The Tiguan is Volkswagen’s best-selling model worldwide. It’s equally adept at serving as a runabout during the week and transporting families to fun getaway destinations on weekends. We spent a month living with the Tiguan to see why buyers flock to it; can the VW stand up against a volley of new competitors?
The Volkswagen Tiguan underwent a facelift in mid-2021. The update introduced a more muscular front end, more (optional) passive safety systems, as well as a touch-based infotainment array and climate control console. Volkswagen needs to eke out 2 to 3 years with this revised model before its successor arrives – this could be the last version of the Tiguan to feature an internal combustion engine (ICE).
Volkswagen’s ID range of electric cars already includes an ID4, ID5 and ID6, all of which cover the family SUV segment, so, considering all the R&D that has been invested in those EV models, one would be forgiven for thinking that the Wolfsburg-based brand will de-prioritise upcoming ICE models (effectively leave them on “life support” until the official end of ICE in 2030). Having said that, Volkswagen can’t afford to neglect its best-seller (at least, not yet), because the Tiguan is a cash cow that helps to fill the brand’s coffers. If VW AG wants to lead the EV race into the next decade, it’ll need deep pockets.
Industry problems aside, the Tiguan has always had stiff competition, but its latest – and perhaps most dangerous – rival is not produced by one of Volkswagen’s old foes, but a new brand that’s determined to increase its market share as fast as possible. The usual competitors, such as the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Peugeot 3008, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Subaru Forester, to mention a few, are still there. However, the real threat to the Tiguan hails from China. The newly-launched Haval H6 is selling up a storm; its ascent up the sales charts has only been curtailed by supply issues, but they’re likely to be resolved soon. It offers a lot of car, for a lot less money. While it’s more likely to steal sales from brands that don’t have Volkswagen’s brand strength, the German giant will be keeping an eye on Haval.
Desirable appliance?
The R-Line body kit gives the Tiguan a little more road presence.
In the Family Car segment, you need to be able to compete on every level… okay, except handling dynamism. What you end up with is something that’s extremely practical, versatile and, ultimately, a tool.
For something that sits at the upper end of the segment’s pricing – and that’s before you’ve added on any of a host of options, the Tiguan looks bland unless it’s equipped with the R-Line exterior package. Sure, those R-Line looks draw attention on the school run or when you’re pulling into the gym’s parking lot, but has the VW’s base prices increased to such an extent that you may overpay for that “cred”?
That’s up to you to decide.
Meanwhile, is the Tiguan effective as a family SUV? First on the list of must-haves is practicality. Box ticked! The 520-litre load bay is more practical than its stated capacity suggests. It’s almost a perfectly flat square with minimal intrusion from the wheel arches, so it’s extremely easy to load in things, such as suitcases. There are neat little pockets at either end of the rear of the bay (for those smaller items you don’t want rolling around) and hooks on either flank for shopping bags, although reusable Woolies bags’ straps are a little too long to keep their contents from being deposited on the load-bay floor!
Check out the specs on the facelifted Tiguan here
Dropping the rear seats is easy as pulling levers in the load bay or releasing latches to the sides of the seat benches. Practicality-wise, this space is enormous and the seatbacks fold perfectly flat. Without a doubt, when its rear seats are folded down, the Tiguan has one of the biggest load areas in the segment. I know this because I’ve tried to pack my mountain bike into all of the Tiguan’s competitors – this is pretty much the only bay that will accommodate my bike while its front wheel is attached. It’s my very own industry standard, if you will – it thoroughly tests the length and width of a family car’s load bay.
Easy-to-use tech… can be frustrating
No physical buttons for the climate control or steering wheel toggles, they’re all touch-sensitive.
The move to digitise interiors to the extent that we need to be able to swipe or touch every control is very on-trend, isn’t it? Interacting with the Tiguan’s functions is exclusively done in this way and, in most instances, they’re a pleasure to use. The infotainment screen, for example, “readies itself” as your hand moves towards the monitor by raising a submenu with shortcuts. The system is quick to respond to inputs and seamlessly integrates with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Our test unit had a wireless charging dock too, something you’re going to need if you use the communication systems via wireless connectivity. I’ve found that in most cars, Wireless Android Auto helps to declutter the cabin (fewer cables!) but it sucks battery power and can cause intermittent connectivity – and not only in Volkswagens.
I’m not so convinced by the climate control console’s swipe functionality or the multifunction steering wheel’s touch-sensitive controls. I struggled to adjust the Tiguan’s interior temperature to the exact setting I prefer… so much so, that I eventually resorted to tapping the console (like you would a normal button). As a consequence, it takes longer to make an exact adjustment than it would if I used an old-school knob! The same goes for the steering wheel controls – as you slide the volume knob, it either doesn’t adjust the volume on the Harman/Kardon system… or cranks it up to Foo Fighters concert levels.
I admit, all the touch-sensitive buttonry looks great and when you first use it, it feels flashy and exciting, but after living with it for a while, you will either love it – or dearly miss the days of clicking buttons.
Once you figure out how to stroke the steering wheel “buttons” effectively, Volkswagen’s best tech systems spring to life. The adaptive cruise control is excellent at adjusting to the pace of preceding traffic, even when a huge truck suddenly veers into the overtaking lanes in front of you. Other car brands’ systems can be quite abrupt and analogue in how they deal with vehicles that pop into the radar’s range.
Is the 1.4-litre turbopetrol the right choice?
The 1.4-litre turbopetrol is frugal if a little bit plain to drive.
The 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine has served the Volkswagen Group’s small/medium car portfolio dutifully. In this car, the Tiguan 1.4TSI 110kW R-Line, the engine powers the front wheels only – if you want 4Motion (all-wheel-drive), you have to lump up another R68k, but that actually isn’t all that much if you consider that you’d get 162 kW and 350 Nm (from a 2.0-litre turbopetrol) compared with the 1.4’s 110 kW and 250 Nm. If your budget can stretch to the 4Motion derivative, it’s worth the extra layout due to the added usability of all-wheel-drive. Just watch that R-Line kit on the rough stuff.
As for the smaller-capacity engine, it proved quite frugal… After a month of running around in Cape Town (during the busy festive period, no less), the Tiguan 1.4TSI 110kW R-Line indicated a fuel consumption figure of 8.1 L/100 km. I’m confident that figure would have dropped close to Volkswagen’s claimed consumption figure (7.7 L/100 km) if the test unit did a few more long highway stints.
The Tiguan’s 6-speed dual-clutch ‘box is as good as any automatic transmission (and better than the CVTs) in the segment, although I found it would occasionally fumble when required to accelerate from a slow roll. It sometimes selected first gear. When that happens, the powertrain engages a bit more boost than you really want and the Tiguan tends to set off as if it has been woken abruptly.
The overall refinement of the engine and transmission combo is good, which is one of the reasons that the Volkswagen’s cabin is so quiet. There’s nothing particularly characterful about the 1.4TSI 110kW R-Line’s performance, as you’d expect from the motor’s mild outputs. However, this family SUV is priced at the top of its segment, so most buyers are bound to expect a consummate package.
Should you buy a Tiguan?
The facelifted Tiguan is not immediately as easy to recommend as it was when it was launched in 2016.
When this generation of the Tiguan arrived in local showrooms in 2016, it was easy to recommend. Simply put, it was the best model in its segment – aided by Volkswagen’s brand reputation and extensive dealer network, the Tiguan won its category in the 2016/17 Cars.co.za Consumer Awards. However, the facelifted model demands an even bigger premium over its rivals than before and that’s before you spec options such as the panoramic roof, wireless app connectivity, parking camera system and semi-autonomous driving tech (including auto emergency braking). As impressive as it is, the Tiguan’s pricey.
What counts in the Tiguan favour, however, is that its rivals are also ageing and none of them is superior to the Volkswagen. New models of the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage will arrive in Mzansi this year, which could see the VW’s market share decline. Having said that, if Haval continues to offer its H6 at R140k less than the equivalent Tiguan, all the legacy brands’ family SUVs are going to struggle.
