VW’s new top-notch Tiguan

Volkswagen’s given its Tiguan SUV the R treatment – but does a go-faster engine and racy styling make for a compelling combo? Darren Cassey finds out.

Volkswagen has hit on a pretty successful recipe: build cars for every segment, then slap an R badge on the boot, give it a sporty look and rapid engine, and you’ve got yourself yet another performance car as a halo for the line-up. That might sound like a cynical intro, but it’s a recipe that works. We’ve got the Golf R hatchback, T-Roc R crossover, Touareg R SUV – and now the Tiguan R, a mid-sized SUV that takes the usual VW R combination and applies it to the firm’s bestselling model…

WHAT’S NEW?

The regular Tiguan range had an update in 2020, which means it gets a new-look front end and a new infotainment system. VW considers the Tiguan R a separate model from the Tiguan, as it’s been given a big makeover from its R department. It gets a reconfigured all-wheel-drive system, R-specific petrol engine, sports exhaust system, new ‘progressive steering’ and drive mode selection.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

When you’re really pressing on, the Tiguan does a top job of hiding its size. You never feel like you’re in a hot hatch, but covering country lanes at a rapid pace is less intimidating than you’d expect. And if you put it in sport mode and use the paddles to shift manually, the gearbox is almost seamless between shifts.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

The cabin is large and spacious, with an imperious driving position that gives you a fantastic view of the road. The large glasshouse surrounding you lets lots of light in, helping the car feel airy despite the dark upholstery. The seats are comfortable and the touchscreen is easy to use.

The heating controls are fiddly, while the steering wheel’s touch buttons are genuinely unpleasant to operate. Minor irritants, but irritants you’ll use all the time.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

Prices for the Tiguan R start at £45,410, and for the money you get 21-inch alloy wheels, some R styling tweaks, and LED front and rear lights. Inside are clothupholstered sports seats, blue details, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter handle, and stainless steel pedals. Enticing optional extras include a panoramic sunroof, heated outer rear seats (£55), a Harman Kardon sound system (£790) and a leather package (£1,605).

THE VERDICT

The Volkswagen Tiguan R might be a new model, but it’s an already familiar package. That 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine has long won plaudits for its boosty nature, while the handling is impressive for an SUV. It’s not perfect, though. There are some concessions to comfort and running costs compared with less racy models. However, as an overall package, the Tiguan R is a compelling, stylish and pacey SUV.