the numbers Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheeldrive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon Base/As Tested $37,790/$37,790 Engine: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, iron block and aluminum head, direct fuel injection Displacement ����������������� 121 in3, 1984 cm3 Power �������������������������� 184 hp @ 6000 rpm Torque ����������������������� 221 lb-ft @ 1900 rpm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Dimensions • Wheelbase �������������������������������������� 109�9 in • L/W/H ��������������������������� 186�1/72�4/66�5 in • Curb Weight ���������������������������������� 4005 lb
test RESULTS
2 02 2 VO L K S WAG E N T I G UA N S E L R - L I N E 4 M O T I O N ~ BY D R E W D O R I A N
Major Minor
Highs: Fun-to-drive agility, upscale looks, spacious cabin with available third row Lows: Pretty unenthusiastic under the hood, bland interior design, fussy touch-sensitive controls
Volkswagen’s Tiguan proves that the brand wants to keep
building compact SUVs that are more than just practical. Like the very sensible and bestselling Toyota RAV4, a Tiguan will get you and all your stuff to a fun destination. What makes the Tiguan different is that the driving experience will make the journey better. Changes to the Tiguan for 2022 include a handsome face that features newly standard LED lighting elements and sportier styling on R-Line models. For the less attentive, a suite of driver-assistance features is now available on more trim levels. Although the Tiguan’s spacious interior is dotted with small revisions and a third row remains available, the looks and feel are still a bit bland. A digital gauge display is now standard, and a new touch-sensitive climate-control panel and steering wheel ditch physical buttons. Haptic feedback (a small vibration when touched) helps acclimate the driver to using the new steering-wheel controls in short order. However, the ones on the climate-control panel lack feedback, and getting the controls to reliably respond isn’t easy. Save for a few tuning adjustments that raise com-
80
THE RUNDOWN
60 mph �������������������������������������������������� 9�1 sec 1/4-Mile ������������������������� 16�9 sec @ 83 mph 100 mph �������������������������������������������� 25�9 sec Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec� Rolling Start, 5–60 mph �������������� 9�7 sec Top Speed (C/D est) �������������������� 125 mph Braking, 70–0 mph ���������������������������� 183 ft Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad ����� 0�83 g C/D Fuel Economy • Observed ���������������������������������������� 26 mpg EPA Fuel Economy • Comb/City/Hwy ��������������� 24/21/28 mpg
bined fuel economy by 1 mpg, the Tiguan’s 184-hp turbo inline-four and eight-speed automatic carry over. VW also left the chassis, suspension, steering, and optional all-wheeldrive system alone, which is fine, as the Tiguan remains agile and confident. Steering is still light and communicative with just a touch of straight-ahead numbness. Without any more power at its disposal, the all-wheeldrive Tiguan loses some unexplainable tenths when compared with the last Tiguan we tested, running to 60 mph in 9.1 seconds, 0.8 second slower than before, and tripping the quarter-mile in 16.9 seconds at 83 mph. The base Tiguan gains some standard equipment, with the base price climbing by just $750 to $27,190. If you’re looking at a top-dog all-wheel-drive Tiguan SEL R-Line 4Motion like the one we tested, keep in mind that its $37,790 price is $2500 less than that of the previous top trim. The reduction aligns it with the priciest versions of the RAV4, the Honda CR-V, and the Mazda CX-5. Although this particular Tiguan proved to be a little slower than before and the new haptic controls are a bit fussy, the combination of handling and practicality makes the Tiguan a standout in the compact-SUV segment. PHOTOG RAPH BY ANDI HED RICK ~ NOv EmBER 2021 ~ CAR AND DRIv ER
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