Australian New Car Buyer – June 2019

158 |AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE

V

olkswagen’s has temporarily
reduced the number of
variants in the fi ve seater
Tiguan range, as it needs to get
all models approved in Europe
under a new emissions testing
regime called WLTP.
So the base model 110TSi
1.4-litre turbopetrol, and the
110TDi and 140TDi 2.0-litre
turbodiesels are not avilable
at present. VW says the 110TSi
will return, but the fate of the
diesels is still to be decided. We
suspect they are done for, given
VW’s recent diffi culties with
emissions regulations.
Tiguan fi ve seater now starts
at $43,150 for the 132TSi 2.0-litre
turbopetrol DSG Comfortline, with
a seven-speed DSG transmission
and all-wheel drive.
The 162TSi Highline, with a
162kW 2.0-litre turbopetrol, is
$50,150.
A seven-seater Tiguan
Allspace, with a 109mm extended
wheelbase, is priced from $44,650
for the 132TSi Comfortline, rising
to $51,650 for the 162TSi Highline.

The driver sits in a typically

fi rm, comfortable chair, facing

a dash similar to the Golf, with

VW’s typically clean, effi cient

layout, albeit with a few quirks.

Access to all seats is easy via

wide opening doors.

The rear seat is comfortable

and spacious, with an adjustable

backrest angle plus 180mm of

fore-aft adjustment.

In the fi ve-seater, VW claims

a class leading 1655 litres of

boot space with the 40/20/40

split rear seat folded forward

in extended mode, easily done

via remote levers in the cargo

bay. With all seats in use, the

615-litre load space is generous

and the low fl oor convenient,

as is hands-free opening and

closing for the tailgate.

You can also program its

opening height.

VW correctly calls Allspace

a “5+2”, because the two fold

up rear seats are suitable only

for young kids – or very short

trips – and access is tight. The

larger section of row two is on the

kerbside, so it takes some muscle

to fold and slide it to let kids in

and out of the back stalls.

Tiguan is the benchmark drive

in the mid-size SUV class.

Dynamics are outstanding, with

excellent control, security and

roadholding on rough surfaces.

All-wheel-drive models

have an extended electronic

differential lock on both axles,

which helps the Tiguan get

around corners with great

poise and improves traction on

unsealed roads.

The ride is a touch lumpy and

fussy, but big hits are absorbed

with ease.

VW’s 132kW 2.0-litre engine

is getting on, as evidenced

by noticeable turbolag

when moving off from rest,

accompanied by the usual

momentary hesitancy from the

DSG transmission. Once rolling,

it’s a tractable, refi ned engine.

Allspace’s handling is as

good as a seven-seater SUV

gets. A relatively light 1735kg,

continuously variable all-wheel

drive, disciplined body control,

accurate, well-weighted steering

and strong brakes give the

Allspace more agile, responsive

handling than most fi ve seaters.

You would no doubt be familiar

with the baggage that the VW

brand carries, and will for

some time. The reliability of its

vehicles is inconsistent, while

governments and regulators

around the world are hauling

VW through the courts over

its deceptive conduct in the

Dieselgate emissions scandal..

The extent to which these

issues affect VW’s brand

credibility is up to you to decide,

because you are the customer

VW wants. The Tiguan, though, is

an undeniably formidable effort

that vies for best in class status

with the Subaru Forester.

VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN FROM $43,150

THINGS WE LIKE

 Smooth, quiet frugal engines

 Roomy cabin and boot

 Excellent fi t and fi nish inside

 Secure and comfortable on the

open road

 Class-leading safety

THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE

It’s expensive

DSG transmission has its quirks

Space-saver spare

Question marks remain on long-

term reliability

SPEX (132TSi Trendline DSG)

Made in Germany

2.0-litre four-cylinder turbopetrol/

seven-speed DSG/all-wheel drive

132kW of power from

3900–6000rpm/320Nm of torque

from 1500–3940rpm

0–100km/h in 7.7 seconds (claimed)

6.5L/100km highway; 9.2L/100km

city; 95 octane premium; CO 2

emissions are 173g/km; fuel tank

is 60 litres

Warranty: Five years/unlimited

kilometres

Standard: seven airbags, stability

control, low speed automatic

emergency braking, lane departure

warning, rear camera with

multi angle views and dynamics

guidelines, 18-inch alloy wheels,

tyre pressure monitoring, eight-

inch touchscreen, Bluetooth,

app-based USB smartphone

connectivity, automatic headlights,

automatic parking

Redbook future values: 3yr: 51%;

5yr: 35%

compare with ...

Ford Escape, Honda CRV, Mazda

CX-5, Skoda Kodiaq, Subaru

Forester, Toyota RAV4

Safety

EuroNCAP

Performance

Handling

Quality and reliability

Comfort and refi nement

Value for money



Overall



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