What’s all this? A hot Tiguan? Yes indeedy, Tiguan R is Volkswagen’s secret weapon, possibly answering a question no one was asking.

Interestingly, VW says their SUV hottie is cheaper than some of the opposition, but comparisons were made with BMW and Mercedes options. That’s just plain bonkers. No one will ever actually make that jump, or will they?

Tiguan isn’t brand new, but the addition of the R logo in April 2022 brought with it, a renewed vigour in a nameplate with many admirers.

All the normal accruements are on board, but the 4Motion has had a few R tweaks.  The DSG has 7 speeds, and the 2.0L 4-pot has 235kw/400Nm. What’s not to like?

Outside:

Tiguan R has a roped down a couple of 21” satellite dishes for wheels, and the is a plethora of R badges, IQ.Matrix headlights, and a delicious chunky profile worthy of a gym-fit muscle-bunny.

There are roof racks that I suspect will see little use, and a nice big rear opening with easy access for bit and bobs.

The head and tail lights suit the squared-off looks, and although it has been with us for a while, feels brand new and shiny.

Get Specifications HERE: Volkswagen Tiguan R specifications 2022-e47ac34c91f4497790e63aca03ed1489

This Week: 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan R Review

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ABOVE: 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan R Review

Inside:

The cabin is properly comfy. Nappa seating is heated and powered up front, with 2 climate zones, plus a 3rd zone in the back. Blue highlights, including a classy stitch, looks posh rather than sporty, and I’m OK with that.

Instruments are a combination of the old and the new. The steering wheel has the touch/sliders from the newer Volkswagens, contrasted with the slightly older generation of climate and infotainment systems.

Drivers get a 10.25” LCD screen, with a 9 incher in the centre console. The HUD is one of those pop-up numbers that always manages to look and feel rather cheap. It works well, but has to deploy from the dash in order to display data. It’s just something else to go wrong.

Like most Vee-Dubs, there is a smart-parking button for those hard-to-reach spaces, and auto-hold to save tired feet in tough traffic. The smart cruise activates with the travel assist system, and offers a certain amount of autonomy even in city snarls.

In short, if you liked the top Tiguan previously, the new big bwana will curl your toes.

The Drive:

Tiguan R is slightly less demented than the Golf R sister. There is still a distinct snarl from around back, but the platform is a MQB A2 VS Golf’s MQB Evo. Does that make a huge difference in handling and performance? Certainly not that most punters would pick. After all, Tiguan is an SUV.

The ride is sublime, despite the 21” rims. Active suspension changes with drive modes, which extends to off-road assistance enabling careful adventure. Remember, these wheels and big rocks, don’t compute.

Steering is light, and brakes incredibly responsive thanks to the big R callipers. But, as with All R models, it is the engine that really counts, and the 235kw/400Nm 2.0L performs as well here as it does in the Golf. 5.1 seconds for the hundy sprint is nothing to be sniffed at, and with sensible driving, manages around 8.8L/00k.

Although R cars are track focused, the notion of SUV days at the track seems a bit balmy, but you can do it if you must.

The R excels in mountain passes where the drive modes toughen the suspension just enough to dispatch bends without rearranging organs on the way through. Sure, it was fun in town, but really came to life on the open road. The pleasing chirp as the DSG clips from gear to gear, and the rasp, although evident, is slightly more reserved and regal than the thuggish brute that is the Golf 8 R.

Harmon Kardon provided the backdrop to the wireless CarPlay lists, but as I got in first, most weren’t best pleased with the 60’s interjections.

I took the boys for a quickie weekender, and what amazed us all the most was the comfort and space.

Max is obsessed by EVs, but even he had to admit Tiguan R was fun. He was the only one to appreciate the romantic possibilities gay couples could have. He wondered how the gear on the boot would go with Casper behind the wheel. Luckily we never had to test that poser.

Casper was more circumspect, with the many heapings of praise reserved for the upcoming Golf 8 R review in a few weeks’ time. Caper said, “Tiguan R is adequate.” I think he secretly harboured aspirations, none of which were realised, as he tends to a lead foot.

Ethan loved the Tiguan, and said he’d buy one with his own money, high praise indeed.

Tiguan R feels slightly benign, but I feel sure in the right hands, the wolf would shrug off her sheep’s clothing.

Get Specifications HERE: Volkswagen Tiguan R specifications 2022-e47ac34c91f4497790e63aca03ed1489

Conclusion:

Fancy suspension, a pokey 4-pot, and a classy cabin take Tiguan R most places we’d want to go. The high assistance makes road trips easy, and highway consumption of 7.5L/100k is more than acceptable for a 1725kg SUV.

Tiguan R is handsome, fast, and very capable. Considering some of the opposition comes in newer models, the VW can hold its head up high.

2022 Tiguan R

  • Price: $69,990
  • Engine: 2.0L Turbo
  • Power: 235kw/400Nm
  • Trans: 7sp DSG, AWD
  • Econ: 8.8L/100k

 

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Get Specifications HERE: Volkswagen Tiguan R specifications 2022-e47ac34c91f4497790e63aca03ed1489

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