Volkswagen Tiguan 2022 review: 132TSI Life

Rather surprisingly for some, yes, especially if you desire a German SUV with premium-brand aspirations.

The MY22 Tiguan range kicks off from $41,490 before on-road costs for the 110TSI Life with a 110kW/250Nm 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine driving the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) dubbed DSG in VW-speak. No manual gearbox is available, sadly.

Our Tiguan is the least expensive of the all-wheel-drive models, the 132TSI Life 4Motion with a 132kW/320Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo powertrain upgrade. From $45,490 (MSRP), our car had a $5000 Luxury pack and $800 metallic paint - Dolphin Grey in this case - pushing the as-tested price beyond $50K before on-road costs.

Standard Life items include LED headlights, keyless entry/start, an 8.0-inch touchscreen offering satellite navigation, voice/gesture control, App-Connect including wired and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto phone mirroring, digital instrumentation, three-zone climate control with rear-seat controls and outlets, electric tailgate, automatic headlights and wipers, heated/electrically folding exterior mirrors and 18-inch alloy wheels (with a space-saver spare).

Featuring an 8.0-inch touchscreen. (image credit: Byron Mathioudakis)

On the safety front all Tiguans include seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian/cyclist monitoring, lane-departure warning and keep, adaptive cruise control with full stop/go, rear cross-traffic alert/assist, park assist (that steers the car automatically when manoeuvring into a spot), front/rear parking sensors, driver-fatigue monitor, rear-view camera, high-beam assist and “360° Proactive Occupant Protection” that provides additional braking post-impact amongst other accident-mitigation precautions.

Luxury pack goodies include a three-spoke heated steering wheel with paddle shifters, bolstered ‘sports’ front seats with heating, electric driver’s seat adjustment (including for lumbar support) with memory settings, panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery and more.  

The Tiguan 132TSI Life comes with 18-inch alloy wheels. (image credit: Byron Mathioudakis)

For items like adaptive dampers, matrix LED headlights, sequential indicators, a 9.2-inch touchscreen, ambient interior lighting, tinted rear glass, ritzier trim and19-inch alloys, you’ll need to step up to the Elegance 162TSI grade from $52,990, complete with a healthy 162kW/350Nm 2.0-litre engine up-tune.

The Elegance can also be had with a 147kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel for $1500 extra, a $2500 Sound and Vision pack ushering in a head-up display, Harmon Kardon audio upgrade and 360-degree surround-view camera, and a $3000 R-Line pack. The latter brings a body kit with unique bumpers, stainless steel pedals, black cabin trim, variable-ratio steering and a steering wheel with haptic feedback buttons, though the so-called ‘easy open/close’ aspect of the electric tailgate is withdrawn for some reason. Maybe it’s due to the restyled rear bumper.

Returning to our 132TSI Life 4Motion with Luxury pack, it is up against similarly-priced and powered but (largely) better-equipped AWD rivals like the $51,000 Hyundai Tucson Highlander Turbo N-Line, $50,190 Mazda CX-5 GT, $49,370 Kia Sportage GT-Line 1.6T, $48,000 Toyota RAV4 Cruiser Hybrid and $44,190 Subaru Forester 2.5i-S.

Against most of these, obvious omissions in the VW include a head-up display and digital radio, but it certainly doesn’t look or feel left behind from an ambience or quality point of view; in fact, even the lowly 132TSI manages to better reduce the gap between mainstream and luxury branded like-sized alternatives such as the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Lexus NX.

Consistently buoyant sales suggest buyers are willing to pay a little extra for the Tiguan’s premiumnness, even at the cost of some features. After a week behind the wheel of one, we see why.

It’s easy to see the enduring appeal of the second-generation Tiguan from the moment you first approach one on the showroom floor.

Large doors open to a big, airy cabin, ahead of a solid if sober-looking dashboard that ticks all the boxes.

The Luxury pack’s front seats are sumptuously comfortable, especially for the driver, since they offer endless permutations of adjustability at just a prod of a button. Whether we’re talking about thigh or lumbar support, the Tiguan’s got your… err, back. Even after long spells on them, what might initially seem firm end up holding you in nice and cosy.

The Luxury pack’s front seats are sumptuously comfortable. (image credit: Byron Mathioudakis)

Reassuringly good all-round vision, plenty of storage, ample ventilation, simple controls and easy reach of all switchgear are further Tiguan bonuses, highlighting how naturally friendly and inviting this interior is. Intimidation and confusion be damned!

We’re rarely fans of buttonless climate control systems as they often require more concentration and provide greater distraction than simple levers and buttons, but there’s minimal fiddling around in the VW’s case. We’re also pleased to see good old-fashioned turn knobs for audio volume and station seek (missing in grades with the larger screen). Sliders can be infuriating.

Though a few years old now, the Tiguan’s cabin ambience remains a strong suit. The daftly named Digital Cockpit Pro’s electronically variable instrumentation provide a dazzlingly modern touch for first-time beholders, as does the adequately-sized 8.0-inch touchscreen and its fast response to inputs. Connecting the Bluetooth system is child’s play while the wireless smartphone mirroring occurs seamlessly.

Note, however, that the gesture control is a bit hit-and-miss while no digital radio is fitted.

It’s no chore getting out back either.

The VW is one of the few medium-sized SUVs that offer rear seats that slide and recline – a corollary of the longer-wheelbase Tiguan Allspace that needs this functionality for third-row access. In the regular sized version, the cushions are well padded, the backrest supportive, and due to their adjustability, most people ought to find some level of satisfaction sitting on them.

The VW is one of the few medium-sized SUVs that offer rear seats that slide and recline. (image credit: Byron Mathioudakis)

Rear seat room is generous, while deep windows and a minimally impeded view ahead helps with a sense of spaciousness. A USB-C port, 12V outlet, temperature control, rear-facing air vents, flocked door bins capable of holding the biggest bottles, back windows that wind all the way down (fun for Fido), adjustable reading lights, front seat-back device holders, cupholders set within the centre armrest and a 60/40 sliding and reclining rear bench further add to the sense of premium.

The Tiguan features rear-facing air vents. (image credit: Byron Mathioudakis)

This is as accommodating as you’d hope a medium SUV to be, and probably the biggest reason why you might consider a Tiguan over the smaller but closely related T-Roc.

Further back, the cargo area is equally user-friendly, starting with the easily-accessed electric tailgate that offers the choice of operating it either from the driver’s seat or from the back itself.

The cargo area is equally user-friendly. (image credit: Byron Mathioudakis)

With a big aperture and long, flat and wide floor, loading is simple, with a 615-litre capacity that increases to a handy 1655L with the 40:20:40 backrests folded – something that can be easily achieved thanks to release handles accessible from the rear of the car. The middle one also provides useful in-cabin access for longer items, while there’s additional small storage under the floor beside the space-saver spare wheel.

Finally, it’s worth noting, too, that the fit and finish is first class. We’d have no qualms about taking a nap back there. Thought’s gone into this cabin and it shows.

Capacity increases to 1655L with backrests folded. (image credit: Byron Mathioudakis)

VW’s 1984cc 2.0-litre TSI turbocharged direct injection four-cylinder petrol unit is one of the midsized SUV class’ great engines, offering an appealing blend of performance and economy,

As the 132TSI badge suggests, it delivers 132kW of power at 6000rpm and 320Nm of torque between 1500-3900rpm, and features start/stop technology to help preserve fuel and cut emissions, especially in heavy traffic. This engine is rated for Euro-6.

The Tiguan has a 1984cc 2.0-litre TSI turbocharged direct injection four-cylinder petrol unit. (image credit: Byron Mathioudakis)

The wet-clutch DSG DCT remains one of the better examples of the breed, with an easily accessible ‘Sport’ mode as well as a ‘Manual’ mode. As we’ve pointed out in the past, it won’t hold a gear at the red line as in some rivals, but it still involves the driver in the experience thanks to the Luxury pack’s paddle shifters.

The 4Motion AWD system consists of an electronically-controlled multi-plate ‘Haldex’ clutch, which directs drive in varying amounts from the front wheels to the rears as required for maximum traction and driveability. The rear axle, by the way, is a multi-link arrangement, while the front suspension consists of MacPherson-style struts.

The 132TSI 4Motion's zero to 100km/h time is about 7.7 seconds.

Our week in the Tiguan was marked by high-speed rural driving and heavy traffic, so its 10.2L/100km result ascertained at the petrol pump isn’t as high as it might sound. It’s actually pretty good for a 1600kg-plus medium-sized SUV, and better than we managed in the latest Golf 110TSI with a torque-converter automatic.

Requiring 95 RON premium unleaded petrol, the 132TSI’s official combined average is 8.8L/100km, which equates to a carbon dioxide emissions rating of 200 grams/km. Armed with a 60-litre fuel tank, this means it has a theoretical range of around 680km.

The 132TSI’s official combined average is 8.8L/100km. (image credit: Byron Mathioudakis)

Volkswagen offers a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and one year’s worth of roadside assistance. Service intervals are at 12 months or 15,000km.

This is all standard fare nowadays, but behind the best (Mitsubishi’s conditional 10-year warranty and seven years for Kia, Haval, SsangYong and MG).

Capped price servicing is available, with years one to five starting at $428, $884, $428, $1535 and $428 per annum/15,000km (whichever comes first) respectively, for a total cost from $3703, or alternatively pre-purchase your Tiguan servicing at $1200 for the first three years or $2400 for five years.

Volkswagen offers a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty. (image credit: Byron Mathioudakis)