Volkswagen’s top-selling Tiguan compact SUV has followed the lead of the Golf/Jetta and Touareg in adopting Volkswagen’s latest styling looks as part of the 2012 model year upgrade.
But the bad news for compact SUV rivals is the price. Volkswagen has cleverly adjusted the model lineup and the new Tiguan range now starts below $30,000 at $28,490 for the 118TSI model.
That new model employs a new engine – Volkswagen’s twin-charge (supercharged and turbocharged) 1.4-litre TSI petrol with 118kW/240Nm. The new entry-level Volkswagen Tiguan drives the front wheels (all other versions are all-wheel-drive) via a six-speed manual transmission.
There are two other TSI petrol engines – both 2.0-litres in capacity. One delivers v132kW and the other 155kW (the most powerful Tiguan).
No changes for the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel (103kW/320Nm). The diesel joins the new 1.4-litre petrol in adopting Volkswagen’s BlueMotion technology –start/stop and brake energy recuperation for optimized fuel consumption and emissions.
Looks follow the lead of the Tiguan’s big brother with the compact SUV adopting the current Volkswagen horizontal front grille and ‘L’-shaped two-part rear light clusters. Range-topping 155TSI models score 17-inch alloy wheels while the rest run 16-inchers.
Volkswagen’s excellent Park Assist2 system, adaptive chassis control and satellite navigation head the options list.
The full range is:
118TSI 6-speed manual $28,490
132TSI 6-speed manual $33,490
132TSI 7-speed DSG $35,990
103TDI 6-speed manual $35,990
103TDI 7-speed DSG $38,490
155TSI 7-speed DSG $42,990
