Any automaker that can lay claim to selling an average of more than 435 000 units of a model range each year for 17 years quite obviously realises they have done something right and any updates to said model should not mess with the formula – and Volkswagen has done just that with the latest iteration of the Tiguan.
The 1.4 TSI Life on test showed this as clearly as it did what can only be termed Volkswagen's ‘dependability’. As South African car buyers negotiate tough economic times despite an interest rate cut but with a petrol price looming, car ownership terms are being extended for both private and corporate customers.
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While the sticker prices of many Chinese brands make for attractive reading, the dependability of the trade value of a Volkswagen five years down the line keeps so many buyers brand loyal and prepared to take the pain of the higher purchase cost—our test unit retails as standard at R702 800.
Like most other European motor manufacturers, Volkswagen also leaves plenty of choice for buyers regarding add-on options for its cars as opposed to the ‘what you see is what you get’ approach.
The test car, for example, came with metallic paint, a tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof with a rear panoramic sunroof, trailer hitch: mechanical swivelling and power-detachable, with Trailer manoeuvring system, Life Plus Package: Adaptive cruise control with forward collision warning and braking reaction to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists and rear traffic alert, lane change system and rear-view camera system, 18-inch Bologna alloy wheels, power tailgate, keyless entry with Safelock and Varenna Leather Seats with massage seats in front.
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Arguments rage back and forth about add-on versus included but, even though they are recorded as ‘Dealer Sales’ each month, much of the new car activity in the country remains corporate purchasing – and certainly a big part of Volkswagen’s business – in the form of fleet pool cars, company cars and car allowances so fleet bosses can specify exactly what they want and leave out the unnecessary items.
It is an argument with no real right or wrong and one likely never to end. However, the add-ons did give the Tiguan a seriously luxurious and upmarket look and feel in addition to the hefty redesign that marked the arrival this third-generation version.
The latest model gives SUV aesthetics a modern flair with a more robust front end, complete with integrated LED headlights and a sleek, glass-covered horizontal bar that replaces the traditional grille. The design enhances aerodynamics, achieving a notable reduction in drag coefficient from 0,33 to 0,28.
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Inside, the Tiguan has undergone a comprehensive makeover, showcasing high-quality materials and an innovative cockpit layout. The new modular infotainment matrix (MIB4) integrates seamlessly into the interior, featuring a Digital Cockpit with anti-reflective display technology and a large infotainment screen that can measure up to 15-inches. This new system prioritises user-friendliness, with customisable menu navigation and touch controls for ease of access.
While the touchscreen is fairly intuitive and easy to use, I do still favour climate controls as separate knobs on a pure safety note as fiddling with a screen is as distracting for a driver as operating a cell phone.
For the first time, the Tiguan is available with IQ.LIGHT HD matrix headlights, which utilise an impressive 38 400 multi-pixel LEDs to deliver high-resolution lighting.
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The new model also comes equipped with an extensive suite of driver assistance technologies, including Park Assist Plus, adaptive cruise control, and a comprehensive set of safety systems designed to enhance the driving experience and ensure occupant protection.
Despite only a modest increase in length of around three centimetres, the new Tiguan offers significantly improved cargo space, expanding the luggage compartment by 37 litres to a total of 652 litres when the rear seats are upright.
The 1.4 TSI engine paired with a 7-speed DSG transmission, delivers 110 kW of power with 250 Nm of torque available from 1 500 r/minand is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 9,2 seconds. Fuel consumption on the test averaged 7,9 l/100 km and will probably hover in the mid-eights for mainly urban usage, giving a tank range of 650 km or better, depending on driving style.
In terms of the base price comparison scale the Tiguan Life comes up against the Toyota RAV4 2.0 GX-R AWD (R705 600), Mitsubishi Outlander 2.5 GL (R709 995) and Kia Sportage 1.6CRDi EX (R716 995) and, while all of those have larger capacity engines, the 1,4-litre turbo fitted to Volkswagen competes on a near equal footing – its claimed top speed of 207 km/h besting the rest.
Out on the road, the large glass area provides excellent visibility with enough of a raised driving position to negotiate our many road hazards as well as to make parking simple and straightforward, whether going in forwards or backwards.
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Road manners are excellent, and it offers Eco, Comfort and Sport driving modes to suit the needs of the occasion – with Sport providing a decent sense of urgency that can be enhanced via the paddle shifters for more complete driver control.
The Tiguan is designed and intended as an urban traveller and touring vehicle but it will sail through the twisties with sufficient poise and grace to make it fun and it certainly does not shy away from more vigorous driving.
There is little doubt this new Tiguan will continue to gain followers and with the ‘R’ version to come, there is still plenty to look forward to.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
proudly CHANGECARS
* Images may be different specifications to the vehicle tested
