Volkswagen Tiguan Sport 2.0 TSI (DSG) Review: Eye of the Tig(er)

What we like:

All-rounded capabilities

less fussy details on the new nose

practical and spacious cabin

strong performance

What we dislike:

A tad too unadventurously styled for some

Inside, the Tiguan is a myriad of components and design themes from other models in the Volkswagen Group. The dashboard is lifted straight from the Golf Plus, which is no bad thing at all. The view out of the driver’s seat is just like from a Golf, albeit from a higher viewpoint. Visibility is excellent, making the Tiguan easy to place on the road. The driving position is highly adjustable and the front seats comfortable – any body shape and size will find the perfect driving position.

As ever, the Tiguan’s comes with the high quality materials and switchgear that is so synonymous with Volkswagen. Perceived luxury in here is even better than in more expensive models. the centre console features a touch screen infotainment system that incorporates a hard disk, satellite navigation and an SD card reader.

At the rear passengers will enjoy the comfortable and spacious accommodation. Just like in the Touran MPV, the rear seats can slide fore and aft to vary between legroom and load space. Rear passengers are also spoilt by the reclining back rests as well as the airplane style foldaway tables behind the front seats and air con vents. The boot has a flat floor and relatively well shaped and sized. Rear passengers will also enjoy good amounts of head and legroom and a good view forward as well thanks to a slightly raised seating position when compared to the front.

The cabin also offers lots of useable utility space with many storage spaces littered around. The new model’s cabin features no major changes when compared to the old except for a new colour screen for the MFD within the instrument column, KESSY keyless operation as well as the fitment of Fatigue Detection (a first in this class) as previously fitted on the Passat. Fatigue Detection detects waning driver concentration and warns the driver with an acoustic signal while a visual message appears in the instrument cluster recommending the driver take a break from driving. So how does Fatigue Detection sense if the driver’s concentration is waning? Well, it does so by analyzing the driver’s characteristic steering behaviour each trip and if the monitored parameters indicate a deviation from the usual steering behaviour, the system will output its warnings.

With this new, latest update, Volkswagen has made the all-rounded Tiguan look fresher and better than before and better equipped than previously, making it even harder to fault and not to like.

Credits: Story and photos by Raymond Lai