2024 Volkswagen Tiguan Life Plus 1.5 eTSI Review: A Value Buy with True Leadership Qualities
The Tiguan is marvellously equipped and drives almost as maturely as its bigger sibling, the Touareg.
I’m not a huge fan of how the new Tiguan looks. When I did the static preview of the car some weeks back and saw the car in the flesh for the first time, it confirmed my suspicions that frothed as I pored over the photos on the internet. It’s a little… dull.
But a lot about the new Tiguan was learnt on the road, and once again I proved to myself just how much a drive can change (premature) perceptions formed by merely seeing a car in a showroom. Looks, as it were, was a very small factor - even inconsequential - in the big scheme of things. At least it’s inoffensive and safe, and I like the Cipressino Green Metallic colour on the test car. Everything else about the car was nothing short of impressive. Here’s a spoiler: it is really, really good to drive.
How is the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan behind the wheel?
The last car (2nd generation Tiguan) was already a decent steer, with above average interior space and reasonable dynamics. However, Volkswagen pushed the third-generation car firmly upmarket.
Although it is no sportier than the car it replaces, and in fact is probably less so, there is a whole layer of luxury that has been festooned to the car. You can tell Volkswagen left no stone unturned with the 2024 Tiguan, as you would expect given it is the best-selling model of not just VW but the whole Volkswagen Group. No pressure, then.
Comprehensively reworked, it’s exceptionally quiet, satisfying to drive because of its refinement and smoothness, and surprisingly amply endowed with its Cat A engine. Despite sitting on the MQB Evo platform which has been widely used elsewhere, the 2024 Tiguan might be the best representation of what the chassis is capable of thus far.
Does the 1.5-litre turbo in the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan have enough power as a Cat A engine?
This was the main concern in my mind as the Cat A Golf with the same engine felt just about adequate. How could it possibly be well-matched to the bigger, heavier Tiguan? Astoundingly, the engine delivers. Tuned to provide 20 Nm more (total 220 Nm) than the Golf (horsepower stays virtually the same), the Tiguan feels well capable of keeping up with traffic and shows no hint of its heft or weight. Active Cylinder Management (ACT) also works seamlessly in the background and I never once noticed it. All this achieved while keeping within Cat A restrictions is nigh on admirable.
Is the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan a comfortable car?
Oh yes, very much so. Aside from the fact that there are sumptuous comfort seats at the front with massage and ventilation, rear seats also get a cleverly judged angle of incline that makes it very cosy. It is noticeably bigger inside as well in every way, and this adds to the feeling of wellness (I guess not needing to hustle for space with other passengers counts for something). The suspension overall is set softer than ever before, but the wizards at VW ensured that it still gives great body control, aided with a multi-link setup at the rear.
Is the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan a comfortable car?
Oh yes, very much so. Aside from the fact that there are sumptuous comfort seats at the front with massage and ventilation, rear seats also get a cleverly judged angle of incline that makes it very cosy. It is noticeably bigger inside as well in every way, and this adds to the feeling of wellness (I guess not needing to hustle for space with other passengers counts for something). The suspension overall is set softer than ever before, but the wizards at VW ensured that it still gives great body control, aided with a multi-link setup at the rear.
Not only that, interior materials seem to have improved quite a fair bit too. The leather used for the seats, as well as the materials on the door cards and dashboard all feel upmarket. The touchpoints all have been looked after so you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth.
And the car is literally whisper quiet. Even the engine plays its part in being hushed. Its drag coefficient has improved from 0.33 to 0.28, which I suspect is a big reason why the Tiguan is now so sublime on a cruise.
Is the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan’s interior technology user-friendly?
Given the unpleasant experience I had with some of VW’s early attempts to digitalise everything in the interior, the Tiguan ought to be the example that all other VWs should follow. Yes, almost everything is controlled via the screens, but now there’s a permanent bar at the bottom of the screen for climate control, while shortcuts are accessed at the top. There are physical buttons on the steering wheel again (woohoo). It makes sense and it works well. Even the steering column mounted gearshift lever, an idea lopped off the VW EVs, functions so intuitively you wonder why it wasn’t designed like that from the start.
Sure, some things continue to be annoying, like the incredible amount of faffing about needed to find the car’s odometer reading. But once you set and forget, it’s OK. The mini screen on the centre dial is a novel idea, but I find that I hardly use it because it’s quite distracting. Cool thing to show your mates over kopi, though.
How practical is the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan?
It’s a little longer than before by 3 cm, but its wheelbase stays the same, so it’s really manageable on the road. A sign of its clever packaging is that despite the similar wheelbase, luggage space has expanded by 37 litres to 652 litres.
What is the most common problem with the Volkswagen Tiguan?
Look, I know it’s like beating a dead horse but I don’t know why many people around me still talk about the DSG like it’s the plague. Yes, it’s still used in most VWs and yes, it has had problems before. But since the late 2010s it has ceased to be an issue and VW has built millions of these gearboxes since, offering a 5 year warranty on them. So quit worrying about it already.
How much is the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan in Singapore?
Launched at just under S$200k, the Tiguan goes head-to-head with cars like the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, the Peugeot 5008 and the Honda HR-V Hybrid. Given how it drives and the features on offer, I think it gives exceptional value, although you won’t be getting anywhere near the fuel economy figures of the Japanese competitors. I averaged about 11 km/l during my drive. However, if you relish a polished driving experience with great features thrown in, the Tiguan warrants serious consideration.
Photos by James Wong
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