The all-new, third-generation Volkswagen Tiguan is bigger in many ways than before – yet also downsized in one significant aspect.
It brings with it lots of new tech, a generous list of standard features, and the promise of better affordability too, thanks to a powertrain that slots in neatly into Category A COE classification.
In line with Volkswagen’s evolving design language, the new Tiguan takes quite a significant visual departure from its predecessor. Its headlights are positioned higher than before, and are now connected by a slim LED-light bar for a more contemporary look.
The new Tiguan now gets a slim LED light strip running across its face, and now offers Volkswagen’s IQ.Light technology as an option.
Optional IQ.Light HD Matrix LEDs have also made their way down here from the more-expensive Touareg. These feature 19,200 modules each, which promise to provide better illumination to drivers when on the road.
Size-wise, the Tiguan hasn’t changed in most regards – whether it’s in terms of width, height, or even its wheelbase, which remains at a sizable 2680mm. However, its overall length has increased by 30mm, allowing designers to increase boot space by 37 litres to 652 litres.
Yet despite its larger dimensions, the car has grown more aerodynamic, with its drag coefficient dropping from 0.33Cd in the previous generation, to 0.28Cd now.
INTERIOR
In line with its notably tweaked exterior, the Tiguan has gotten a significantly upgraded cabin, too. A thoroughly redesigned dashboard sees the car benefitting from a generous serving of digitalisation, with a 10.25-inch Virtual Cockpit and a heads-up display.
Perhaps more significant, however, is the introduction of a free-standing 15-inch infotainment touchscreen – marking the first application of its kind in a Volkswagen ICE-model in Singapore. This unit runs on the firm’s latest MIB4 system, which sports a fresh look and a revised tile-based interface.
The final piece of digital real estate in the front is positioned at a point you might not notice at first: a rotary selector – with its own OLED touch display – now forms the heart of the centre console.
By default, this allows occupants to adjust the volume of the car’s speakers – but depress the button once, and the display switches to allow for the selection between the car’s drive modes. Swiping right on the selector then brings you to a new feature dubbed “Atmospheres”, which offers up a multitude of experience modes that alter the infotainment themes and ambient lighting colours.
With the selector on the centre console, the car’s conventional gear lever has also been replaced by a steering column shifter, mounted to the right of the steering wheel.
The appearance of the column in the new Tiguan is like the ones on Volkswagen’s all-electric ID. models, with the brand stating that the feature will become more prominent over time to create extra space up front. Operation is relatively intuitive – swivelling backwards brings you to Reverse, while swivelling forwards puts the car into Drive.
POWERTRAIN
Built atop of the MQB Evo platform, the car is now offered as a mild hybrid, and is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre engine mated to a 48-volt integrated starter-generator. System output stands at 129bhp and 220Nm of torque, which puts the Tiguan back in Category A COE after over a decade.
Mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the Tiguan has a 0-100km/h timing of 10.6 seconds. Worth noting is that the SUV is front-wheel-drive rather than all-wheel-drive.
Meanwhile, the mild hybrid system – as well as the car’s Active Cylinder Management (allowing for half the cylinders to be deactivated under certain conditions) – give the car a claimed fuel consumption figure 14.9km/L. This also helps the Tiguan land under the neutral VES B banding.
Its promises of added affordability aside, the new Tiguan’s other calling card appears to be its generous equipment list. The SUV is being offered in two trim levels in Singapore: Life, and Life Plus.
Features such as a panoramic sunroof, tri-zone air-conditioning, and an extensive suite of advanced safety aids are delightful – if unsurprising – standards. The latter comprises an extended list of systems, including Park Assist Plus, Side Assist with Rear Traffic Alert and Exit Warning, and Adaptive Cruise Control.
What should be surprising, however, is the fact that massage and ventilated seats for the front row are standard as well. The former offers a total of eight different massage patterns, which can be operated for up to 30 minutes continuously at a go.
Stepping up the Life Plus adds fancier 20-inch alloys (one size above the standard ones), the aforementioned IQ.Light technology, as well as dynamic turn indicators.
The all-new Volkswagen Tiguan is now available for booking. Prices start at just under $200,000 for the Life trim, inclusive of COE.
