The Tiguan is not only one of the most popular family SUVs out there, but for the past three years, it has been Volkswagen’s biggest-selling model across the globe. Take that in for a moment – the Golf is no longer the brand’s definitive product.Best car price in Australia 2024.
This fact alone should alert you to the changing automotive landscape we’re currently living in. Blend in the shift to electrification, the fact that legacy manufacturers like VW are effectively running parallel ICE and EV businesses, as well as trying to keep on top of the escallating techology race, and fighting off the growing challenge from China, and you can see how the firm might choose to play it safe with its most popular model.Best car price in Australia 2024.Now in its third generation, the Tiguan is extremely important for VW – and although it has indeed chosen quite a restrained design direction, it’s hiding its light under a bushel as there’s plenty of tech evolution to get our teeth into. Whether you appreciate the design conservatism in a class populated by increasingly bold-looking cars is down to you. But rarely does VW get it wrong at the heart of its model range.
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What’s new?
It’s longer, taller and wider than before, it’s also larger inside, and sits on the same MQB Evo platform as the forthcoming Passat. That should come as no surprise, and expect Skoda and Cupra versions to follow, as well as a seven-seater Allspace.
In order to take on the Nissan Qashqai, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage et al, the VW Tiguan comes with a wide range of engines, configurations and power outputs. Given the firm’s premium volume positioning, it’s going also need to have enough appeal to offer an alternative to the BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Volvo XC40. A tall order.
Skirting the conservative styling, with ID-like front end, and skip straight to the interior and things start to get a little more interesting. There’s a new infotainment system, which echoes what’s offered in the ID range, and you can’t escape noticing that it’s super-sized, ranging from 12.9 to 15.1-inches. You could say it’s too big and a bit intrusive, but we’d argue it’s easy to drive, with large buttons and a simple user interface.
How does it drive?
VW’s pushed the boat out here in an effort to make the Tiguan appeal to keen drivers. So it’s been given two-valve dampers promising to facilitate both a smooth ride and agile cornering. Has it worked? You bet, with the eHybrid proving to be the surprising dynamic star of the range.
That inevitably leads me back to the drive modes (which seem to be a big factor in VW’s best cars) and the various suspension settings on offer. Adjustment involves a play with the sliders on the drive mode screen, with generous differences between soft and firm settings.