VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN 1.5 TSI
Big news: the Tiguan now outsells the Golf. Over 7m have been shifted since 2007, making it fair to assume Tiguan MkIII isn’t going to rock the boat.
The Tiguan arrives alongside an all-new Passat atop a fresh platform, dubbed MQB Evo, that aims to blend everything we’ve always known and respected VW for with a host of new tech. The range kicks off with a pair of mild hybrid petrols – a 1.5-litre TSI in two different tunes (128 and 148bhp) with a little motorised assistance to smooth out stop/start driving and cut the engine during deceleration – and a pair of plug-in hybrids, which mate that 1.5 TSI unit to an electric motor for 201 and 268bhp outputs and up to 62 miles of fully electric range if you’ve topped up their 19.7kWh battery. It’s what most UK buyers will go for and presents an evolution of the old Tiguan eHybrid, just with twice the e-range and the ability to accept 50kW DC charging.
Every powertrain is latched to a DSG transmission, while any lingering concerns about a 1.5 being too meek to haul a chunky SUV are dealt with by a handful of 2.0-litre petrol or diesel ICEs.
Auto-only status sees the gear selector move to the right-hand steering column stalk, the newly free centre console boasting abundant smartphone charging options and a fresh rotary controller that acts as both volume knob and drive mode dial thanks to its display screen. It’s all part of a much needed ergonomic cleanup, though the humongous central touchscreen still vacuums up most controls, aircon include
