When the new Volkswagen Tiguan launched late last year, the range was largely complete – apart from the top end. It was missing a version that Volkswagen generally does well: a halo performance model – think Golf GTI. Well, as deliveries of new Tiguans with mainstream petrol and diesel engines were underway, Volkswagen were preparing a faster model for Australian buyers – and this is it. The 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI pairs the impressive dynamics and great packaging of the existing car to the Golf GTI’s willing 162kW two-litre turbo engine.
So what does combining a Tiguan body with a Golf GTI engine create? Well, it’s not quite a Tiguan GTI – though it comes close. The Tiguan 162TSI is pretty swift: it’ll match the Golf GTI’s 6.5 second 0–100km/h time – though it’s more refined, quieter, and more comfortable than the Golf. The Tiguan’s practical SUV nature is still the overriding characteristic of the car – but the presence of a muscular turbo engine and genuinely impressive handling dynamics mean the 162TSI is actually quite a fun car to drive.
And that’s the whole point of this car: to blend a bit of the spirit of the Golf GTI with the stuff we already liked about the new Tiguan – like the class-leading roominess and the high-quality interior. What you end up with is a do-it-all family car. The Tiguan 162TSI will take five people in comfort, it gives you a huge boot, all while being ready to tear up a country road at a moment’s notice. In 2017, that’s about as relevant as a car gets.
So while we already thought the Tiguan was the medium SUV to have, we think that the 162TSI is the Tiguan you should buy.