With four engine choices on offer, which Volkswagen Tiguan should you pick? We examined the Tiguan's powertrains as well as their power figures and fuel consumption in order to find you the sweetest engine in the line-up.
There are three engines in the local Tiguan line-up (excluding the 7-seat Tiguan Allspace): A 1.4TSI, a 2.0-litre TDI diesel unit, and two 2.0TSI petrols in different states of tune.
In order to find the most efficient, we compared power, torque, acceleration, fuel consumption, and range. Efficiency isn’t always about ‘which engine is the lowest on fuel’, but how well the engine uses the power bestowed upon it. In other words, we are looking at the best performance to fuel-economy ratio.
Engine no. 1: The 1.4TSI
This entry-level engine is a turbocharged, four-cylinder petrol engine (1395 cc) with 110kW and 250Nm of torque. Claimed fuel consumption is 7.7 litres per 100 km, fuel range is 753 km and its 0-100 km/h sprint time is 9.2 seconds. This Tiguan weighs 1495 kg.
The 1.4-litre engine is currently available in the Tiguan, Tiguan Life and R-Line trim. It’s powered by a 6-speed DSG transmission.
Engine 2: One 2.0TDI engine
The 2.0-litre, 1968cc turbodiesel is mated to a four-wheel drive system, or as VW calls it, 4MOTION. With 130kW and 380Nm of torque, the 2.0TDI 4MOTION R-Line has serious towing power — 2200 kg braked, and 750 unbraked. It’s light on diesel at a claimed 6.6 litres per 100 km, yet still manages to be rather quick off the starting block, and completes the obligatory 0-100 km sprint in only 8.3 seconds. Weighing in at 1600 kg, it’s heavier than the 1.4TSI, yet still enjoys a better power-to-weight ratio. It has a claimed range of 879 kilometres.
(Buying used? Previously, the de-tuned Tiguan 2.0TDI 4MOTION Comfortline and 4MOTION Comfortline R-Line both had 110kW and 340Nm, average fuel consumption of 5.6 litres per 100 km, a range of 1071 km, and still made the 100 km/h mark in under 10 seconds: 9.3, to be exact. It weighed in at 1615 kg and was mated to a 7-speed DSG gearbox. Plenty of them still around in our used listings!)
Engine 3 (a): The 2.0TSI
The 2.0TSI turbo-petrol engine is also paired with Volkswagen’s 4MOTION system, has 162kW, 350Nm of torque, and fuel consumption is a claimed 7.8 litres per 100 km. Its range is an estimated 769 km, and it’s the fastest Tiguan in the line-up, taking only 6.5 seconds to reach 100 km/h from a standstill. At 1559 kg, it’s ever-so-slightly lighter than the diesel models. The Tiguan 2.0TSI 4MOTION R-Line retailed for R819 800 at the time of writing.
Engine 3 (b) The more powerful 2.0T
The Volkswagen Tiguan R (priced at R1 045 300 at the time this article was updated), is also a 4-cylinder, 2.0-litre turbo but this one is HOT. With 235 kW and 400Nm of torque, this is no average weekday carpooler but can still take care of family business. The kids won’t easily be late for school, however, as the R sprints from 0 – 100 km/h in only 5.1 seconds. The automated dual-clutch 7-speed DSG gearbox even has flappy paddles mounted to the steering wheel for DIY gearshifting and an electronic diff lock is standard fare.
Verdict
For the best combination of power and fuel efficiency, I would certainly opt for the Tiguan 2.0TDI 130kW 4MOTION R-Line but at R818 600 it’s getting rather expensive, and then you haven’t even added any options.
If value for money is more important, I would opt for the Tiguan 1.4 TSI 110kW Life model at R677 900.
*Please note that these above-mentioned consumption and range figures are not based on real-life driving conditions, so you would be wise to add about 1.5 to 2 litres per 100 km to the manufacturer’s claimed (litre per 100 km) figure. For more accurate consumption figures, please refer to our Tiguan reviews and articles below.
Keyword: Which Volkswagen Tiguan engine is the most efficient?