Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan is a C-segment SUV that competes against rivals like the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, and Nissan X-Trail. Locally assembled in Malaysia, it comes in only one variant priced at RM 166,650.

How the 7-seater Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace makes sense in Malaysian market

120 units of Volkswagen Tiguan to be supplied to Le Tour de Langkawi

RADICAL CrossBlue Coupe: Next-Gen Concept of Volkswagen Tiguan

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan Gallery

Design

Exterior styling is rather conservative, as with most Volkswagens. Although compared to the previous generation, the car is now lower and wider from before, with more lines and creases on the body.

Dimensions

Lighting

As standard, the Volkswagen Tiguan gets adaptive LED headlamps and full LED tail lamps.

Wheels

Wheels measure 18-inch in size, wrapped with 235/55 profile rubbers.

Dashboard

Like the exterior, the interior design is on the conservative side, despite the angular design cues. The upper dashboard is covered with soft touch materials while the bottom half is hard plastic.

Instrument cluster

The Tiguan comes with a 12.3-inch Active Info Display. Resolution is high and graphics are simple to understand.

Space and practicality

The interior feels rather spacious and cubby spaces are large, the door bins can fit a 1.5-litre bottle and so can the glovebox. There is also a tray behind the front seats for the rear passengers.

Boot

Boot space is large at 615 litres. What’s more is that the shape is square and there’s practically no load lip to lift items over.

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan Specs and Features

Safety features

The Tiguan gets 6 airbags, stability and traction control, Active Bonnet Pedestrian Protection that releases the bonnet from the hinge to minimize head injury during a pedestrian collision.

Comfort features

The sole variant is featured with 3-zone automatic climate control, 12-way power adjustment for the driver seat, electric tailgate, and auto-dimming rearview mirror.

Infotainment

There is an 8-inch touchscreen display Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity linked to 8 speakers.

Engine

The Volkswagen Tiguan is powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that makes 150 PS and 250 Nm of torque.

Transmission

The engine is paired to a 6-speed wet type dual clutch transmission (DSG)

Chassis

Under the skin lies the MQB platform while suspension duty is handled by MacPherson struts at the front and multi-link at the rear.

Engine performance

Once the initial delay is past, the engine pulls strongly for its size and output figures. There’s a healthy amount of torque in the lower to middle rev range that is ideal for daily driving.

Transmission performance

The 6-speed wet DSG shifts as quick as one would expect from a dual clutch transmission, and is just a tad clunky at low speeds.

Steering and handling

The MQB platform shines in the handling department. The Tiguan feels more like a hatchback to drive than an SUV. Body roll is kept in check in the corners and maintains composure at all times.

Sound proofing

Cabin noise level is generally low. Mechanical noises are well suppressed and tyre noise is commendably low. Like many SUVs in this segment, wind noise does become intrusive at high speeds.

Passenger comfort

At low speeds, the suspension can feel a little busy. But once the speed picks up, it flows along nicely. Add that to the generous amount of headroom and kneeroom, the Tiguan becomes a comfortable companion for long-distance journeys.

The Volkswagen Tiguan’s fuel consumption is rated at 6.7-litre/100 km.

The Volkswagen Tiguan represents an alternative to the Japanese rivals like the Mazda CX-5 and Honda CR-V. It is a solid all-rounder; it’s comfortable and yet manages to handle well with decent performance, all wrapped in a practical SUV body.  

However, it lacks any form of ADAS and the dual clutch transmission isn’t quite suited for our congested roads.

For those who seek that Teutonic feeling of a well-insulated cabin and firmer suspension though, the Tiguan should fit right to your liking.