- It (subtly) looks the part…and it’s packed with kit
- Platform for plentiful punch
- On the road
- Verdict on the Tiguan R
- FAST FACTS
It (subtly) looks the part…and it’s packed with kit
Although Volkswagen’s R models pack some serious punch, the firm tends to err on the side of conservatism when it comes to their packaging. The Tiguan R is no exception to this rule, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Rather than opting for a shot of visual nandrolone between the panel gaps to bulk up the most powerful member of the Tiguan family, Volkswagen has instead gone with subtly expanded R design bumpers and lower body skirts, a black-gloss rear diffuser and black wheel arch extensions housing 20-inch Misano rims. We opted for an example finished in the R’s signature Lapiz Blue – one of six exterior hues on offer – with a quartet of optional Akrapovic pipes poking from the rear valance. The interior treatment is similarly subtle, with R-embossed Nappa leather seats, carbon-fibre-mimicking trim panels, an R-specific sports steering wheel and lap-timer functionality for the digital instrument display being the most prominent deviations from the Tiguan norm.
As the range-topping model, the Tiguan R comes packed to the gunwales with standard kit. Among those features are the Lights and Vision Package, panoramic sunroof, front and rear Park Distance Control, Discover Pro infotainment system (satellite navigation, Wireless App-Connect and voice control among its features) keyless entry and ignition, an electric tailgate and a panoramic sunroof.
Platform for plentiful punch
That subtle (and well-appointed) frame forms a vessel for the same 2,0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol that services the Golf R hot hatch. This unit develops 235 kW and a lusty 400 N.m of torque across a broad 2 100- 5 350 r/min swathe of the rev range. As in the Golf R, this power is channelled to the road via a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and a performance-tuned AWD system with torque vectoring (a system that apportions drive laterally across the rear axle to lessen the effect of understeer when corning at speed). The R’s suspension has been lowered by 10 mm compared with that of the stock Tiguan and the DDC (Dynamic Chassis Control) module, which oversees the adaptive dampers and other drivetrain parameters, now features an R-exclusive ‘R’ preset accessed via a blue…you guessed it…R button on the steering wheel. This shortcut sets the throttle, dampers, traction control and transmission mapping into their most aggressive settings.
On the road
Our Western Cape launch route encompassed a pleasing mixture of motorways and mountain passes, providing the ideal environment to test the Tiguan R’s broad range of talents. Left in its comfort setting, the R is almost as civilised and comfortable as any of its lesser-powered stablemates. Obviously, the inclusion of larger rims shod with thin performance rubber and a chassis tuned to accommodate more aggressive driving attitudes means there less than perfect surfaces will unearth a degree of stiffness to the ride. But with the adaptive dampers in their comfort setting, most road scars are ironed out quite effectively. Mechanical refinement is top-drawer, with little in the way of wind or tyre noise permeating a cabin that’s as solidly crafted and awash with slush-molded trim as you could wish for, while the transmission’s actions barely register as it gently slurs through the gearshifts. It must be said, however, that the optional Akropovic exhaust does make its presence known against this serene environment backdrop with a degree of distant drone when travelling at the national limit.
Civilised town and motorway progress box checked, then. With the launch route’s twistier B roads and passes looming, we finally got see how the Tiguan has taken to the R treatment. Finding a clear stretch, we undertake the usual pre-flight checks (read switching the chassis and drivetrain management systems into their more attacking modes etc) to initiate a launch start. Left foot on the anchors, right foot pinning the throttle as the revs top out at around the 4 000 r/min mark; then off the brakes, dump the throttle and hang on.
The expected shimmy and tyre squeal don’t materialise – the Tiguan R simply grips and catapults forth, pinning you to the backrest as the digital needles whip clockwise and the Akrapovik’s earlier drone makes way for an intoxicating symphony of rasps, puffs and upshift-marking snaps. The expression of feeling like it’s mounted on rails really does apply here.
But the R’s dynamic abilities extend well beyond drag-and-dash duties. Tackling sharp bends and changes in elevation revealed the R to be an impressively composed yet involving thing to pilot. Central to this healthy dose of driver engagement is the engine’s tractability and responsiveness. That broad peak torque spread means there’s virtually no lag-related interruption to your progress; whether you’ve geared down from a sharp bend or chasing the horizon, foot-flat, the engine picks up cleanly and eagerly. Manually overriding the transmission is fun and downshifts are suitably snappy, but leaving the 7-speeder in S doesn’t adversely affect proceedings; instead allowing you to better appreciate steering that, although light, is crisp and responsive. Body-roll is also impressively reined in and even swift directional changes do little to unsettle the R’s limpet-like levels of grip. It’s a strange juxtaposition of exhilarating but reassuring.
Verdict on the Tiguan R
Given the industry’s move away from internal combustion and towards more responsible means of motoring, the decision to give the Tiguan its R stripes so late in its lifecycle may seem a little odd but the results are undeniably impressive. Its ability to retain the solid build, practicality and civilised road manners that have lent such great appeal to its standard-spec siblings while injecting a genuine dose of driver involvement is no mean feat, and while that price tag may raise an eyebrow or two, the Tiguan R’s talents and its niche appeal in an increasingly sensible motoring landscape means it could make a strong case for being the R of choice in VW’s four-cylinder model line-up.
FAST FACTS
Model: Volkswagen Tiguan R
Price: R999 900
Engine: 2,0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Transmission: 7-speed, dual-clutch automatic
Power: 235 kW
Torque: 400 N.m @ 2 100-5 350 r/min
0-100 km/h: 5,1 seconds
Top speed: 250 km/h
Keyword: Volkswagen Tiguan R Review