2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

Late in 2020, we saw the first tease of what the highly anticipated 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan would look like. With the 2021 model rumoured to have some exciting changes in their features, we’ve been very keen to explore exactly what the highly anticipated car would be like.

Across this article, we will be breaking down what makes the latest from the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan range so exciting including, features, interior and exterior design, engine specs, technology elements, safety standards, pricing and some final pros and cons.

Features

To begin with, there are three different models in the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan range. These are the Tiguan Life, Tiguan Elegance and Tiguan R-Line.

The features of the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan range include a new design, updated engine and improved tech experience and capabilities.

One reported feature of this medium-sized SUV is its improvements in fuel efficiency. The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan with front-wheel drive earned an impressive fuel economy rating by the EPA of just 23 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on a highway. When it comes to the all-wheel drive models, again it reduced to 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on a highway. This truly outperformed what was expected of the medium-sized SUV.

Related: VW Golf Life Review

Interior and exterior design

With an improved interior across the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan range, it is clear that more effort was put into this part of the car than ever before. With stunning features such as instant touch climate controls, the impressive 10 inch ‘Digital Cockpit Pro’ and of course wireless Apple Car and Android Auto. The team at Volkswagen have made sure that this medium SUV is matching up with their competitors such as Mazda's CX-5 and the hugely popular Toyota RAV4.

Interestingly, the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan range also has a nice side of luxury to the range. Included in the Tiguan Elegance and Tiguan R-Line is an impressive panoramic sunroof, stainless steel pedals and a very cool Harman Kardon sound system to keep the tunes pumping from the moment you leave your home until you reach your destination.

In terms of the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan exterior, there have been some major changes in comparison to the 2020 version. The first notable exterior feature is the larger front grille masking the new impressive LED headlights for improved visibility and the updated bumper. In terms of the tailgate, the letters ‘TIGUAN’ are embellished across the bumper adding a sign of luxury and exclusivity.

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Engine

For the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan, the type of engine this new model would take is critical. The medium SUV space is highly competitive, so the team knew to beat their competition, they had to improve the existing 2020 model drastically.

The Tiguan Life is the base model of the Tiguan 2021 range. This model is available in two variations. The first is a 110 TSI 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 110kW/250Nm as standard. This model is paired with a fairly standard six-speed dual-clutch transmission, sending power to the front wheels only. The second variant is the larger (and more costly) 132TSI 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 132kW/320Nm. This model is a step up with an all-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The second model the Tiguan Elegance. This model is slightly different providing a great mid-tier option in the 2021 range. This variant comes in two options again including the 162TSI 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine with 162kW/350Nm or the alternative 147TDI 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine with 147kW/400Nm. In the Tiguan Elegance, both engines are paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with the important all-wheel-drive. Clearly, different to what you’ll see in the Tiguan Life range.

Finally, the third model is the Tiguan R-Line. This is the top of the range in the 2021 Tiguan lineup. This model comes in both petrol and diesel and contains additional ‘sportier’ features including impressive Misano 20-inch wheels, luxury interior, stainless steel features and more as well as the more impressive engine which we will get into below.

Technology

From the moment you step into the car, the tech is bursting out at you. Not only has the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan range got all the bells and whistles of Apple Car Play and Android Auto, but the speaker system is phenomenal. A 480-watt, nine-speaker Fender audio system has just casually made its way into the range for the first time ever. Not to mention, the impressive 10-inch ‘Digital Cockpit Pro’ with its sleek design and instant touch buttons.

Safety

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan is leading the way when it comes to safety. They’ve perfected the features that were in the 2020 models such as blind spot warning, rear parking assist, automatic braking, forward collision alert and impressive adaptive cruise control.

Pricing

As mentioned, with the three models in the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan range, we’ve included below the all-important differences amongst each model and variation.

• Tiguan Life 110TSI - $39,690
• Tiguan Life 132TSI - $43,690
• Tiguan 162TSI Elegance - $50,790
• Tiguan 147TDI Elegance - $52,290
• Tiguan 162TSI R-Line - $53,790
• Tiguan 147TDI R-Line – $55,290

Pros and Cons

2021 Volkswagen Tiguan certainly comes with some interesting parts to consider. We’ve gone through and made the call on the top three pros and cons to help you decide on what is the perfect car for you and your needs.

Pros

• Impressive tech features such as Apple Car Play and Android Auto but also am impressive 480-watt, nine-speaker sound system
• One of the biggest digital displays we’ve seen in a medium SUV model sitting at approx 10 inches.
• Adaptive cruise control is a massive pro. This feature is hugely beneficial in a medium size SUV especially when the car is likely to be used for inner city or suburban driving. A lot of the time these medium SUV models do not include these types of features and are more commonly seen in sedan or hatch models.

Cons

• A frustrating amount of cargo space in the third row. Once all the seats have been folded, there are just 12 cubic feet of cargo space. This is far less than its competitors such as the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Rogue models.
• The price range is quite steep leaving buyers with not much room in the middle. The entry-level Tiguan Life starts at $39,690 then the top of the line Tiguan R-Line jumps to a starting price of $55,290.
• Reported soft brake peals which don’t match up to the firm and more sophisticated touch pedals that other Volkswagen models have.