2017 Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI R-Line review

2017 Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI R-Line review
Take our 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan 162 TSI Highline as a perfect example.

It takes the practical shape and functionality of the second-generation Tiguan SUV and throws in 4Motion all-wheel drive and the Golf GTI’s 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine. Part hot hatch, part sensible wagon.

The question really is, should this have just been called the VW Tiguan GTI?

On the performance front, the Tiggy matches the Golf for straight line speed. Volkswagen claims a 6.5-second run to 100km/h for both cars, the 300kg heavier Tiguan making good use of the all-paw traction to get the power to the ground.

There’s a newer seven-speed DSG transmission in the SUV too (the Golf makes do with a six-speed unit), and with the addition of the $4000 R-Line package, which adds the body styling kit, 20-inch wheels and sports suspension, it looks the part, too.

But the GTI lore is built around a more raw and emotional driving experience and tartan seats. The Tiguan, as well sorted as it is, misses out on both.

Don’t get me wrong though, it is still a nice and sensible place to spend time.

The new Tiguan is 60mm longer and 30mm wider than the car it replaces.

The 615-litre boot (measured with the rear seats as far forward on their rails) can expand through the 40:20:40 split seats to 1655-litres. It is a very usable space, even with the rear row slid backwards, with a false floor, storage cubbies, space saver and some tools.

Plus, there are clever little lugs on the side of the boot walls that hold the floor up while you toil underneath.

You’ve got remote releases for the rear seats, a 12-volt accessory outlet, plus the boot itself is powered. In terms of family-use practicality, all the key questions are answered.

You can option in a panoramic sunroof for $2000, but without it, like on our test car, you score a huge roof console with four, count them, FOUR sunglasses holders. Now everyone in the family can look cool!

Up front, heated and powered leather seats are standard and the driving position is pretty spot on. Volkswagen has a good handle on ergonomics but also familiarity, and from behind the wheel, there is no mistaking the fact you are in a VW.

The 4Motion AWD system runs a front-bias and will apply as much as 100 per cent of torque to the rear wheels when it needs to. Throw it in to a tight bend, and the XDL front differential will brake the inside wheel to help the Tiguan pivot through the corner.

Push just hard enough and you can feel the back end coming around, in sort of a mild oversteer balancing act.

Push too hard though and the Tiguan, on its Pirelli Scorpion tyres, will push understeer. A warning that perhaps you are taking this sports SUV thing a bit far, and should probably settle down a bit.

Sure, the Tiguan is some 44kW out of the power race, but both run an AWD chassis, and the leather seats and more luxury oriented approach is much more R than a tartan clad boy-racer GTI.

It isn’t the fastest hot-hatch-SUV on the block, the Ford Escape Titanium pips it for power at 178kW, but the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan 162 TSI is a really solid jack of all trades result of making a sporty SUV.

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