New Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line review – a rewarding SUV - Performance and 0-60 time

VW’s best-selling SUV is competent and refined, but it lacks its own clear personality

Evo rating
Price
from £23,255
  • Sophisticated feel, base models look classy, satisfying to drive
  • Petrol engine feels more like a diesel, interior isn’t as premium as price tag might suggest

No one’s going to buy a Tiguan based on its 0-60mph dash, so an over seven second time is unlikely to put anyone off. Still, no one wants a car that’s too slow now, do they?

The Tiguan, in its fastest set-up – with four-wheel drive, a 237bhp diesel engine and a DSG transmission – is certainly not slow. It will get from 0 to 62mph in 6.5sec, the exact same time as a Peugeot 208 GTi by Peugeot Sport – our current supermini of the year.

However, such pace rapidly diminishes as you take away power, all-wheel-drive traction and swift automatic gear changes. A front-wheel-drive, manual Tiguan with a 113bhp diesel engine takes a lazy 10.9sec to get to 62mph.

It’s the same two set-ups that span the Tiguan’s top speed range, too. The least powerful diesel is able to reach 115mph, while the all-wheel-drive 237bhp car can reach 142mph – just 1mph shy of that champion Peugeot hot hatch. Eerie.

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