We review / road test the R - Line version of Volkswagen's 2.0 litre TSI Tiguan, an aggressively styled version of
the standard Tiguan SUV.
The sturdy structure of the R - Line sitting on 19» alloy wheels makes the car something of a beast to look at — not at all like the pretty drab
standard Tiguan.
Aside from a 110 mm longer wheelbase, the new model looks largely unchanged from
the standard Tiguan.
The new long - wheelbase Tiguan offers three rows of seats and up to 57 percent more cargo space than
the standard Tiguan.
The new Tiguan is based on Volkswagen's Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) architecture and compared to
the standard Tiguan that is sold in Europe, the long - wheelbase version is 10.7 inches longer with a 4.4 - inches longer wheelbase.
A key ingredient of
the standard Tiguan's success is the the way it drives, so it follows that the Allspace version should also offer a great experience for the driver.
However, if those cars are too large — or
the standard Tiguan too small — then the Allspace makes a good case for itself as something of a happy medium.
Official towing figures are likely to be identical to those of
the standard Tiguan, ranging from 1,600 kg of unbraked towing capability for the least powerful petrol, all the way up to 2,500 kg for the more powerful diesel options.
Not exact matches
The car seen here is likely the
standard Volkswagen
Tiguan, although the automaker has confirmed it will make a special long - wheelbase, three - row model in Mexico for the U.S. market.
Although the new
Tiguan has already been on sale in Europe for more than a year, we've had to wait patiently for Volkswagen to kick off production of the long - wheelbase model, known abroad as the
Tiguan Allspace, as the
standard - wheelbase variant was not intended for North American consumption.
Any five - seat crossover bigger than the
Tiguan could compete with midsize, two - row crossovers like the Nissan Murano and Ford Edge, while the
standard - wheelbase
Tiguan would continue as a player in the popular compact crossover segment with the Honda CR - V and Ford Escape.
The Allspace comes better equipped than the ordinary
Tiguan; as
standard you get roof rails, a colour infotainment screen that allows you to connect your phone, and a multifunction steering wheel.
At least you get the torquey, 2.0 - liter turbo engine as
standard in the
Tiguan.
All these goodies, plus power - operated leather seats, a top - notch navigation system, and a better sound system, are
standard on the
Tiguan SEL 4Motion, which lists at $ 33,630 — $ 4065 more than our SE 4Motion model.
For the price, it would be nice to see the driver assistance technology included as
standard in the
Tiguan, however the $ 2000 price tag for the driver assistance package is not an out - of - the world proposition.
The
Tiguan includes its leather upholstery as
standard, while its driver assistance tech — which also includes auto parking — is an option.
The larger, heavier Allspace certainly won't better the 44mpg and 167g / km of CO2 of the
standard top - end
Tiguan BiTDI in automatic, four - wheel - drive form.
Although bigger than the
standard model, the
Tiguan Allspace shouldn't cost much more to run in the real world
Regardless of which model you choose, the
Tiguan Allspace offers the same combination of quality materials and great design and build that make the
standard version a standout model in its class.
Created first and foremost to appeal to American buyers, the
Tiguan Allspace is bigger than the
standard car.
Sport models come
standard with 6 - speed manual transmission; a 6 - speed automatic is available on 4x2 models and the Class - Exclusive 9 - speed automatic Based on Jeep's sub-segmentation based on compact sport and cross utility vehicles including Chevrolet Trax, Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Crosstek, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX3 and Volkswagen
Tiguan.
While the
Tiguan is a medium SUV under $ 60k contender, its performance and
standard equipment pits it against some plus - $ 60k SUVs like the BMW X3 and Volvo XC60.
Volkswagen
Tiguan S models are a bit sparse, so we'd opt for Match versions, which get a colour touchscreen sat - nav, climate control and front and rear parking sensors as
standard.
Too bad the 2015
Tiguan erases another entry from the cars available with a manual transmission; the stick was banished to the base trim in the 2014 model, and it has been purged altogether from 2015
Tiguan, with the six - speed automatic
standard in all and paddle shifters are added in top - level R - Lines.
The Volkswagen
Tiguan comes with traction control, electronic brake assist and six airbags as
standard.
The
Tiguan SE starts at $ 29,980 and comes
standard with an 8 - inch infotainment system with SiriusXM Satellite Radio, VW Car - Net Security & Service, KESSY keyless access with push - button start, automatic dual - zone climate control, rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, leatherette seating surfaces, Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring and Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert.
The new
Tiguan features
standard V - Tex leatherette seating surfaces with available premium Vienna leather seating, a panoramic sunroof with ambient lighting, leather - wrapped heated steering wheel, and dual - zone automatic climate control that keeps passengers comfortable.
Standard equipment tends to be a little more generous than the
Tiguan, with dual - zone climate control, rain - sensing wipers, a six - CD audio system, and auto headlights all part of the package before you start optioning - up with items like satellite navigation, parking sensors, self - parking, panoramic sunroof and heated seats.
Anti-lock brakes, traction control, and electronic stability control all come
standard in the
Tiguan.
Tech-wise, the
Tiguan lifts its game with a host of
standard safety features including front assist, city emergency brake (AEB), lane assist, driver fatigue detection, an active bonnet, park assist, and a rear - view camera.
What is it: The 2018 Volkswagen
Tiguan is bigger for the new year and offers third - row seating (
standard on FWD cars, optional on AWD versions) for the first time.
The
standard 2019 VW
Tiguan Allspace will come with a 1.4 - liter petrol engine.
Add around $ 3000 for R - Line — it's $ 4000 in
Tiguan but stuff like adaptive chassis control is
standard in the Allspace — and you come out to $ 55,000.
Plus, the
Tiguan is equipped with a
standard automatic post-collision braking system, which is designed to bring the SUV to a halt as soon as is possible following an initial collision in order to reduce the potential for secondary collisions.
Compared to the competition, the
Tiguan has a lot going for it, including a substantial number of
standard safety and comfort features, terrific performance and great styling.
With a completely redesigned interior cabin, the 2018
Tiguan once again takes the lead with its spacious, comfortable, and high - tech interior sporting the latest features, including V - Tex leatherette seating surfaces as
standard, a panoramic sunroof with ambient lighting, and dual - zone climate control technology among many others.
With its
standard seven - seat, the new Outlander will rival the upcoming Honda CR - V seven - seater and the Volkswagen
Tiguan.
There is a
standard third - row on front - wheel drive models, but if you're looking at the all - wheel drive
Tiguan, then the third - row is optional.
When configured with Volkswagen's 4Motion all - wheel - drive technology, the 2018
Tiguan comes
standard with two rows and a third row is optional.
The exterior design of
Tiguan also emphasizes ruggedness, with a 3 - degree departure angle and 7.9 inches of ground clearance, along with
standard roof rails.
In front - wheel - drive
Tiguan models, three rows of seating are
standard, including a second - row bench that can recline, slide seven inches fore and aft, fold down, and be split 40/20/40.
He said that, in line with the Volkswagen brand, the new
Tiguan would represent affordable luxury, thanks to solid level of
standard convenience and safety equipment, the largest cargo capacity in its class, and more efficient turbocharged four - cylinder petrol and diesel engines.
Apart from setting new
standards in design, driving experience, safety, comfort, space and functionality, Volkswagen says the MkII
Tiguan will offer the most comprehensive package of
standard safety technologies and assistance systems in the segment.
Reversing cameras area
standard on each, with the
Tiguan's 360 - degree parking camera part of the optional Driver Assistance Package (fitted, $ 2250).
That impression is reinforced by the vehicle's
standard 2.0 - liter, turbocharged four - cylinder engine that grinds out 200 horsepower and 207 lb - ft of torque, numbers that give the
Tiguan appreciable acceleration.
That said, the 2016 VW
Tiguan has a certain charm about it, and it's made all the more appealing by a
standard backup camera.
As
standard equipment,
Tiguan includes six airbags, with rear side airbags available as an option.
All told, the
Tiguan R - Line Aero Concept sits an astounding 4.8 - inches lower than the
standard model.
As
standard, the
Tiguan gets four modes to suit the type of terrain you're on — Normal for tarmac, Snow, Off - road and Off - road Individual.
EXPERTS REPORT «One of the interior highlights in the
Tiguan is the now
standard infotainment system.