The Volkswagen Tiguan is among the older medium SUV fashions on the market in its present era (it premiered in 2016) but it stays probably the greatest.
Significantly at its greater trim ranges, the Tiguan is a well-packaged, good-looking and fun-to-drive providing that straddles the road between mainstream and luxurious merchandise as all VWs ought to.
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Whereas the longer Tiguan Allspace is extra household pleasant, the common five-seat physique type we’ve got right here appears higher. It’s edgy sheetmetal has aged effectively and the massive wheels give it an important stance.
It’d seem that the Tiguan 162TSI Monochrome particular version reviewed here’s a marketing-led providing to revive curiosity. However the one factor holding again the Tiguan of late has been lack of provide.
Suppose moderately of the Tiguan 162TSI Monochrome as a de-contented model of the favored 162TSI R-Line at a barely cheaper price level – with doubtlessly shorter wait occasions as a result of elimination of some chip-heavy options.
How a lot does the Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI Monochrome price?
The Tiguan 162TSI Monochrome prices $53,390 earlier than on-road prices, which is $5300 lower than the better-equipped 162TSI R-Line with metallic paint (customary on the Monochrome).
For those who want extra space, the Tiguan Allspace Monochrome seven-seater (reviewed here) with the identical 162TSI drivetrain prices $55,690.
The medium SUV section is probably the most hard-fought nook of the market, with top-shelf opponents together with:
Costs exclude on-road prices
What’s the Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI Monochrome like on the within?
The Tiguan has proximity key entry, that means you simply method with the fob in your pocket and the door unlocks, and the aspect mirrors unfold. In basic VW type the doorways shut with the heft of financial institution vaults.
Whereas the seats are technically a downgrade on the common 162TSI R-Line’s leather-based pews, I see few points with suede, fabric and leatherette. They give the impression of being nice and provide good ranges of help and bolstering, although word they regulate manually moderately than with powered help.
Some ‘racy’ touches embody carbon-fibre-lookalike trims on the doorways and sprint, R-Line logos right here and there, and metallic pedal caps.
Many surfaces are padded, and the overall construct high quality and end is completely first-rate. That is correct old-school Volkswagen.
The steering wheel appears nice and has properly perforated hand grips, however I discover the haptic-feedback touch-sensitive black plastic items on the wheel spoke to regulate audio and security features to be needlessly fiddly to make use of. We aren’t the primary to notice this.
I’ll grant these wheel controls one optimistic: you may change the audio quantity ranges by frivolously sliding your left thumb horizontally. In any other case, simply no.
Behind the wheel sits a completely digital instrument cluster with excessive ranges of configurability – extra so than the (initially) sharper-looking items within the Tucson/Sportage. As an example, you may view driving maps in full-size, or neatly sandwiched between the devices.
The centre touchscreen is a downgrade from the Tiguan 162TSI R-line, measuring 8.0-inches moderately than 9.2-inches. It’s one a part of the inside that does really feel a bit dated, though its loading occasions are first rate.
It gives satellite tv for pc navigation, wi-fi cellphone mirroring, properly designed automobile standing menus, and haptic touchpoint toolbars. It additionally has a gesture management system whereby a dismissive hand wave close to the display screen takes you to the subsequent menu. A bit naff, however type of cool.
The reverse-view digicam high quality is middling, a smidgen grainy truly, however on the plus aspect you may make the aspect mirrors robotically dip for when parallel parking alongside a raised kerb.
Under the smallish display screen sits one other shiny black plastic, touch-sensitive management financial institution for the air-conditioner, which I truly discovered comparatively simple to make use of. Under this sits a flat rubbery pad in your cellphone, plus USB-C (x2) and 12V inputs.
There’s a good diploma of storage together with bottle holders within the doorways, an open part behind the gear shifter with pop-out cupholders, a centre console, glovebox, and a dashtop cubby. Volkswagen continues to trim inside these storage areas with cloth to muffle noise, which is a pleasant contact.
The elective sunroof removes the nifty rooftop storage bins, however for me that’s an inexpensive trade-off.
There’s some further effective detailing such because the chunky knurled rotary dial to vary driving mode, which looks like a Swiss watch, and the raised ‘4Motion’ badge behind the leather-trimmed gear shifter. All of the buttons are damped, and satisfying to play with.
Whereas the 4.5-long short-wheelbase Tiguan is kind of compact by class requirements, its again seats are spacious sufficient for me (194cm) to take a seat behind my very own driving place with knee-room and foot-room to spare. Headroom was plentiful even with the sunroof.
The trims on the doorways are first rate high quality, and there are numerous stowage bins, seatback pockets, coat hooks and a flip-down armrest with cupholders. The again seats are just a little flat within the base however provide adjustable backrests and headrests.
Different facilities again there embody LED studying lights, a USB-C port and a 12V outlet, plus rear vents with their very own temperature zone. There are additionally three top-tether and two ISOFIX factors, however we’d just like the doorways to open just a little wider for loading youngsters aboard.
The boot is accessed by a manual-only tailgate (one other instance of de-specification) and is rated to retailer 615 litres with the again seats in place (which fold in three sections 40:20:40) in use, and has a ground size of 977mm.
Fold the second-row down through levers within the boot and you’ve got 1746mm of ground and 1655L capability. There are additionally bag hooks and stable tie-down factors. Elevate the boot ground and you discover the now-common space-saver spare wheel – higher than a restore equipment at the least.
Take word that the Tiguan Allspace provides a folding third-row of seating and gives a 700L boot with two rows in use.
What’s underneath the bonnet?
Energy comes from the acquainted 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine utilized in different Tiguan 162TSI variants (and the previous-generation Golf GTI).
Whereas not as potent because the hardcore Tiguan R, the Tiguan 162TSI nonetheless gives a really respectable 162kW (4200-6000rpm) and 350Nm (1500-4000rpm), among the many strongest medium SUVs at its worth.
From the listing of opponents above, solely the Mazda CX-5 Akera with 170kW and 420Nm from its 2.5-litre turbo outguns the Tiguan. The Hyundai and Kia’s top-performing engines are diesel, although each provide a 1.6-litre turbo-petrol as effectively.
The Volkswagen’s engine is mated to a full-time 4Motion all-wheel drive system with torque-on-demand and a seven-speed DSG transmission.
That’s ample for a zero to 100km/h time of about 7.Zero seconds, which is hot-hatch ranges of fast. Claimed gas effectivity is 8.5L/100km and it requires costly premium unleaded (95 RON).
Volkswagen advises a braked-trailer towing capability of 2500kg with a 200kg towball obtain ceiling.
How does the Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI Monochrome drive?
The Tiguan drives in a trend that many compact SUV don’t. It’s enjoyable.
The engine is implausible, with a heap of torque from proper down low giving robust rolling response, and a slick-shifting dual-clutch transmission.
There are myriad driving modes to cycle by way of, with the sportiest setting holding decrease gears for longer to maximise response, and there are paddles in the event you fancy a self-shifting stint.
The AWD system means no axle-tramping on arduous acceleration, with variable torque cut up including reassurance on slippery surfaces. The Continental tyres are prime quality too.
The varied modes regulate issues like engine and transmission response, and even experience high quality.
The Tiguan belies its body-style with distinctly car-like dealing with, providing wonderful physique management – little in the best way of itemizing or rolling in corners – and good responsive steering.
It additionally settles effectively after undulations and gives wonderful ranges of experience consolation over patchy roads, even with the adaptive chassis management’s dampers set to their sporty setting.
It behaves like an elevated sizzling hatch.
The unbiased suspension contains MacPherson struts on the entrance and four-linkages on the rear plus electronically adjustable damping. The turning circle is listed as 11.9 metres and the operating floor clearance 185mm.
Off the overwhelmed path, that is clearly no low-range-toting bush-basher, nevertheless it does have devoted soft-road modes that tweak automobile behaviour throughout a number of slippery floor varieties and a touchscreen menu with key info similar to pitch and roll angles.
The Tiguan’s driver-assist options, specifically adaptive cruise management and the semi-autonomous lane-keeping assist, labored flawlessly on highways, however I dislike the steering wheel controls to activate them.
For instance the black plastic piece with haptic suggestions requires a mild faucet to extend velocity increments, and a firmer press to extend the velocity goal by 10km/h, however I clearly lack the requisite light contact to work it reliably!
What do you get?
The 162TSI Monochrome is a de-specced 162TSI R-Line, dropping customary options such because the latter’s 9.2-inch touchscreen (8.0-inch as an alternative), powered tailgate, powered leather-based seats (ArtVelour/fabric), heated seats and steering wheel.
“The Monochrome… permits us to tailor packages that keep away from prolonged wait occasions brought on by semiconductor shortages, in a useful particular version format for patrons,” says model director Michal Szeniecki.
Outdoors
- Gloss black 19-inch wheels
- Area-saver spare wheel
- LED Efficiency headlights
- Dynamic entrance indicators
- LED daytime operating lights
- LED tail lights
- Adaptive chassis management
- Roof rails
- Proximity key
- Entrance, rear parking sensors
- Folding and auto-dipping aspect mirrors
- Guide tailgate
- Rain-sensing windscreen wipers
- Metallic or pearlescent paint
- Darkish-tinted window glass (90 per cent)
- R-Line bumper design and badge
- Black trims accents:
Inside
- Tri-zone local weather management
- Mud and pollen filter
- ArtVelour/Material R-Line seat trim
- Guide seat adjustment
- Flooring mats
- Carbon gray and matte chrome inlays
- Black headlining and pillar trims
- Reversing digicam
- 8.0-inch touchscreen with gesture management
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- AM/FM/DAB radio
- Apple CarPlay – USB-C and wi-fi
- Android Auto – USB-C and wi-fi
- 8-speaker audio
- 10.25-inch digital instrument show
Choices
- Oryx White Pearlescent paint: $900
- Panoramic sunroof: $2100
Is the Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI Monochrome secure?
Security tester ANCAP awarded the Tiguan a five-star ranking in 2016, however this ranking has now lapsed as of December 2022.
The automobile is now unrated, and the new-generation mannequin is not far away.
Normal security tools contains:
- 7 airbags incl. driver’s knee
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Adaptive cruise management
- Journey Help (adaptive cruise + lane centring)
- Blind-spot help*
- Rear cross-traffic alert*
- Driver fatigue monitoring
- Lane-keep help
- Parking sensors entrance, rear
- Emergency Help (pulls automobile over if driver is unresponsive)
- Proactive Occupant Safety*
*Presently unavailable for MY23 attributable to semiconductior-related shortages
How a lot does the Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI Monochrome price to run?
Volkswagen Australia gives a five-year, limitless kilometre guarantee, and one 12 months of complimentary roadside help.
Service intervals are each 12 months or 15,000km, and you should purchase a care plan overlaying the primary 5 providers for $3200 – common price $640 a go to, which is on the excessive aspect however cheaper than paying as you go.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI Monochrome
It’s not the most recent design on the market, however the Tiguan stays a basically excellent product, significantly with the 162TSI drivetrain.
That’s why this Monochrome mannequin, which does with out some mod-cons in return for a worth lower, is so interesting. It appears sharp, drives superbly, is made with a watch on high quality, and regardless of being compact is extremely capacious inside.
It’s not the most affordable automobile to service (though VW’s Care Plans make it cheaper to keep up than older fashions), and it misses out on some driver-assist aids and the latest-iteration touchscreen, however by and huge it’s nonetheless an absolute winner.
That’s fairly spectacular contemplating Volkswagen is nearly able to reveal the all-new model.
MORE: Everything Volkswagen Tiguan
Execs
- Excellent experience and dealing with
- Punchy turbo engine with AWD
- Compact dimensions however roomy inside
Cons
- Downgraded 8.0-inch touchscreen
- Fiddly steering wheel controls
- Some security tech has been eliminated
Prime Line Specs
- Energy: 162kW
- Gas Sort: Premium Unleaded Petrol
- Financial system: 8.5L/100km
- CO2 Emissions: 195g/km
- ANCAP Security Ranking: 5
