Volkswagen Tiguan (2016 - 2024) 1.5 TSI 150 R Line 5dr DSG Owner Review

My Volkswagen Arteon lease had ended and due to the back log with Covid the Tiguan was the only vehicle available.

Once the new smell had worn off I knew that I’d made a mistake. This is mostly to do with the cost cutting made by Volkswagen.

The steering wheel doesn’t have any physical buttons and have been replaced by a touch panel with haptic feedback which just don’t work as well as physical buttons.

The same lunacy has been applied to the Climate Control Panel. You can no longer operate the controls without diverting your eyes from the road, furthermore you’ll go to lower the temperature by a degree or so and it’ll go all the way to ‘LO’. It’s a total farce.

The cost cutting applies to the quality of materials, the lower dash is now hard scratchy plastic, similar to the sort you’d find in a Peugeot or Citroen.

The R-Line has needlessly big 20’ alloys that’ll cost around £170 a corner for a premium brand tyre. I drive the vehicle very sedately and my fronts are on 3mm around 14k

The 1.5 petrol and DSG combination struggles to shift the weight of the Tiguan without having to work hard and chew through petrol. It’s best just being ‘babied’ because it is neither quick or rewarding to drive spiritedly.

Around town you’re looking at 30-35mpg being driven respectfully. On a run it’s fares better, stick the cruise control on around 65mph and It’ll do mid 40s.

Best advice would be to avoid the Tiguan and avoid Volkswagen in general. Their build quality and materials have nose dived of late and they’re being quickly overtaken by the likes of Kia.