiguan when shopping for a compact SUV (of these, 19 000 were South Africans). It was sold in more than 170 countries, making it Volkswagen’s most important passenger vehicle in terms of sales after the Golf, Passat and Polo.

You’d expect the traditionally fastidious manufacturer to be even more thorough than usual in the development of the second-generation model, then, considering how much the Tiguan’s success affects the VW Group’s bottom line. But, before we answer that germane question posed on the cover, some context.

T9,57 sec 110 kw/250 N.m 200 km/h 7,32 L/100 km 140 g/km

In the South African market, the Tiguan is initially available in three derivatives. The 92 kw 1,4-litre in Trendline and Comfortline speci cation is supplemented with this 110 kw Comfortline. Before year-end, the line-up will have been bolstered with a 2,0 TDI in three states of tune – 81, 105 and 130 kw – and a range-topping 2,0 TSI developing 162 kw. The high-powered engines will drive all four wheels through VW’S Haldex-type 4Motion system, and be out tted in Highline trim.

Considering the sheer extent of the range right from the get-go, it appears Volkswagen South Africa has every intent on contributing to the Tiguan’s projected worldwide success.

Back to our test vehicle. Featuring the latest version of the VW Group’s 1,4-litre turbopetrol that it shares with, among a plethora of other models, one of its rivals lined-up in the Match-up section, the Audi Q3 1,4T FSI, this model is exclusively available with the six-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission and offered solely in mid-range Comfortline nish. At R457 680, it costs about