96 MAY / JUNE 2022 popularmechanics.co.za
PM GARAGEThere’s a lot to love about
this mid-sized SUV, so in that
regard not much has changed
for the VW Tiguan since its
launch in the late 2000s. But a
closer look at this new release
reveals several upgrades and
improvements, making it an
even more desirable family
commuter. Our ‘Lapiz Blue
Metallic’ test unit was the
1.4-litre TSI bedecked in
R-Line trim. While the
engine’s displacement might
seem relatively small, its
performance is anything but,
kicking out 110 kW of power
and a respectable 250 Nm of
torque. That’s more than
enough to easily take a family
of four plus all of their luggage
on a long road trip.
Fuel consumption too was
respectable, though not very
low by modern standards. The
manufacturer claims economy
figures of around 7.7 L/100 km;
in our real-world experience itwas closer to 8.5, but that
included a lot of stop-start city
driving. On the open road you
can expect that to drop.
The interior is spacious,
seating up to five comfortably.
Finishes feel classy – leather
seats all round (heated for the
driver and passenger), air-con
controls in the rear, tintedprivacy glass, and 60:40-split
rear seats, behind which is a
520-litre boot that’s boosted
to 1 655 litres with the seats
folded down.
Several driver aids bolster
the value offering, including
adaptive cruise control,
pedestrian monitoring and
autonomous emergency
braking, to name just a few.
Suspension is firm, but that
facilitates crisp and responsive
handling. That said, for short
commutes or hours on the open
road, it’s difficult to fault this
as an excellent all-round family
vehicle. – Mark SamuelDRIVING
Volkswagen
Tiguan 1.4 TSI R-Line
PH
OTOGRAPH
Y:^
NICKY
LLOYD,^
MARKSAMUEL» 1.4 L petrol
» 6-speed automatic
» 3-year/120 000 km
warranty
» 5-year/90 000 km
service plan
» 110 kW; 250 Nm
Priced from
R670 200
vw.co.zaFIGURES
While the engine
displacement might
seem small, its perfor-
mance is anything but.