The Volkswagen Tiguan five-seater, which was discontinued in April 2020 when the brand transitioned to the BS6 era, will now be re-introduced in November. The India-spec Tiguan facelift was already showcased by Volkswagen earlier this year, and it has now gone from being a diesel powered model to a petrol-only model.
- Volkswagen Tiguan facelift will get subtle cosmetic updates
- It will get a tweaked interior and updated features list
- 190hp, 2.0 TSI engine and AWD will come as standard
2021 Volkswagen Tiguan facelift: exterior updates
On the design front, the new facelifted Tiguan still comes with a neat, squared off look, much like the pre-facelift model. However, VW has now fitted it with a new LED Matrix headlight design that tapers towards the end, a tweaked grille, revised front bumper and the new 18-inch alloy wheels, all to help differentiate it from its predecessor. At the rear, there is a reprofiled bumper, new LED elements in the taillights and the Tiguan lettering has moved to the centre of the tailgate.
2021 Volkswagen Tiguan facelift: interiors and features
Inside, the Tiguan facelift is similar in design and layout to the Allspace, with the only notable change being the climate control system touchscreen, that replaces the traditional buttons and knobs. The new Tiguan will come well equipped as well with six airbags, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, connected car tech, three-zone climate control, ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, and leather seats
2021 Volkswagen Tiguan facelift: engine and gearbox
Under the hood, the new Tiguan will come with the same 2.0-litre, four-cylinder TSI turbo-petrol engine that makes 190hp and 320Nm, like in the Tiguan Allspace. VW has dropped the 143hp, 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine from its range altogether. The TSI engine will be paired to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, and VW’s 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system will be offered as standard.
2021 Volkswagen Tiguan facelift: competition and expected price
The five-seat Tiguan facelift will continue to take on the other premium monocoque SUVs, namely, the Hyundai Tucson and Jeep Compass. Given that the new Tiguan facelift will be locally assembled (CKD unit) and not a full import, it is expected to be priced in the range of Rs 26-29 lakh (ex-showroom).
Volkswagen now has an SUV heavy line-up, with the Vento (which will be replaced next year) and Polo being the only vehicles from other body styles. VW believes this is key to drawing in new customers to the brand given the popularity of SUVs and is trying to secure multiple corners from the mid-size to premium SUV space with all its offerings – Taigun, T-Roc, Tiguan and Allspace – costing between Rs 10.50 and Rs 34 lakh (ex-showroom). It is also considering tackling the hugely competitive sub-four-metre SUV segment in the future.
Uday Singh
Dipan Sur
Glenn Noronha
Viraaj Bhatnagar
