If you're looking for a family-friendly mid-size SUV that's a little more muscular
and premium than most, this could be it. It's the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan
162TSI R-Line. And today, we're gonna take a closer look. So come on, let's go.
[pause]
In early 2021, Volkswagen announced a mid-life facelift for its popular Tiguan SUV range,
bringing more safety and tech along with a refreshed exterior, but of course, those
extras came at a cost. Fast forward to today, and you won't get your hands on a 2021 plate Tiggy
for less than $40,000. And the flagship R-Line we're testing here, it costs just under $54,000
before on-road costs. Oh, and add in another $800 for this metallic nightshade blue colour.
Vying for attention alongside top-selling rivals like the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 and Nissan
X-Trail, Volkswagen positions the Tiguan as a more premium choice, something for those less
concerned with price tags and more interested in cutting-edge technology, German engineering,
and importantly, stylish design. That's something this top-spec Tiguan delivers in spades,
and it's the R-Line's exterior design that sets it apart from other more affordable variants.
It gets unique front and rear bumpers, side skirts and a rear spoiler, as well as trick Matrix LED
headlights in this flagship-grade. 20-inch wheels add to its staunch look, as do dynamic
indicators all-round. This 162TSI power plant is the most popular choice for Tiguan buyers,
combining a 2.0-litre petrol engine with Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel drive system.
A seven-speed, dual-clutch auto comes standard, sending the Tiguan's 162 kilowatts of power and
320 Newton-metres of torque to each corner, while steering wheel shift paddles add driver
engagement. Inside the cabin, it's a conservative yet functional fit-out, with plenty of tech
and clever storage cubbies. It's a space that feels just as high class as pricier German SUVs.
As expected, build quality and materials are top notch, and the Tiguan brings both steering wheel
and electric seat adjustability, so it'll suit drivers of pretty much any size.
Flagship R-Line grades also come with classy Vienna leather upholstery
and ambient interior lighting with a ton of colour options. This huge 9.2-inch
touch screen also makes a statement. It comes standard in Elegance and R-Line models and is
intuitive and easy to use. The only thing I feel like is missing is a volume knob.
Touch-sensitive buttons and slider controls now replace conventional buttons and knobs on the
climate control display, infotainment unit and steering wheel of high-grade Tiguan's.
And while they seem high-tech and fiddly at first, they're actually responsive and kind of fun to use
once you know what you're doing. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is a standard inclusion,
as is navigation and Bluetooth. As with every 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan, the German maker's IQ Drive
safety suite brings AEB, blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control with stop and go,
lane assist, park assist and plenty more. There's also a sub-menu in the central
touchscreen that helps you visually understand and adjust each driver assistance feature.
Storage in the Tiguan is good, and if you get one without a sunroof, it's even better.
Instead of the glass roof, you get a pair of large trays in the ceiling.
As with every other Tiguan, the rear seat is best left to two adults instead of
three. But those two people will be pretty happy, with just as much legroom as there is headroom.
Features include a center armrest, outboard ISOFIX points, one USB-C and one 12-volt plug,
as well as separate temperature control buttons. All Tiguan's offer a big 615-litre boot,
along with another 12-volt power outlet, shopping bag hooks and a space saver spare
tyre under the floor. Despite the fact it's been revised for 2021, Volkswagen has steered
clear of making any changes to the Tiggy's drive and handling, and that's a good thing.
[pause]
It's good because the Tiguan was already great to drive. It feels solid and poised on-road,
there's good vision in every direction, and it's just easy to get settled into.
Having that punchy Golf GTI-derived powertrain under the bonnet means you're
up and off without much effort. It's certainly zippy, but don't expect hot hatch performance
or a sound track to match. As usual, take-off isn't instant, thanks to lag from the dual-clutch
auto, but at speed, the gear box is smooth. And when you're using the shift paddles or gear
stick in manual mode, it's responsive. With its large 20-inch wheels, low-profile tyres
and sporty suspension setup, the ride is on the firm side, but it's never harsh or jarring.
That said, it still does a good job as a daily driver, and is just as happy curving corners as
it is meandering through the suburbs. Steering response in this tester, as we found in previous
Tiguan's, is still a little vague, but with progressive steering fitted to R-Line variants,
it stiffens up slightly in Sport mode and gives you a firmer feel.
Because of that large wheel and tyre combo, the cabin isn't as quiet or refined as it is in
the 110TSI entry-grade that we've recently tested. There is a fair bit of road and tyre noise inside
the cabin, especially on coarse-chip surfaces. You also get a fair bit of feedback through the
steering wheel over bumps and potholes, but the Tiguan never feels unsettled. It's been
close to Volkswagen's combined fuel consumption claim, even bettering it after a long stint of
highway driving. But we had it averaging between 7.6 and 9.6 litres per 100Ks. With Volkswagen's
all-wheel drive system and an array of drive mode options on board, including Sport, Comfort, Snow,
and even Off-Road modes, there's added assurance should you ever plan on some light off-roading.
Every 2021 Tiguan is covered by a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty,
and available with three or five-year service plans, which cost $1200 and $2400 respectively.
In isolation, the Tiguan 162TSI R-Line is a great SUV that combines a family-friendly cabin and
plenty of performance. It also looks the goods and comes with a host of user-friendly tech. But
at around 55K, Volkswagen's top-shelf medium SUV will simply prove too expensive for many. However,
those prepared to pay for the quality, tech and performance on offer here won't be disappointed.