Volkswagen Tiguan
Family SUV sticks to a proven formula in its latest iteration while boosting tech and practicality On sale Spring Price from £34,060
IN THE NOT too distant past, if you asked people what the most popular Volkswagen was, chances are they’d reply with the Beetle or the Golf. Well, right now, that answer is officially the Tiguan; this family SUV has been VW’S best-selling model globally since 2018.
Now entering its third generation, the Tiguan flaunts an all-new design inside and out, but its underpinnings and engines are carried over from its predecessor, albeit polished for a better drive. A 1.5-litre mild hybrid petrol kicks off the line-up; it’s available with 129bhp (in the ETSI 130) or 148bhp (in the ETSI 150). The ETSI 130 officially takes 10.6sec to sprint from 0-62mph, while the ETSI 150 takes 9.1sec.
We’ve sampled the latter, and it has plenty of muscle for everyday driving. The standard seven-speed automatic gearbox can be hesitant to change down a gear when you need a burst of acceleration, but twisting the steering column-mounted gear selector from D into sportier S mode sharpens its reaction time .
If you want more power, a pair of 2.0-litre petrols (201bhp and 261bhp), both with four-wheel drive, will arrive later. No highperformance Tiguan R version has been confirmed, but diesel devotees can have a 2.0 TDI with 148bhp. Company car drivers might want to hold off until the summer for the arrival of a pair of ehybrid plug-in hybrids (PHEV) with power outputs of 201bhp and 268bhp, each having an official electric range of 62 miles.
Our test car featured the optional adaptive suspension set-up, named DCC Pro. In Comfort and Sport drive modes , the suspension softens or firms up to prioritise ride comfort or body control. Head into the Individual drive mode, though, and you can finetune things to your taste, with 15 degrees of firmness to choose from.
In the softest setting, the Tiguan rides serenely and quietly over rough roads, with little float over undulations. Impressively, the Tiguan’s ride is more settled and smoother over bumps in the stiffest setting than an adaptive suspensionequipped BMW X1’s in its softest mode.
While the X1 is keener to turn in to corners, the Tiguan strikes a good balance between comfort and control and has plenty of grip, so it feels more polished to drive than a Nissan Qashqai or Vauxhall Grandland. Refinement is a strong point, too; the 1.5 ETSI engine remains smooth and quiet even when worked hard, while levels of wind and road noise are low at motorway speeds.
The Tiguan is a little more spacious than before, with plenty of head and leg room for four six-footers, while a sliding rear bench
boosts versatility and the seatbacks recline for added comfort. At 652 litres (for non-phevs), the boot is generous by class standards.
All models feature a 10.3in digital instrument panel and a 12.9in freestanding central touchscreen. A whopping 15.0in screen is optional as part of the Infotainment Package Plus, and it’s impressive, with sharp, vibrant graphics, customisable shortcut icons and quick response times. As with the ID 3, volume and temperature are adjusted via fiddly touchsensitive sliders, but at least the Tiguan’s light up at night. Also, the Tiguan has physical buttons on the steering wheel; these are much easier to use than the ID 3’s touchpads.
It’s a strong return for the Tiguan, then. While the Skoda Karoq and Kia Sportage remain better value for money, the Tiguan feels polished enough for buyers to consider the slightly higher price tag.
Some talented rivals are more affordable, but the Tiguan is a very polished family SUV