Review of Volkswagen Tiguan R reveals ability and aptitude

Made famous by the Golf nameplate, the ‘R’ has just arrived in the SUV realm via the Tiguan. And it’s impressive.

Just because you have a family doesn’t mean you have to forgo driving pleasure.

Australians typically vote with their wallets when it comes to sporty versions of various vehicles and, in particular, prestige brands find the athletic options are most in demand.

That has flowed through to the white-hot dual-cab ute realm where special editions with a range of hardcore off-roading gear come standard – for a price.

Families have embraced SUVs in recent years with sedans gaining similar support to a Boris Johnson Christmas party.

Luxury marques have been delivering go-fast versions of SUVs for some time and now Volkswagen has brought firepower to the masses.

Just hitting showrooms is the VW Tiguan R which promises driving thrills fit for the whole brood.

The Volkswagen Tiguan R medium-size SUV pumps out 235kW/400Nm from its turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

KEL: Prestige looks, I love the on-road presence.

GRANT: Cool 21-inch wheels that fill the arches, classy lines and the body kit, it certainly looks like a step above your run-of-the-mill Tiguan.

KEL: I’ve always regarded Volkswagen as an upper-end brand in comparison to some of the big sellers such as Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai or Kia, but this looks expensive.

GRANT: The retail price is $68,990, a hefty jump from the base all-wheel drive “Life” which is $46,690.

KEL: That’s a reasonable investment without it wearing a prestige badge. What makes it so special?

GRANT: It’s fast. Quicker than any other mid-size SUV. The Golf R has a formidable reputation as a fire-breathing hot-hatch … this is the more family-friendly version.

Interior highlights of the Volkswagen Tiguan R are a 9.2-inch high-res touchscreen, digital cockpit, three-zone aircon, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

THE LIVING SPACE

KEL: Blue stitching on the Nappa leather seats, cool “R” embroidered into the headrests and a groovy sports steering wheel which is a nice shape, I’m feeling the sports vibe.

GRANT: Some man-made materials are among the leather finishes, but you’d never know. Other feature highlights include a 9.2-inch high-res touchscreen, digital cockpit, three-zone aircon, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Although absent is a phone charging pad.

KEL: The centre console cupholders are interesting with the small plastic arms which hug your takeaway coffee. It’s good they can also hold bigger bottles, perfect for my water when I head to the gym and then bring the caffeine home afterwards.

GRANT: Only two options are on the extras list and both the $2000 panoramic sunroof and the $1000 Harman Kardon stereo were fitted to our test car.

KEL: I’m a fan of the racy touches, like the “R” door sills, and the fact there’s still plenty of commonsense appeal ensuring it’s not all about going quickly.

GRANT: There are also 30 different interior hues you can choose from, and I’m also a fan of the logo which is projected onto the ground from beneath the front doors when open.

Back seat space in the Volkswagen Tiguan R is generous.

THE COMMUTE

KEL: Featuring a blue glow on the steering wheel, that “R” button hides the secret weapon.

GRANT: One press and you can shift through the various modes. “Race” delivers the most rapid acceleration and dials up the suspension as well as the all-wheel drive response.

KEL: I liked how the digital dials transformed into green in “Efficiency” mode and it sounded extra sporty when “Race” was selected.

GRANT: The latter was partly due to the augmented sound playing through the stereo but it could be turned off through the settings menu. There is nothing artificial about the performance, it’s quick and can achieve the 0-100km/h sprint in about five seconds using launch control.

KEL: The ride was firm but I would always expect that in a performance model. All the lane keeping functionality worked well, along with the radar cruise control which does all the braking and accelerating for you and removes the arduous work from driving in traffic.

GRANT: It’s also armed with a head-up display which features speed and various other information, although wear polarised glasses and it effectively renders it useless.

Kel and Grant Edwards.

THE SHOPPING

KEL: All nine grocery bags fit in the boot, and our weekend trip to the footy saw four deck chairs and a couple of backpacks swallowed without issue.

GRANT: Another one of my favourite features is standard – the boot levers which quickly drop the back seats flat in a 60-40 configuration. Great when loading sports equipment.

KEL: Being medium-sized I had confidence when parking, even in the underground concrete jungles which sometimes give me anxiety.

GRANT: The 360-degree camera view, along with sensors front and back support the parking process. Rear cross traffic alert warns of oncoming cars, yet it won’t stop the Tiguan if you continue towards its path – many vehicles now have the functionality where the autonomous emergency braking operates reverse as well as when travelling forward if a collision is imminent.

Priced from $76,372 drive-away is the Volkswagen Tiguan R.

THE FAMILY

KEL: During a long road trip we filled all seats and I was impressed with the space for those in the back with lots of legroom.

GRANT: Your father was singing the praises of the front-seat comfort levels.

KEL: Both front chairs were nice. I especially like how they weren’t overtly sporty – some bucket seats make climbing in and out a chore due to the size of the sides and leg bolsters.

GRANT: One USB-C charging port is available in the back and the separate climate controls are behind the console.

KEL: Always front of mind for me with European cars is the ongoing cost, how does this compare to standard Tiguans?

GRANT: Warranty coverage remains the same at five years with unlimited kilometres and one year of roadside assist. The five-year service plan is $3100, which is between $150-$500 more expensive than the other less powerful petrol models.

Volkswagen’s Tiguan R generates 235kW/400Nm from its turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

THE SUNDAY RUN

KEL: When the open road beckons it’s quite the ride.

GRANT: Accurate steering, taut chassis and tuned for cornering, the Tiguan R stays flat in the bends and has a magnificent acceleration response.

KEL: I really enjoyed the experience through some hilly terrain.

GRANT: VW’s “torque vectoring” feature sounds like something from The Jetsons, which uses constant analysis of conditions to shift power between front and rear axles, and also alternate between the two rear wheels where required. With no need for driver input it helps deliver outstanding grip.

Those in the back seat have their own aircon control and a USB-C port.

THE VERDICT

KEL: Awesome looks and performance, it’s certainly an SUV which successfully walks the line of functional and fun. Yet that athleticism comes at a price and I wouldn’t fully appreciate its ability daily.

GRANT: When compared with other mainstream rivals, the Tiguan R is a sporty standout. To have similar attributes in another brand you’d need to shop prestige and be looking at more than $100k. Across the board Tiguan availability is limited, but there is currently stock of this model around – but those keen will need to be quick, otherwise wait until early next year.