By Sala Masindane

The call has always been for Volkswagen South Africa to introduce the pure breed Tiguan and these calls have finally been answered. This of course was at the same time as the Golf 8 R and we had the SUV in our garage for a week.

How is it different from the rest?

The SUV wears the “R” badge for the first time in its existence, and the designers at Volkswagen made sure that those looking at Tiguan are reminded of this fact by imposing R-badging across the vehicle. This, and model specific design cues, have resulted in a menacing yet elegant look.

The highly anticipated Volkswagen Tiguan R TSI 4Motion DSG sets itself apart from the rest of the range with ‘R’ design bumpers, exterior mirror covers in matt chrome, quad exhausts, a high-gloss black rear diffuser, the black wheel housing extension and 21-inch Estoril alloy wheels with black diamond-turned surface to mention a few.

Premium interior

The cabin maintains clean and high-quality materials that we have been accustomed to in Volkswagen products over the years. Passengers have the benefit of premium Nappa leather seats with an ‘R’ logo as well as Carbon Grey decorative trim as standard features. The 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen dominates the dash and wireless App-Connect works well with either the Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Notwithstanding the power credentials, interior space for five passengers has not been comprised. There’s even 615-litres of boot space which means extra room for more luggage on weekend getaways.

Performance and drive

The new Tiguan R is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 235kW/400Nm and is paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG). Sending power to all wheels, the Tiguan R is claimed to accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 5.1 seconds with the top speed capped at 250 km/h. The range-topper is a willing companion and accelerates effortlessly as if it were a hot hatch. The ride is firm over rough road surfaces but overall, the Tiguan R is smooth and dynamic, especially when conditions are good. We must admit that the Tiguan R is not frugal, as our stint saw us return 12.8l/100km from the claimed 8.8l/100km.

Final Word

The Volkswagen Tiguan R TSI 4Motion DSG is packed with all the necessary goodies for family usage and performs whenever it is required. Its pricing of R999,900 also means you don’t have to break the bank to have this machine in your garage.