Is the Tiguan with its clever Twincharger engine the cross-over for the people?

Volkswagen may have taken time to enter the compact SUV / cross-over market, but it when it did, it was creative with its Twincharger engine – a clever engine using with both a supercharger and turbocharger, of just 1.4 litres (which was seen as a small capacity for this size vehicle when it was launched to an accepting South African Volkswagen-loving nation).

What is it like?  The Twincharger engine, badged TSI (with the letters S and I in red) has wide torque, is responsive, more kind to the fuel guage than a bigger engine, as this smaller-capacity engine burns less fuel and is cleaner thanks to the Twincharger feeding more air into the engine, submitting higher power – from 1.4 capacity is extracted a power output of 118kW and torque of 240Nm across 1750-4000 revs.  It even sounds good, issuing both a supercharger whine and a turbo whistle.

Back in 2008 it was predicted that the Twincharger engine is a trend-setter, with other manufacturers likely to copy this method… but now, in 2015, no-one has.  Turbocharging alone is taking over.  Only the upcoming Volvo XC90 Twin Engine uses a supercharger with turbocharging linked to an electric hybrid drive, but that’s because it’s a full-size SUV using only a 2-litre 4-cylinder engine.

The Twincharger engine has won numerous awards, and is also used successfully in other VW such as the Golf.

The name Tiguan is derived from the words tiger and iguana, as selected through the German AutoBild magazine’s reader poll.

The Volkswagen Tiguan was facelifted in 2011, marked by a dominance of clear horizontal lines with 2 double chromed louvres to form the grille.  The now more square headlights replaced the scalloped units, which, combined with the optional b-xenon headlights added a distinctive row of 14 LED daytime running lights.  Taillights lost the small circles in the centre of the cluster (at a stage a styling cue liked by VW, as used in, for example, Golf 5 and VW CC pre-facelift).

The extensive Tiguan range starts off with the 1.4TSI engine using only a turbo (no supercharger) and produces 90kW.  As the entry-level model, it is currently priced at R 332 400, and spec is Trend&Fun front-wheel drive manual.  The Twincharger engine is offered as 118kW front-wheel drive manual priced at R 364 500 or 6-speed DSG for R 379 500, or the R 376 500 4Motion 4-wheel-drive manual (strangely no DSG option here).  Fuel consumption is quoted at 6.5l/100 km for the 90kW, and only slightly more at 6.7 for the 118kW, with DSG at 7.1 overall, and the 4Motion at 7.6.

A manual 6-speed has been available from the start, and after the facelift, an automatic DSG gearbox was added.  The manual is pleasant to change gear in, but the DSG is the one best twinned to the Twincharger engine.  Looking at the number of Tiguan TSI automatic advertised on Auto Trader website and apps, this seems to be the more popular gearbox.

Trend&Fun is the comfort-orientated trim, also available as a high-economy 5.3l/100km 2.0TDI as low-revving engine peaking power from just 2750r/min, and torque of 280Nm from 1750.  Not a sprinter, with a claimed 0-100 of 11.9 seconds.  Price is R 355 900.

Then there are the 2.0TDI 4Motion models using a 103kW 320Nm version of the VW TDI, available in Trend&Fun, Track&Field (with more 4x4-type styling and equipment such as Hill Descent Control) and the top Sport&Style spec, where the name says it all – prices are R 422 400, R 447 500 and R 461 000 respectively.  All these are 7-speed DSG.

Topping out the range is the 2.0TSI 4Motion Sport&Style 7-speed DSG using a lively 155kW turbo petrol engine doing 280Nm.  This is the engine as used in, among others, the previous Golf GTI and current Scirocco 2.0TSI.  Price is R 483 000.

You must know what it is like to drive?  The Tiguan 1.4TSI 118kW front-wheel drive is as pleasant and completely sorted as we’ve come to expect from VW’s modern products – restrained without being boring, with advanced tech and pleasing comfort.  It has a reassuring typically Volkswagen feel, which will most likely make a buyer feel s/he made a good ownership choice.

Alternatives to the people’s choice would include other similar type vehicles, which don’t all necessarily have the VW quality:  in ABC order – Audi Q3, BMW X1, Citroën C4 Aircross, Fiat 500L, Ford Kuga, Honda CR-V, Hyundai ix35, Jeep Compass / Cherokee, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, MINI Countryman, Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 3008, Renault Koleos, Subaru Forester, Suzuki SX4 / Grand Vitara, Toyota RAV4 and    

Is the Tiguan with its clever Twincharger engine the cross-over for the people?
Many people love VW, and many people want a smallish cross-over SUV, so it makes perfect sense.  The Tiguan’s appearance, drive, finish and build quality all add up to a good people’s vote.