Volkswagen Tiguan is into its third generation, as unveiled earlier this week at Sustainable City in Dubai. The 2025 model is designed to immerse you in a more premium experience, aided well by advanced practical tech and a sportier presence.
The Design
Design finds its purpose in the eyes of the beholder. The Volkswagen Tiguan has pleased many eyes, having sold over 7.6 million copies of itself around the world. The outgoing generation was more squarish with sharp lines, that reminded me of my twin-blade razor for some reason. The new one also found a quirky reminiscence – this time memories of the Scirocco, thanks to its sportily curving hood, narrow grille strip and copious lower mesh. Those razor blade pinch lines have given way to smoother ones. On either side of the grille are what Volkswagen calls IQ light LED clusters; wide LED strips illuminate the tail too.
The Cabin and Controls
Taking pride of place on the dashboard of the Tiguan R-line is a 15” display with dynamic touch control in a sporty red backdrop, the kind we saw in the latest GTI and Golf R, later followed through in the facelifted Volkswagen Teramont. The regular Tiguan variants get a 12.3” screen while the driver digital cluster has a 10.25” display. Ambient lighting has also been upgraded. Driving and driving assistance technology includes several firsts – a 360-degree camera, ‘ergoactive’ seats with massage function (they sure look more premium), an integrated Head Up Display and shift-by-wire technology for its 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission.
Comfort and space
In the new generation, the Tiguan has largely retained the dimensions but thanks to re-configured interior space adds discernible storage in the boot – 652L blows away the complaints of any earlier compromise in this department. As for the passengers, the 4.5-m SUV is now marginally more spacious even as it manages to look more sportily compact.
The engine options
The two choices remain unchanged as a 1.4L turbo and a 2.0L turbo. The latter in its R-line version earlier promised 11.7 km per litre but the new generation harps more on fuel economy, even as it plays with numbers to balance the thirst for power from its large fan following.
The 1.4L turbo still delivers 150 hp and 250 hp while the 2.0L turbo gets 12 horses more while keeping the torque unchanged at 200 hp and 320 Nm. What has changed might disappoint the R-line hardcore fans – the exclusive version that served 220 hp and 350 Nm of torque will no longer be available. So, the R-line now serves the larger part of its fan base that loved it for its frills and trims. To be fair, they will be able to drive a more fuel-efficient version of the R-line. If you are in the other minority, you may drown your sorrows in your favorite music streaming from those Harman Kardon speakers – with just a light touch of your finger.
That is the long and short of Volkswagen’s compact SUV in its third life, for now. For the longer review of all features old and new and how the new promises live up, let’s wait till I get behind the wheel of the all-new Tiguan, soon enough.
