The Volkswagen Tiguan gets a fresh new look
After two successful generations, the Volkswagen Tiguan has finally entered its third generation. Its excellent style and great handling have made the Tiguan one of the most beloved local SUV’s. It has sold 41 000 units in South Africa alone and over six million units worldwide. Last year Volkswagen reported that Tiguan managed to sell 4 280 units despite the dreadful pandemic and shared about 16.2% of the A SUV segment.
This year, the highly popular Volkswagen Tiguan will be getting a fresh new look and upgrade. Changes on the exterior include a redesigned front bumper with a wider radiator grille and LED headlights. The Tiguan will use its latest IQ.LIGHT – which includes LED matrix headlights that feature 22 individual LEDs per headlight, making an excellent offering for night driving. At the rear, the Tiguan lettering will now come central below the Volkswagen badge. It will also be offered a range of new metallic colours including Ginger Brown, Kings Red, Lapiz Blue, Night Shade Blue, and Dolphin Grey.
The cabin of the updated Tiguan will get a new steering wheel that comes with touch controls. The air conditioning functions have now also been digitalized and will operate by means of touch sliders and touch buttons. The Tiguan will also be offered with the premium and optional Harmon Kardon sound system, which includes a 16-channel amplifier, eight speakers, and a subwoofer.
In terms of a specification breakdown, the latest Tiguan lineup will be offered in three models - the Tiguan, the Tiguan Life, and the Tiguan R-Line. The standard Tiguan will come featured with 17-inch Montana alloy wheels, LED headlights, leather multi-function steering wheel, cruise control, and the new MIB3 Infotainment system’s Composition radio (with eight speakers).
The middle-based derivative called “Life” will get 18-inch Frankfurt alloy wheels, LED headlights with cornering lights, Climatronic air conditioning, Park Distance Control in the front and rear as well as an electric tailgate for easy opening and closing.
The top-of-the-range Tiguan R-Line will come standard with an R-Line exterior package, 19-inch Valencia alloy wheels, ambient lighting with 30 interior lighting options, Vienna leather seats with the R-line Logo in the two front seats, Active Info Display, Composition Media Radio with App-Connect, multi-functional steering wheel with touch and swiping actions and the R-line logo as well as keyless entry.
The previous three engines will be carried over to the new line-up. The 1.4 TSI engine which sits as an entry-level engine will produce 110kW and torque of 250Nm and gets paired with a 6-speed DSG. The 2.0 TDI engine which will be the only diesel engine in the Tiguan line-up will produce 130kW and 380Nm of torque and will get paired with a 7-speed DSG. The top of the range engine will be the familiar 2.0 TSI engine that will produce 162kW and torque of 350Nm. Volkswagen claims that It can sprint from 0 – 100km/h in just 6.5 seconds and will get paired with a 7-speed DSG.
The latest Volkswagen Tiguan is set to be released in the third quarter of this year, with pricing to be announced closer to the time. Volkswagen has also confirmed that a Tiguan All-Space will make its way to our local market in early 2022.
Also worth a look: the Volkswagen Golf and the Volkswagen Touareg.
FAQ
Q: What does the new Volkswagen Tiguan cost in South Africa?
The new Volkswagen Tiguan starts from around R579,900 for the base model, with the Tiguan Life sitting at approximately R649,900 and the range-topping R-Line pushing close to R729,900.
Q: Is the new Volkswagen Tiguan worth buying in 2024?
Absolutely, the new Tiguan offers excellent value with its updated tech, premium interior features like the optional Harman Kardon sound system, and proven reliability that has made it South Africa's favourite SUV with over 41,000 units sold locally.
Q: What are the main differences between the Tiguan, Life, and R-Line models?
The base Tiguan comes with 17-inch Montana alloys and standard LED lights, the Life adds more comfort features and premium touches, while the R-Line gets sportier styling, larger wheels, and performance-oriented trim pieces.
Q: Does the new Tiguan have better fuel consumption than the previous model?
Yes, Volkswagen has improved the engine efficiency across the range, with the new Tiguan achieving approximately 6.8 to 7.2 litres per 100km depending on the variant and driving conditions.
Q: What warranty does Volkswagen offer on the new Tiguan?
The new Tiguan comes with Volkswagen's comprehensive 3-year/120,000km warranty plus a 2-year/30,000km service plan, giving you proper peace of mind for your investment.
Should You Buy It?
The best premium SUV under R750,000 in South Africa is definitely the new Volkswagen Tiguan. With prices starting at R579,900 for the base model, you're getting a properly sorted SUV that combines German engineering with local practicality. The fresh styling updates, new IQ.LIGHT LED matrix headlights with 22 individual LEDs, and digitised cabin make this Tiguan feel thoroughly modern. If you can stretch to R649,900 for the Life variant, you'll get the sweet spot of features and value. The Tiguan's proven track record of 41,000 local sales and 16.2% segment share proves it's not just a pretty face, it's a reliable workhorse that won't let you down on weekend getaways or the daily school run.
