ROUND the BEND
VW’s Tiguan R aims to combine enthusiast credentials with a well-rounded family SUV package
In a not-so-distant past, a hot hatch was the only answer for those looking to spice up the daily commute, but retain practicality. Fast forward to modern times, where hot hatches still exist, but go-fast SUVs seem to be the preferred flavour.
A perfect example of this is Volkswagen’s new Tiguan R, which is a more aggressive version of the Tiguan that we’ve grown so fond of over the last decade or so.
Like most current VW products, this Tiguan R sits on the MQB platform, meaning that it shares a lot with the current Golf. It makes use of the same 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that’s found in the Mk8 Golf R.
It packs a hefty 235kW/400Nm but it takes a lot more than just an engine to make this Tiguan R one of the most well-rounded performance SUVs on the market.
Volkswagen’s 4Motion allwheel drive system is nothing new for the Tiguan, but in the R it comes with a system called R Torque Vectoring. Like the smaller Golf R, this gives the Tiguan the ability to shuffle torque not just front-to-rear, but also side-toside. Despite the fact that there’s a 1st Edition on offer, the Tiguan R misses out on the Golf’s Drift Mode (probably for the best), but does get a launch control feature which helps it rocket to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds.
On the road, VW has done a great job of making the Tiguan R feel like a slightly larger version of the Golf R. It weighs an extra 200kg, but that’s not as noticeable as the extra height.
The active dampers do a good job of negating the extra 200mm of height, but it’s not quite enough to have it feeling like a hot hatch on the road. This isn’t a bad thing, as the Tiguan R focuses on practicality first and performance second.
Volkswagen claims a fuel economy figure of 9.7l/100km. We found reaching this was easier said than done, as we never saw less than 10l/100km. Then again, the satisfying noise that the turbocharged engine makes doesn’t help with the issue of a heavy right foot.
With 615 litres of boot space, it’s one of the most generous in the segment; with the rear seats folded down there’s 1655. Said rear seats are spacious for the segment, with plenty of leg and head room.
I’m a big fan of the new 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment display. It comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also gets a head-up display as standard and a juicy Harman Kardon premium sound system.
The haptic-touch multifunction steering wheel isn’t easy to use at first, but drivers will get used to it over time. Accidentally activating the heated steering wheel during a turn is still something that I struggled with, though.
Unlike the Golf, the Tiguan has retained a traditional gear selector, which is a great thing.
It seems that the Tiguan R faces its biggest rivals within its own company: vehicles like the Cupra Ateca and Audi SQ2 that sit on the same MQB platform.
The Tiguan R is more expensive than both those other options, but you’ll likely struggle to find a more well-rounded small SUV that will spice up the daily commute like the Tiguan R.