New Volkswagen Tiguan SUV unveiled in Frankfurt

The new Volkswagen Tiguan has been unveiled on the eve of the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show press day. The second-gen SUV replaces the original Tiguan that made its debut at the same show eight years ago.

Just like how the old car was based on the Mk6 Golf’s PQ35 platform, this all-new Tiguan sits on VW’s modular MQB platform that also underpins today’s Mk7 Golf, and a raft of other transverse front-wheel drive models across the vast Volkswagen Group.

The start of VW’s SUV offensive, this new Tiguan is the standard length car, with a “long version” to surface in mid 2017 for markets that demand extra space – not Europe, but China and North America.

Still, the smaller new Tiguan is larger than the petite SUV it replaces. The sharper, more chiseled body you see here is 60 mm longer (4,486 mm) and 30 mm wider (1,839 mm) than before. Wheelbase is up by 77 mm to 2,681 mm, which means that overhangs have been reduced. The larger footprint is combined with a 33 mm lower roofline for the stout appearance. It may be bigger, but also over 50 kg lighter than before, VW says.

The growth in dimensions has yielded 29 mm better rear seat kneeroom, also thanks to redesigned split-fold rear seats with up 180 mm of sliding adjustment. Interior length has grown by 26 mm. Boot space is up as well, by 145 litres to make 615 litres, or 1,655 litres with the rear seats folded. The load lip is now lower and the front passenger seat can fold flat to accommodate long items.

The four-cylinder Euro 6 engines are cleaner and more powerful. The TDI diesels will be popular in Europe, and they come in 115 PS (1.6), 150 PS, 190 PS and biturbo 240 PS forms; the latter three are 2.0 litre units. The four TSI petrol units available have 125 PS, 150 PS, 180 PS and 220 PS; the more powerful two are 2.0 litre mills. Compared to previous-gen Euro 5 engines, this batch is up to 24% more fuel efficient, VW claims.

The gearbox range includes a six-speed manual, six-speed DSG and seven-speed DSG. Base engines are FWD only, but all other units can be had with 4Motion all-wheel drive, which works with a fifth-generation Haldex coupling. Along with the Haldex coupling that acts as a longitudinal lock, the electronic differential locks (EDS) integrated in the ESC act as transverse locks for all four wheels.

There’s a new 4Motion Active Control switch on the centre console. Four selectable profiles are available – two road (Onroad and Snow) and two off-road (Offroad and Offroad Individual). AWD Tiguans have 11 mm higher ground clearance (200 instead of 189 mm), and there’s a special off-road front end with an approach angle of 25.6 instead of 18.3 degrees. The departure angle is 24.7 degrees for all versions.

The SUV is available in Trendline, Comfortline and Highline equipment lines, plus new R-Line packages. The latter, illustrated by the white hero car here, makes available up to 20-inch wheels, body colour on all black plastic surfaces except for the wheel arches, unique bumpers plus two-tone spoiler and diffuser. Inside, the R-Line theme is dark with metal highlights and R-Line logos.

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