Volkswagen’s Tiguan is now lighter and faster

It was back in 2017 when VW brought the current generation Tiguan to India. The diesel-only, 5-seat premium SUV was locally assembled and was offered as a cheaper alternative to compact luxury SUVs like the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA. Fast forward to 2020 and VW pulled the plug on the Tiguan, replacing it with the larger petrol-only Tiguan Allspace.

Now the 5-seat Tiguan is back, but with two major changes over the 2017 model – it got a facelift and the diesel mill has made way for a 2.0-litre TSI petrol unit from Allspace. So, how is it?

Starting with the exteriors, it is the nose of the SUV that gets the most notable change. The blocky headlamps, grille and bumpers from the previous car make way for a more fluid design in line with the new VW. The headlamps are spread out like the arms on a pair of sunglasses, and within them you’ll find the new DRL signature and ‘IQ Light’ beams – VW speaks to the Matrix Adaptive LED headlamps. This time there is more chrome in the grille then some in the front bumper.

Around the edges, it has the same straight-less and crease-heavy profile as before, which includes newly-designed, 18-inch alloy wheels. And at the rear, there are LED tail-lamps, more chrome in the bumper and the Tiguan nameplate which has now moved to the center of the tailgate. You’ll also notice the new, flatter VW logo incorporated all around.

Inside, the basic design of the cabin remains largely unchanged. It’s still a black cabin, which is incredibly well built. Fit and finish are all but flawless and nearly every surface is soft-touch. what changed? VW has a new generation steering wheel, which feels like a long overdue upgrade. You now get a 10-inch digital instrument cluster (like the AllSpace) with three configurable displays. The 8.0-inch touchscreen uses VW’s new operating system, and the gear selector, too, is of a new design. The USB ports are now all Type C, while ambient lighting can be adjusted between 30 colors.

One change we’re not so hot on is the change from rotary knobs to touch panels for AC controls; They are distracting to use on the move. Other standout features are heated leather seats (ventilated ones would have been ideal), three-zone climate control, on- and off-road drive modes, and a panoramic sunroof, but what we’d love to see at this price is a 360-degree camera. and wireless phone charging.

The sculpted seats, front and rear, may feel a bit comfortable for the large frame, but they are comfortably padded. The rear seat space, as before, is ample, and there’s plenty of thigh support from the seats. A middle traveler will find it a squeeze, though, and will have to contend with a large center console between their legs. What’s more, you can adjust the seat recline angle and slide the bench forward or backward to free up more luggage room, if you need it. Not that with the 615-litre you can offer, and the option to split the backrest 40:20:40.

As with every VW group car in India now, the updated Tiguan is petrol only, and uses VW’s 190hp, 320Nm, 2.0-litre TSI mill, which also did duty in the Tiguan Allspace. This is a good motor in the vein of the many great TSIs that have gone before it. The Tiguan feels slightly lighter and lighter on its feet than its AllSpace sibling, and in a quick performance test, it did 0-100kph (it also has launch control) in under 8.5 seconds. This unit however isn’t an outright sporty engine and is most comfortable at eight-tenths compared to tough stretches. The DSG gearbox, meanwhile, is as smooth and quick to shift as ever.

The 2.0-litre TSI can be a drinking problem if you’re not careful – we’ve seen this in the Allspace and Skoda Superb. This is despite the use of engine stop-start and engine decoupling during coasting, and although we didn’t do an instrumented fuel efficiency test, it performed slightly better than the Allspace, hitting the 10kpl mark in mixed driving. Did.

On the road, the Tiguan is a sonic dynamic package. There’s that superb European tenacity with which it goes about its business, and beyond a sliver of inherent tenacity there exists an all-conquering ride quality. The 55-profile tires of about 18-inch wheels, coupled with strong suspension, can be completely nimble by the worst Indian roads can throw at them.

Changing the drive mode doesn’t affect the suspension, but then you don’t need to; The standard set-up is just that good. The suspension also gives it good body control in the corners, and the AWD system offers plenty of grip, but like the engine, you don’t want to push too hard. That’s because the steering, though sharp enough for everyday use, isn’t meant to engage you in a spirited drive, and it’s ultimately a big, heavy SUV geared more towards comfort.

It may be cheaper than SUVs from luxury brands but compared to its peers in the premium SUV space, the old Tiguan was a costly affair. Four years later, this new effect doesn’t change that perception. At ₹31.99 lakh (ex-showroom, India), it is out of the league of the Compass and Tucson, instead swapping it out with the likes of the Citron C5 Aircross. Plus, with a petrol engine, you’re not fully offsetting the sticker price with the cost of running it over time. Yes, with petrol prices the way they are currently, that thirsty engine will factor into the purchase decision.

If you’re okay with that, though, what you’re getting is a premium SUV that does almost everything almost perfectly. It is luxurious, well built, well equipped, comfortable, sophisticated, spacious and even quite decent to drive. In fact, it still delivers on that promise made by VW – it’s pretty much everything you could want from a luxury SUV at a (slightly) lower price.