THERE was no real compelling reason for Volkswagen to make wholesale changes to their popular Tiguan SUV – but that hasn’t stopped them.
Not content with over 7.5 million sales worldwide since it hit the streets, the new third generation version has been extensively revised both inside and out to make it an even better proposition for the family SUV buyer.
There’s more space inside in a car that majored on roominess already, a decent choice of trim levels and an engine range that kicks off with their efficient 1.5 litre petrol engine, now with mild hybrid assistance to bolster performance and economy.
Tested here is the eTSI 150 (148bhp), which managed a 0-62mph time of 9.1 seconds. While it needs revving fairly hard to get the very best out of it, there’s plenty of available grunt for everyday driving.
You can encounter a little bit of hesitancy from a standing start, which can be a mildly frustrating but on the move the automatic gearbox will smoothly change down a gear when you need a burst of acceleration.
The previous Life model weighed in at 1510kgs – the new model has put on nearly 100kgs to tip the scales at 1616kgs. It looks a bigger proposition and it is.
In fact all the bases have been touched and ticked – safety, styling, space, technology, engineering, performance and economy – so the perceived improvement is not just visual.
Getting comfortable in the latest Tiguan is easy, thanks to plenty of adjustment from the seat and steering wheel, with power adjustable lumbar support for the front seats standard on Life trim and above
The smart interior offers plenty of soft-touch, leather-like materials on the doors and dashboard, with other areas featuring gloss black and silver trim. And the dash is now one continuous sweep across, housing the large easy to use 12.9 inch infotainment screen, located in the middle and with a whole raft of user friendly software.
Leg room is generous in the rear seats, with plenty of space for feet underneath the front seats. Head room for tall occupants is unlikely to cause any issues.
Overall body roll is well controlled and the ride quality won’t upset anyone aboard. It feels agile and cushions bumps well, but its regenerative braking – which gathers electricity when you press the pedal – will occasionally increase the braking force without any warning. Coming to a smooth halt is not as simple as it should be.
Quality comes at a premium of course, and Tiguan ownership will set you back more than some of its immediate competitors like the SEAT Ateca, which is also built on the MQB platform but which costs less of your hard earned.
With a variety of engine sizes, trims, and with four wheel drive available, Tiguan has always been one that can tick the ‘capable’ and ‘able’ boxes. Probably now even more so.
VW Tiguan Life eTSI 150
Price: £36,720 (£37,875 as tested)
Engine: 1.5 litre, four cylinder, mild hybrid petrol
Power: 148bhp
Torque: 185lb/ft
Transmission: seven speed DSG
Top speed: 130mph
0-62mph: 9.1 seconds
Economy: 45.6mpg
CO2 emissions: 141g/km
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