Volkswagen Tiguan 2019 Review

By: Zaran Tarapore

October 10,2018

4 min read

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Volkswagen Tiguan 2018 Review

Introduction

The compact crossover class has grown exponentially with manufacturers from across the world wanting in on this lucrative segment. The Volkswagen Tiguan has been a steady contender since 2007 and today, in its second-generation guise, it goes up against the Audi Q3, BMW X1, and Volvo XC40.

Exterior

To compete with the expanding waistlines of compact SUVs, the second-generation Tiguan has grown 59mm longer and 31mm wider. Flaunting the brand’s all-new design language, the Tiguan bears a strong resemblance to its older brother, the Touareg, but flaunts an aura of its own. The Tiguan’s presence is heightened with:

20-inch Suzuka alloy wheels
Chrome along its bodywork
Deep creases that make it look beefy and intimidating

Interior

Matching its growth spurt on the outside, the Tiguan has grown on the inside and offers a lot more space than one would expect to find in a compact crossover. With practicality being the Tiguan’s strong point, it offers:

Numerous cubby holes around the cabin
A sliding and reclining second row
Seats that fold in practical 40-20-40 splits

Adding to its comfort and practicality are:

Folding tray tables for rear seat passengers
USB charging ports
A tri-zone climate control system to ensure all occupants are at ease

If you’re still not sold, the Tiguan packs another trick up its sleeve in the form of boot space. At 685-liters behind the second row, the Tiguan offers significantly more space than both its German rivals and its Swedish competitor.

Features

Staying competitive in a crowded segment of the market and offering more than enough to lure young, affluent buyers, the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan is armed with:

A full-length panoramic roof
An 8-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and smartphone mirroring
A 400-Watt DYNAUDIO sound system

Specific to the driver are:

Adaptive Cruise Control and speed limiter systems
A 12-inch display for navigation, vehicle, and entertainment information
An Automated Parallel Parking system that has mixed reviews

Drive

The Volkswagen Tiguan, though practical and good-looking, has never ranked highly on the excitement scale. However, with the 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine shared with the legendary hot hatch, the Golf GTI, things have changed.

Depending on the selected drive mode (Comfort, Normal, Sport, Individual), the Tiguan channels 220 horsepower through a 7-speed DSG gearbox with varying degrees of urgency. With the pedal to the metal, it will hit 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds and top out at 220 km/h, which are impressive numbers for a family SUV.

Part of the excitement comes from the balance and engagement provided by the 4Motion All-Wheel-Drive system and an extremely precise steering wheel, making the Tiguan feel like a Golf GTI in stilettos. That’s a wonderful thing, as the Golf is an amazing and engaging car to drive.

Verdict

At AED 176,000, the Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line is better than its German and Swedish rivals, but it isn’t the best bang for your buck. What you should do is ditch the optional R-Line body kit, save yourself AED 12,000, and settle for the Sport trim with the same phenomenal engine for just AED 164,000. It’s still a lot of money, but it’s a lot of car too.