VW’s new Tiguan takes fight to SUV heartland

WITH the long-lived second-generation Tiguan now lastly clocking off after a nine-year manufacturing run, the arrival of the third iteration indicators a strategic shift for Volkswagen in Australia – automobile dynamics are nonetheless a precedence, however the model is now going in opposition to the grain and actively pushing downward into the meatiest a part of the mainstream. 

The brand new Tiguan vary spans a value window from $44,990 to $70,490 (earlier than on-road prices), with three powertrains (110TSI, 150TSI and 195TSI) shared throughout three trim ranges (Life, Class and R-Line). 

The 150TSI and 195TSI resolutely play in an area the place Volkswagen is already standard: within the latter years of the previous-generation Tiguan, it was the highly effective 162TSI that was the highest vendor, adopted by the much more potent Tiguan R. 

With the most recent Tiguan, energy remains to be anticipated to prevail within the gross sales combine, however the considerably sharper providing of the brand new 110TSI is predicted to search out extra favour amongst mainstream patrons who’ve sometimes seen the Tiguan as being ‘not for them’. 

“It’s additionally vital to think about that we’ve acquired rivals within the medium SUV house with 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engines, 2.5-litre naturally aspirated engines,” mentioned VW Australia appearing basic supervisor of communications Daniel DeGasperi. 

“I feel what’s actually good is we’ve acquired a automobile at $45,000 that’s actually, rather well outfitted. However, we’ve additionally acquired a (110TSI Class) on the market that’s optioned with the sound and imaginative and prescient pack, whenever you do this, you’re getting the smallest engine remodeled by that (new) DSG (transmission) with each bit of kit – pneumatic therapeutic massage, leather-based, Harman Kardon audio, head-up show, and so forth – and that talks to a brand new sort of buyer as nicely.” 

“We all know X-Path or Outlander or Forester personal patrons are fairly pleased with 2.5-litre naturally aspirated engines, and we expect we’ve acquired the higher engine with the 1.4-litre turbo that we will now supply with that very Touareg-level of luxurious. 

“The 110TSI Class (optioned with sound and imaginative and prescient) has an RRP of about $55,000 even whenever you’ve loaded it up, which is bang-on what the opponents supply with these atmo engines.” 

And in the course of the vary, whereas the 150TSI has a 12kW haircut versus the earlier volume-seller, the 162TSI, it’s nonetheless anticipated to be an enormous mover each in R-Line ($55,990) and Class ($55,990) grades.  

“It was staggering that even at almost ten years outdated, the (previous-generation Tiguan) 162TSI R-Line was nonetheless the primary vendor at $60,590,” mentioned Mr DeGasperi. 

“The opposite factor is that the 150TSI R-Line is now about $4500 cheaper than the outdated 162TSI R-Line, shedding a few minor options but additionally gaining an entire bunch of options.” 

Characteristic density of the brand new Tiguan vary is tough to dispute. Even the entry-spec Life grade comes with a powered tailgate, twin wi-fi telephone chargers, a 360-degree parking digicam and 9 airbags as commonplace – tools typically unseen on a base grade, mainstream medium SUV.  

Additionally unseen is a single hybrid within the new Tiguan line-up, nor plug-in hybrid (PHEV) or battery electrical variations. 

Whereas a Tiguan PHEV exists for abroad markets, Volkswagen’s native workplace maintains that the current launch of its all-electric ID.4 and ID.5 already present its prospects with eco-minded choices in a medium SUV kind issue and is mostly unfazed by the rise in market share of hybrid and PHEV fashions. 

With the dominant participant within the SUV phase, Toyota, having simply proven off its plans for its next-gen RAV4 – which can embody a plug-in hybrid for Australia for the primary time – time will inform whether or not Volkswagen’s all-combustion technique for the Tiguan will hold tempo with a broader phase migration towards electrification.