Volkswagen Tiguan

The Volkswagen Tiguan is a five-seater premium midsize SUV and is the flagship model from the German carmaker in India. This generation of the Tiguan made its India debut back in 2017 with a diesel engine, but was pulled off the shelves during the transition to BS6 emissions norms. Post the introduction of the uprated emission standards, VW re-launched the Tiguan with a facelift and a turbo-petrol engine.

The Volkswagen Tiguan boasts an understated yet sophisticated design and is better known for its tight handling and solid build quality. It must also be noted that internationally, the next-gen Tiguan has been revealed with a new exterior design, an updated interior with even more tech and cleaner engine options.

The Volkswagen Tiguan is a large family SUV that’s available in the Rs 35-40 lakh price range. This five-seater SUV was originally introduced in India in 2017. The updated model was introduced in late 2021.  

Looks

While the Tiguan may not have a large size, it certainly excels in terms of elegance. This car appears well-proportioned from every angle and has a sense of strength. The subtle updates made by Volkswagen with the facelift have rendered the Tiguan even more appealing than before. 

At the front, the new LED headlamps not only look sharper but also function well on poorly marked and unlit roads. The revised front bumper looks sportier and more aggressive. Also, the additional chrome on the new grille might not be everyone's preference, but it does make the Tiguan look premium. 

Viewed from the side, the Tiguan facelift retains its clean and simple design, with the exception of the new 18-inch alloy wheels. Volkswagen also offers self-centering wheel caps as an optional accessory — just like a Rolls-Royce. 

Changes at the rear are more understated, with new internal elements in the LED tail lamps and a bumper with a more aggressive appearance.

Like the older model, the design of the Tiguan is sure to age well. It might not grab too much attention on the road by virtue of its relatively compact size, but if you value a simple, classy designs instead of loud ones, the Tiguan delivers on that front. 

Interior

Step inside the Tiguan and you will immediately appreciate its build quality. The doors shut with a reassuring German thud and the Tiguan just gives you a feeling of solidity that is usually found in luxury brands. 

It's not only the solid build that impresses you but also the perceived quality which is extremely difficult to flaw. The dash top and the top portion of the door pads is made with squidgy soft-touch materials.

The front seats are wide and is happy to accommodate plus-sized people. The cushioning isn’t too soft, which means you can spend long hours here comfortably on a road trip.

It's not only the solid build that impresses you but also the perceived quality which is extremely difficult to flaw. The dash top and the top portion of the door pads is made with squidgy soft-touch materials.

In fact, you can enjoy the Tiguan not only from the comfortable front seat but also if you're chauffeur-driven. Even if you’re a six footer, there’s enough knee room, just about enough headroom, and you can also recline the backrest for added comfort. To give you a feeling of a boss, you can fold the front passenger seat flat, so you can put your feet up and relax.

Boot Space

The Tiguan features a powered tailgate with gesture control. This means you can swipe your foot under the rear bumper to access the boot. Tiguan boot space is a healthy 615-litres You get the option of choosing the rear seat in a 60:40 split, or fold it down entirely to carry more luggage.

Features

Volkswagen offers the Tiguan in a single fully-loaded variant. The highlights include

The infotainment screen isn’t the largest, measuring 8 inches, but its functionality is nearly flawless. The touchscreen responds quickly, and it features large icons on the menu screen, which makes navigation easy even while driving.

Additionally, this display includes some impressive features. It offers gesture control, which works effectively, and there's a proximity sensor that enlarges important icons when you bring your hand close to the screen. The only miss is ‘wireless’ Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The screen is paired with an 8-speaker sound system, and output is decent. 

There’s a 10” digital driver’s display too which gives you loads of information right under your nose. You can also change the layout of the screen to your liking and the screen itself is of high resolution.

Safety

On the safety front, Volkswagen offers the following:

In a recent update, Volkswagen added ‘reverse park assist’, which enables the car to park itself. However, given its price, we’d have liked to see a proper Level 2 ADAS functionality with adaptive cruise control, auto emergency braking and blind spot monitoring. At the same time, a 360° camera feels missing from this package.

Drive

The biggest change in the Tiguan is the engine. The old diesel TDI engine on the Tiguan has been swapped for a 2.0-litre turbo petrol. The new turbo petrol motor makes 190 PS of power, 50 PS more than the TDI, and as a result it feels more exciting. It now has the performance to put a smile on your face as the engine feels free revving and it sounds quite sporty too. It's not only the outright power that impresses you, but it's also the effortlessness of this engine and the 7-speed DCT transmission which makes driving this car such a joy. Even at low speeds this engine responds well and the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission feels jerk-free and smooth.

Out on the highway, the Tiguan feels right at home, as you can do three-digit speeds comfortably for hours. This engine also feels refined and there's hardly any wind or tyre noise that seeps into the cabin. Even on a narrow two-lane road if you want to execute a quick overtake all you have to do is flex your right foot ever so slightly and you'll get it done very easily. 

The Tiguan also impresses with its ride quality, especially out on the highway. Over rough or even undulating surfaces the Tiguan remains unfazed, which makes it a great long distance cruiser.  Yes at low speeds you do feel some firmness where you can hear the suspension working. It isn’t a deal breaker though as it's more about you hearing it than feeling it inside the cabin.

Among the standouts in the Tiguan’s drive experience is its handling. This is one SUV that loves being driven hard. It has a distinct advantage as compared to its full-size SUV rivals thanks to the lighter and stiffer monocoque chassis. 

We drove the Tiguan over the same corner where we had previously tested the MG Gloster, Toyota Fortuner and the Ford Endeavour, and the results were startling.  At this corner the SUVs felt comfortable going at 50kmph, at 60kmph they struggled and anything beyond that they fell apart. Compared to the Tiguan, at 60 kmph it felt comfortable as it took the corner with ease and at 70kmph, where even sporty cars would struggle, the Tiguan remained almost unfazed. Sure the tyres were running out of grip but even at the limit the way this SUV behaved is commendable. It not only goes fast around corners but also feels comfortable while doing so!

Verdict

Overall, the Volkswagen Tiguan is an extremely likable car. It drives beautifully, it feels like it is made with utmost care and precision, and it looks quite classy too.

Sure, for some people it might come across as too expensive considering the size and features list, but the Tiguan offers a different type of quality. If you make your car buying decision from the heart it might just be perfect. If you enjoy driving, love the feel of quality and if you also like your cars to look and feel simple the Tiguan is made just for you.