2023 Volkswagen Tiguan

The Tiguan Life comes with the following standard features:

• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wireless (and wired) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite navigation
• DAB+ digital radio
• Eight-speaker sound system
• 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro
• LED headlights, fog lights, tail lights
• 18-inch ‘Nizza’ alloy wheels
• Space saver spare wheel
• Power tailgate
• Tri-zone climate control (two front, one rear)
• Automatic headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Heated, folding mirrors

The Tiguan Elegance adds:

• Vienna leather upholstery
• Powered, heated front seats with electric lumbar
• Heated steering wheel
• 19-inch ‘Auckland’ alloy wheels
• Space saver spare wheel
• Adaptive Chassis Control
• IQ Matrix LED headlights, dynamic rear indicators
• 9.2-inch infotainment touchscreen
• Tinted rear windows
• 30-colour ambient lighting
• Extra chrome and silver exterior trim highlights

The Tiguan R-Line gains:

• 20-inch ‘Misano’ alloy wheels
• R-Line steering wheel with touch buttons
• R-Line exterior body kit
• R-Line badging
• Stainless steel pedals
• Black headlining

Standard equipment in the Tiguan R includes:

• 21-inch ‘Estoril’ alloy wheels
• Adaptive Chassis Control
• Performance brakes with blue brake callipers
• 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Satellite navigation
• DAB digital radio
• 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro digital instrument cluster
• IQ.Light matrix LED headlights
• Head-up display
• Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
• Keyless entry and start
• Power tailgate
• Tri-zone climate control
• 30-colour ambient lighting
• Nappa leather upholstery
• Power front seats with memory
• Semi-autonomous parking assist
• Travel Assist
• Tyre-pressure monitoring

Built like a bank vault, the Tiguan now offers crisper digitised displays as well, which keeps it contemporary, although the ventilation and steering wheel controls on high grades are too clever by half.

Despite its compact dimensions, the back seats are pretty roomy and adult-friendly, and likewise the boot is larger than you'd expect – although there's no full-size spare wheel.

It's subtle and conservative in terms of design, but with the R-Line's big alloy wheels looks quite muscular and imposing.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan is available in the following exterior paint colours:

• Pure White
• Dolphin Grey metallic
• Kings Red premium metallic
• Night Shade Blue metallic
• Reflex Silver metallic
• Deep Black pearl effect

Metallic and pearl effect exterior paint colours cost $900 and Kings Red premium metallic costs $1000.

Servicing is required every 12 months or 15,000km. Volkswagen offers two prepaid servicing plans for the Tiguan, a three- and five-year plan.

The three-year plan costs $1500 regardless of the engine, and the five-year plan costs $2200 for the 110TSI, $2580 for 132TSI and 147TDI models, and $2700 for 162TSI models.

Quiet, firm without being stiff, and stable at speed.

Base cars use a 110kW and 250Nm 1.4-litre petrol four, next up is a 132kW and 320Nm 2.0-litre, with the two flagship (non-R) engines being a 162kW/350nm 2.0-litre petrol and a 147kW/400Nm diesel. The Tiguan R's 2.0-litre has a whopping 235kW/420Nm.

All use DSG dual-clutch automatics, and most have on-demand all-wheel drive.

The $5000 Luxury Package on Tiguan Life adds:

• Vienna leather trim
• Heated steering wheel
• Powered, heated front seats
• Panoramic sunroof

The $2500 Sound and Vision Package on Elegance and R-Line adds:

• Head-up display
• Surround-view camera
• 11-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system

A panoramic glass sunroof is an option on the Elegance and R-Line ($2000)

Options on the Tiguan R are:

• Harman Kardon sound system: $1000
• Panoramic sunroof: $2000

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Volkswagen has, like most brands, been hit hard by stock shortages, meaning you might face months-long wait times. Check with a few dealers for more accurate guidelines.

Boot space is 520L with the second row in its rearmost position and 615L with the rear seats slid forward, while folding them flat frees up 1655L of space.

The Tiguan sit in the VFACTS Medium SUIV under $60,000 segment, and goes head-to-head with strong sellers such as the Toyota RAV4 and Mazda CX-5.

In its last full year of sales the Tiguan managed 3772 sales and 2.5 per cent market share.

If you want a mainstream medium SUV with European badge cred, plus a refined and sporty drive, then the Tiguan is among the best.

The Tiguan R attracted more pre-launch buyer interest than the better-known Golf R.