There will be no sales backlash against turbo-diesel engines in the second-generation Tiguan SUV line-up despite the 'Dieselgate' emissions cheating debacle, Volkswagen Group Australia believes.
Three turbo-petrol and two turbo-diesel engines are to be offered in the new Tiguan launch line-up that goes on sale here in September. The base 1.4-litre TSI four-cylinder with active cylinder management will be the front-wheel drive price-leader and offer the choice of six-speed manual or dual-clutch DSG automatic gearboxes.
The rest of the range will be all-wheel drive, using the latest generation 4MOTION Active Control system, and seven-speed DSG as standard. They include 2.0-litre 132TSI and 162TSI turbo-petrols and 110TDI and 140TDI turbo-diesels.
Volkswagen claims fuel efficiency improvements of up to 24 per cent for the Tiguan’s engine line-up, but did not issue full specs for all drivetrains in Berlin.
However, all are Euro 6 emissions-rated and VW is emphatic that none of the new-generation EA 288 diesels contain the ‘defeat device’ cheat software found in the old EA 189 engines that triggered dieselgate.
Volkswagen Group Australia product marketing manager Jeff Shafer predicted diesel engines would continue to sell well in the Tiguan line-up in Australia despite the trust issue Volkswagen had created for itself.
“I understand it’s a difficult topic. Customers can see that it’s a brand-new engine -- it's an engine that uses different types of technology like the SCR Adblue for example.
“The scrutiny from outside Volkswagen can give them confidence in the vehicle. Diesel as a fuel is fairly well understood in Australia and people are pretty comfortable with it.
“I don’t expect there will be significant shifts in engine mix. I think people will judge the product on its own merits. I think the mix will probably follow whatever the market trends are for petrol and diesel.”
Three specification levels Trendline, Comfortline and Highline will continue for Tiguan and an R-Line package will also continue to be offered.
As per the current Tiguan line-up not all engines will be available in all grades.
The new Tiguan is the first SUV from Volkswagen to be based on the modular MQB architecture that already underpins the Golf VII and latest Passat B8 launched in Australia last October.
It is longer, wider and lower than its predecessor, with up to 145 more litres of boot space (before folding the second-row seats) than the cramped first-generation Tiguan.
It will also come loaded for bear in terms of equipment, although how much safety and comfort equipment will be standard cross all grades and how much will seep into some or simply be optional is yet to be determined.
But we do know the App Connect feature will be standard, allowing Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink smartphone connection, as will such safety staples such as seven airbags.
But where advanced driver assist systems such as Front Assist with City Emergency Braking, Pedestrian Monitoring and Lane Assist will sit and at what level the advanced TFT Active Info Display, LED headlights, inductive smartphone charging and adaptive chassis control – to name just a few of the features available -- will be introduced is being held back for now.
But Shafer says the extra size and the extra equipment will push the price up “a reasonable amount”. As we've reported, the price hike is also part of a premium push by Volkswagen Group Australia.
The current Tiguan line-up starts with the $28,990 118TSI, which is already a higher manufacturer list price than popular rivals such as the Mazda CX-5 and the Toyota RAV4.
“Our intention is not to be the cheapest in the market, but we would certainly aim to make it a benchmark in its segment as Golf is,” said Shafer. “Golf isn’t selling primarily on a price-point.
“You can expect the pricing to go up, but that with the equipment, the size and the changes to the vehicle it will still represent really good value.
“The position is not to be the lowest price point out there but to offer the most compelling package.”
The test cars in Berlin were not fitted with spare tyres but Shafer indicated that would likely not be the case for Australia. An off-road face that improves the approach angle would come from at a later date. A top-spec 176kW turbo-diesel engine is also on the wish list.
Shafer said the mid-spec Comfortline trim level would likely continue to be the sales heart of the range. Overall he predicted a boost in sales compared to its predecessor, which ranks only behind Golf, Amarok and Polo in Volkswagen's Australian sales order.
“There will be a few engines offered, so you would have a choice of variants in the Comfortline. The mid-grade is where a lot of buyers flock to.”
Watch out for our first drive review of the new Tiguan on Monday.