Volkswagen just introduced a high-performance Tiguan. DRIVEtorque sampled one in South Africa. The Tiguan R, is properly titled and delivers athletic performance and utility.
Nevertheless, the inherent practicality of the Tiguan package means that you have an exceptionally spacious product that will also embarrass many hot hatches in the performance stakes. The Tiguan R was a divisive vehicle, particularly because its upcoming Golf R stablemate offers more performance and a greater fun factor. Overall, the Tiguan R has a very specific target market, and for that particular consumer, it might just be the ideal compromise.
Each month seems to see an increase in the popularity of the performance SUV as a vehicle type. There are various options available for individuals who enjoy performance and a higher riding height. Volkswagen enthusiasts can now purchase a fast-moving Tiguan in their area, and it sports the brand's prestigious "R" emblem. Let's look at why. We recently received the R for review, and it left us undecided.

Style The Tiguan is, in this writer's opinion, Volkswagen's most attractive SUV, and the R version emphasizes these good looks to produce one of the most muscular and sporty-looking performance SUVs in its class.
Interior
The Tiguan's interior is a great place to be, featuring excellent build quality, premium materials, and, in the case of the R model, a combination of sporty elements and practical room. A digital instrument cluster and the "Discover Pro" color touchscreen infotainment system with Appl-Connect, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto features are available for entertainment. Because there are still tactile buttons adjacent to the gear lever, the system still functions quite well, giving it a better infotainment system than the one found in the eighth-generation Golf.
The "R" button, which rapidly shifts the car to its most vicious driving mode, is now housed on the multifunction steering wheel. The driver can switch between "Normal," "Sport," "Race," and "Individual" driving modes on the adaptive chassis, each of which adds a distinct personality to the driving experience. Although they appear sleek when the car is clean, the haptic buttons on the steering wheel and climate control panel are rather annoying to use and are fingerprint magnets.
Nappa leather seats, graphite gray interior accents, an electronically controlled tailgate, 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, rear PDC, and the Lights and Vision Package are additional standard features. Wireless charging, a tow-bar hitch, a Harmon Kardon audio system, keyless entry, IQ Matrix LED headlamps, a surround-view camera, and the IQ Drive suite of semi-autonomous driving aids are among the optional extras installed on the press unit.

With a 520-liter cargo, 205mm of ground clearance, and a braked towing capability of 2 200kg, the Tiguan shines in terms of practicality, making the R truly useable as a family car despite its reputation for performance.
Performance
The commonplace EA888 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine found in many VAG models powers the Tiguan R; but, in this configuration, it generates 235kW and 400Nm. All four wheels receive power from the powertrain via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Its curb weight of 1 626 kg enables it to reach a top speed of 250 km/h and claim to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds.
On the highway, the R feels incredibly quick and surprisingly nimble for a vehicle of its size. The Tiguan's innovative torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system allows for the control of some understeer and provides a nice neutral balance. Despite the adjustable dampers, however, we felt the ride quality to be extremely harsh for a car of this sort. The Tiguan feels every bit as quick as Volkswagen promises it is in straight lines, and its braking system appears to be adequate to the task of stopping the car safely in challenging driving circumstances.
Overall, the R still has the impression of being a high-riding SUV, while being well-sprung and doing a wonderful job of hiding its weight with excellent straight-line performance and a clever all-wheel drive system.
Safety The Tiguan line was crash-tested by Euro NCAP in 2016 and received a 5-Star rating with a 96% rating for adult occupant safety, an 84% rating for child occupant safety, a 72% rating for pedestrian safety, and a 68% rating for its safety assistance systems.
Volkswagen estimates that the Tiguan R will use 8.8 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers, but our seven-day test produced a figure of 11.3 liters per 100 kilometers, which we thought to be excessive given the length of time we spent on the open road.