Volkswagen Tiguan 2016 Review

Volkswagen Tiguan 110TSI, 110TDI, 132TSI and 140TDI
Australian Launch
Byron Bay, NSW

It's been eight long years since Volkswagen launched its first compact SUV in Australia (nine in Europe), so to say the second-generation Tiguan is long awaited is  understating the matter. The first SUV to be based on the MQB platform from the latest Golf, the new Tiguan is so much bigger it's now classed as a medium SUV. Combine class-leading cargo space with a wider range of more efficient turbo-four engines (three petrol, two diesel), competitive pricing and an unrivalled level safety equipment, and it's no wonder Volkswagen expects the MkII Tiguan to be its second best seller and among the nation's most popular SUVs.

It might've been as predictable as the winner of most Formula 1 races, but Volkswagen's new Tiguan has arrived with all boxes ticked.

Fact is the MkII Tiguan, one of the most significant model releases of this year, was always going to hit the sweet spot in a medium SUV segment that shows no sign of slowing in SUV-hungry Australia.

That's because it's based on the same polished underpinnings as the accomplished Golf 7, from which the Tiguan also borrows its base petrol and diesel engines – and the GTI-spec mill in the top-shelf 162TSI Highline.

In addition, there are perky new 132TSI and 140TDI engines, both of which also deliver more torque and lower fuel consumption than the engines they replace, and a huge five-seat interior with acres of headroom, rear leg and shoulder room and a class-leading 615-litre boot, which extends to 1655 of total cargo volume – 145 more than before.

Add to that all of Volkswagen's latest comfort, connectivity and safety equipment, and – even at prices "premium for the people" prices slightly higher than its direct Asian-brand rivals – the reinvented Tiguan was destined to be a hit.

But we've know all that since our all-too-brief encounter at the global launch in April and the announcement of Australian specifications in June and local pricing in July.

What we didn't know was how well the latest Tiguan would handle local conditions, which is precisely what we subjected it to this week, over a variety of urban, rural and highway roads in northern NSW.

And the report card is just as predictable: every variant we drove (and we drove them all except the base 110TSI manual, stocks of which are yet to arrive, and the 162TSI flagship, which arrives next year) was impressive in its own way.

Yes, withholding the 'poverty pack' model on the basis of non-availability is one of the oldest tricks in the car company press launch playbook, but given some variants were air-freighted from Germany just in time for the dealer and media launches this week, we're inclined to believe it on this occasion.

Besides, we drove the entry-level 110TSI Trendline in DSG auto form (six-speed, not seven, as in all other models), and even bush-bashed it through rutted gravel back-roads once used by the Australian WRC round, despite VW's request for us not to do so in front-wheel drive models, as the base 110TSI Trendline and Comfortline are.

In fact, notwithstanding its more pronounced understeer and more regular stability control system intervention in slippery switchbacks, the 110TSI was the pick of the bunch off-road, where its 17-inch tyres rode smoothly over the same high-speed potholes and mid-corner corrugations that had the 140TDI R-Line's 20-inch rubber and Adaptive Chassis Control working overtime.

It wasn't uncomfortable – far from it – just not as supple as the 110TSI or the 132TSI on 17s, and yet both those models offered the same taut body control and flat cornering attitude as the top-spec R-Line despite their more compliant ride.

Steering was glitch-free too – including the R-Line's sportier Progressive steering set-up, which comes with a tighter ratio – with all models being well weighted, accurate, reasonably communicative, ever-ready to self-centre and devoid of any kick or rattle.

Just as we'd hoped, the Tiguan chassis is progressive yet precise, predictable yet responsive and comfortable but vault-solid on all manner of surfaces, and whisper-quiet in all conditions – even the torrential rain we hit on the freeway.

Inside, from the moment you close the door behind you with that oh-so-cliched thud, it's clear the Tiguan cabin is all class. Soft materials cover almost every surface, the 8.0-inch colour touch-screen with smartphone mirroring is upmarket, the seats are comfy but well bolstered and even the base model's cloth seat trim well presented.

But it's out back, on the sliding and reclining rear bench, where the new Tiguan's 30mm wider and 60mm longer body (and 76mm longer wheelbase) is most apparent.

Standard equipment is generous and extends beyond many of its rivals to rear air-vents (with climate controls from Comfortline level), two massive overhead consoles, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control and a leather-clad multi-function steering wheel.

However, base Trendline models miss out on chromed roof-rails and window surrounds, keyless entry/starting, foglights, folding front seatback tables, rear armrest, tray table cup-holders, three-zone climate control, Tulsa alloys, Comfort cloth trim, carpet floor mats, Premium (colour) Multi Function Display trip computer, Discover audio and navigation, footwell lighting, front map lights, front lumbar adjustment, remote rear seat folding and drawers under the front seats.

Safety is best in class, with all models brandishing automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, fatigue detection, seven airbags, pedestrian-friendly active bonnet, dynamic brake lights, post-collision braking, extended electronic diff lock, semi-automated parking (including parallel), tyre pressure monitoring, front/rear parking sensors and a reversing camera with dynamic guidelines and multi-angle views.

Highline models add a big dose of luxury with supple Vienna leather trim, powered driver's seat, a hands-free tailgate, tinted rear glass and tail-lights, 18-inch alloys, ambient lighting, voice control, Discover Pro infotainment, heated front sports seats, LED DRLs, premium tail-lights and shift paddles.

And the 140TDI Highline's optional R-Line package should tempt Q3, X1 and GLC buyers with the aforementioned steering, suspension and wheel upgrades, plus a host of sporty interior and exterior add-ons for an extra $4000.

Among the options packs is a Driver's Assistance package comprising 12.3-inch Active Info Display, adaptive cruise control, Side Assist, 360-degree Area View and Rear Traffic Alert ($2000 on Highline, $2250 on Comfortline).

Then there's the $5000 Luxury package for Comfortline models, which effectively lifts the Comfortline to Highline standard by adding leather upholstery, powered driver’s seat, heated front seats, power fold-in mirrors, keyless entry/start, hands-free tailgate and sunroof.

The only other options are metallic/pearl paint ($700) and a panoramic sunroof (Highline only, $2000).

The 140kW/400Nm 140TDI R-Line is a nice piece of kit, but for $4000 on top of the Highline's $49,990 ask ($1500 more than the $48,490 162kW/350Nm 162TSI Highline), it's expensive – without adding the cool digital instruments and safety extras in the $2000 Driver Assistance pack.

At the other end of the scale, the 110kW/250Nm 110TSI Trendline manual ($31,990 plus on-road costs) is a classy entry car but lacks the undoubted confidence of VW's latest 4MOTION Active Control tech, plus all the Comfortline extras.

And while the DSG auto costs $2500 more, the 110TSI Comfortline DSG costs only another $1500 more at $36,990, but still lacks AWD.

In between, the 110kW/340Nm 110TDI Comfortline adds 4MOTION but lacks the 400Nm punch of the 140TDI and still costs a tidy $42,990.

So the pick of the bunch at $41,490 is the 132TSI Comfortline with seven-speed DSG and 4MOTION, which with 340Nm of torque on tap from just 1500rpm feels as grunty in the midrange as the 140TDI but is more responsive and spins freely to beyond 6000rpm.

Yes, like all turbo-petrol Volkswagens, it drinks 95RON premium unleaded, but if it had the 140TDI's shift paddles – and the DSG reverted from manual to auto mode after you use them, like most other paddle systems – it would be the perfect mid-size near-luxury SUV.

2016 Volkswagen Tiguan 132TSI Comfortline pricing and specifications:
Price: $41,490 plus on-road costs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 132kW/320Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 7.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 173g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP

Also consider:
Mazda CX-5 (from $27,190)
Nissan X-TRAIL (from $27,990)
Toyota RAV4 (from $27,990)