TIG THINKS BIG(some text hidden)

By Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Review word count: 43

Volkswagen's third generation Tiguan has been subtly moved up-market but will retain a familiar appeal to hordes of loyal customers who liked this lower-mid-sized SUV's two predecessors. It's been redesigned outside and completely upgraded within. Plus it's more electrified, bigger and better connected.

Background word count: 170

It's difficult to overstate the importance of the Tiguan to Volkswagen. Since the introduction of this mid-sized SUV model line back in 2007, it's regularly been the brand's global best seller, consistently since 2018 ahead of the Golf hatch it's always borrowed its engineering from. The second generation version announced in 2016 was even more successful than the first, contributing greatly to a sales total that had crested 7.5 million by the time of the introduction of the third generation model we look at here in Autumn 2023. This rejuvenated design shares its general size and market positioning with its predecessor (just above the T-Roc, just below the Touareg); but not a lot else. The evolved exterior look is merely a prelude to a completely redesigned cabin which borrows much from the design revolution also seen in the 9th generation Passat (with which this Tiguan now shares its upgraded MQB-Evo platform). Infotainment's also on a different level from before, borrowing lessons learned from the ID.7. It all sounds quite promising.

Driving Experience word count: 290

A Tiguan customer won't typically be looking for anything particularly dynamic behind the wheel. He or she will prioritise refinement, comfort and, a little surprisingly if the sales numbers are to be believed, 4WD. The big change with this MK3 model - the adoption of the company's new, more electrified 'MQB evo' platform - doesn't feel like much of a big change from behind the wheel, but that's only because Wolfsburg has decided it should be so, keeping the road manners uninspiringly firm but comfortable - the way it thinks most customers will like it. Actually though, quite a lot's gone on in terms of re-engineering - changes to the suspension, the adoption of the brand's 'Vehicle Dynamics Manager' system, re-tuned steering and an adapted 'DCC Pro' version of the brand's adaptive damping system. There's also an all-new PHEV eHybrid drivetrain option, based around a 1.5-litre petrol engine and a bigger 19.7kWh battery now offering a 60 mile EV range. There's a choice of either 204PS or 272PS models and either way, as before, the eHybrid set-up's only front-driven and mated to 6-speed DSG auto transmission. Unlike most of its rivals, Volkswagen can't offer a full-Hybrid powertrain for those who can't stretch to PHEV tech, but it has added its mild hybrid eTSI tech into the Tiguan range - that's what we tried. The 1.5-litre eTSI model in question comes either with 130PS or, in the form we tried, with 150PS. Which returns similar efficiency figures to those you'd get from the continuing 2.0 TDI 150PS diesel model. All conventionally-engined Tiguan variants use the brand's 7-speed DSG auto transmission. If you want 4MOTION 4WD, there's a flagship unelectrified 2.0 TSI 265PS flagship model which gets to 62mph in just 5.9s.