2017 Volkswagen Tiguan Test Drive Review

2017 Volkswagen Tiguan Review

Car Tested: 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan; Road Test No. 829; Test Location: Chikmagalur

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 34.26 – 38.53 lakhs

The Volkswagen Tiguan slots itself as a niche offering in the SUV segment

The first generation Volkswagen Tiguan was launched globally in 2007 and it was based on the PQ35 platform, but it didn’t make it to Indian shores back then. The automaker showcased the second-generation Tiguan at last year’s Auto Expo and now the car has been launched in India. Based on the flexible MQB platform, the new Tiguan is positioned in the premium SUV segment. It also marks Volkswagen’s re-entry in the premium vehicle space, after the discontinuation of the Touareg and Passat. But, does the Tiguan really have what it takes to set the sales charts on fire?

Motor Quest: The MQB platform underpins a lot of cars from the VAG family which includes Volkswagen, Audi and Skoda. This platform is known to be flexible and it underpins a variety of cars from different segments.

Exteriors – The front fascia of the Tiguan comes with sharp LED headlamps flanked next to the typical Volkswagen grille with a subtle chrome strip at the bottom. The front bumper gets a dual-tone finish and comes with LED fog lamps with static cornering lights. The headlights are very powerful and perform brilliantly. You also get an auto headlamp feature. The side profile is again subtle and premium looking and comes with a thick crease running across the waistline. You get body cladding while the ORVMs come with puddle lights, electric adjustment and turn indicators, along with a heating function. At the rear, you get LED tail-lights. The boot lid can be opened electrically via a button in the cabin or via the key fob. It also has a gesture-based opening system but it seldom worked when we tried it. The Tiguan is nicely designed and looks good but it isn’t too big in size and definitely lacks the road presence of other SUVs in this price range.

Interiors – The dashboard has been designed in a user-friendly manner. The steering wheel comes with controls for audio, phone and cruise control and the flat-bottom unit is similar to the wheel on the Polo. The instrument cluster is easy to read and comes with clear dials. The multi-function display is a colour unit and shows detailed information about the car, audio, phone, driving details, etc. You also get a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The screen is smooth to use and sound quality from the speakers is fantastic. However, the infotainment system shockingly misses out on in-built navigation, especially when the car costs this much. You can use navigation via Android Auto through your phone but it isn’t possible on Apple CarPlay. The panoramic sunroof adds to the airy feel in the already spacious cabin. The subtle LED ambient lighting adds to the feel good factor.

Interiors are well-finished & comfort levels are amazing with the large seats

The Tiguan gets a 3-zone climate control system that works well and the AC chills the cabin in a jiffy. All round visibility is good and the front and rear parking sensors are super useful. You also get a rearview camera but the resolution didn’t feel crisp and could have definitely been better. What I really loved about the Tiguan are the seats. The front seats are large and very supportive but only the driver’s seat comes with electric adjustment and memory function. The headrests are large and have soft cushioning which feels comfy. At the rear, you get 60:40 split seats. The seats are again large and can be reclined too. Space is very generous and knee room and head space are fantastic. I traveled in the Tiguan for 600 kms over a period of two days and didn’t feel tired at all. The boot capacity is also generous at 615-litres and it can be stuffed with a lot of luggage.