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VW Tiguan R-Line eHybrid (2020 - 2023)

With more than six million global sales to date, the VW Tiguan is now in its second generation. But a recent major facelift saw the introduction of more efficient plug-in hybrid powertrains and upgraded infotainment systems.

Starting price:
From £35,515 (Test car was £37,430 before options)

Why we love it:
  • Easy to drive with an efficient powertrain and lots of tech
  • Practical car for an active family with an eye on electrification
  • Impressive day-to-day running costs
Where it could be better:
  • Plug-in hybrid technology eats into boot space
  • Ride can be a tad unsettled
  • Gearbox feels a little sluggish at times
Secure your test drive today
Request a Volkswagen Tiguan test drive

Introduction

VW Tiguan R-Line eHybrid

The practically-styled VW Tiguan is on sale in a range of petrol and diesel engines, along with recently-introduced plug-in hybrid technology.

The compact SUV Tiguan’s trim levels now follow the same Y-structure as its stablemate, the Golf 8. It starts with Tiguan, moving up to Life and then branches out into Elegance and R-Line. 

As well as the new engine technology, the latest Tiguan boasts a new-look front end, improved lighting, some design tweaks at the rear and lots of new features inside the cabin.

On The Road

VW Tiguan R-Line eHybrid

Performance

The Tiguan’s first electrified model is the eHybrid which matches a 1.4-litre petrol engine with an 85kW electric motor and 10.4kWh battery. Delivering a combined 245PS and 250Nm of torque, the car can complete the 0-62mph dash in 7.5 seconds and maxes out at 127mph.

Our R-Line model (it is also available in Life and Elegance trims) boasted a dynamic stance and handled nicely when put to the test. The acceleration through the six-speed automatic DSG gearbox is smooth enough, although it did feel a little tired at times when pushed on.

It can reach 70mph easily and is comfortable to drive on motorways and fast-moving dual carriageways. And there are drive modes to sharpen up the performance further called Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual.

In addition, there are PHEV-based modes called E-Mode for electric-only miles and Hybrid for the most efficient mix of petrol and electric motor driving. It is possible to reserve the charge levels which is handy if driving into Congestion Charge zones and there is a B button on the gear shifter to increase the levels of regenerative braking and boost battery levels in the process. 

VW Tiguan R-Line eHybrid

Ride Handling

The Tiguan R-Line eHybrid feels nicely balanced when pushed through twisting country lanes with confident grip and minimal body sway.

There are more dynamic-to-drive rivals out there, but the all-round handling of the Tiguan PHEV was hard to fault. The accurate steering is nicely weighted and there are paddles for added driver engagement.

This particular model is front-wheel drive only, but delivers a nicely balanced and quiet ride in the main. 

Occupants are well protected from any road, engine or wind noise unless the car is pushed particularly hard and the highly effective suspension set-up does a worthy job of smoothing out many bumps and dips along the way. However, it did get a little unsettled at higher speeds on rougher road surfaces – possibly due to the large 20-inch alloy wheels.

The electric-only driving range of the model is a combined 28 miles, which could be ideal for a few daily commutes running in EV mode between topping up the battery at home overnight. But it’s worth noting the range will drop quicker in colder weather or if the car is driven fairly enthusiastically.

VW Tiguan R-Line eHybrid

Styling

The second-generation Tiguan arrived back in 2016, but in 2020 the car was given quite a thorough styling makeover in order to keep pace with rival models.

New design cues include a completely fresh front end with new-look bumpers, light clusters, a more defined bonnet, redesigned grille and new alloy wheels ranging from 17 to 20-inches in size. There is also a roof spoiler, lots of chrome trim, black wheel arch extensions and a panoramic sunroof, which was a £1,255 option on our car.

Moving inside, there is a new digitised control unit for the air conditioning functions, with touch panels and sliders finished in gloss black to adjust the settings.

The new-look steering wheel features touch-sensitive buttons, along with a redesigned eight-inch touchscreen. 

The seats are upholstered in Greyson cloth with Art Velours microfleece and there is black headlining, carbon grey decorative inserts in the dash and door panels, plus R-Line badged carpets and door sill protectors, stainless steel pedals and ambient lighting.

In The Car

VW Tiguan R-Line eHybrid

Behind the Wheel

With full manual seat and steering wheel adjustment, it’s easy to get a comfortable driving position inside the Tiguan and the elevated seating results in clear all-round visibility. This is a real plus factor in a car likely to feature regularly on the dreaded school run.

The vehicle features a Digital Cockpit that includes a 10.25-inch high-resolution tft driver display with customisable menus and information displays, an eight-inch colour touchscreen that features pre-loaded European sat nav data offering three routes – fast, short and eco and lots more besides. 

There is Bluetooth connectivity, a DAB radio along with via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and MirrorLink to connect smartphones. 

USB and USB-C ports will help occupants keep their devices connected on the move and all controls, dials and readouts are easy to operate in this driver-focused cockpit.

There are additional EV-based readouts, most importantly, to see how much driving range or battery charge remains.

VW Tiguan R-Line eHybrid

Space & Practicality

The Tiguan is a practically-sized family SUV that stretches 4,511mm in length, is 1,859mm wide (excluding the mirrors) and 1,681mm high. There’s bags of room up front to sit comfortably and there is space in the back for a couple of adult passengers or three at a squeeze.

The hybrid technology does eat into the boot space though with a capacity of 476 litres which is a reduction of 139 litres compared to standard ICE versions. This limit can be increased by lowering the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats and there is a load through ski hatch provision too. The tailgate is power-operated which was an optional extra that, together with keyless entry and start, added £345 to the final cost.

There are a number of storage options throughout the cabin, including a glovebox, deep lined door bins with a bottle section, a cubby box, adjustable cup holders up front with two more in the rear central armrest, seat back pockets and a secret compartment next to the driver’s door.

The wide-opening rear doors offer easy access to child seats with Isofix fixtures on the two outer seats.

Charging the Tiguan R-Line eHybrid battery to 100 per cent takes five hours via an AC 2.3 main connection or three-and-a-half hours via a 3.6kW wallbox.

Ownership

VW Tiguan R-Line eHybrid

Running Costs

The entry-level VW Tiguan eHybrid Life model costs £35,515, while the Elegance trim is priced at £37,780 and R-line, as tested, is £37,430. With all the registration costs, along with a number of optional extras, our model topped the £40k mark at £44,485.

This is quite significant as, while the low CO2 emissions figure will lower day-to-day running costs, the high price-tag will mean owners will have to pay a premium car levy which adds £335 to the road tax bill for five years from year two.

But some of that expense can be recouped thanks to the car’s combined 41g/km carbon emissions figure under WLTP testing. This would result in a first year Vehicle Excise Duty charge of just £10 increasing to the standard fee for alternative fuelled cars of £155 after 12 months.

The official combined fuel efficiency figure of 165mpg would only be achievable if the car was regularly driven in EV-only mode to save petrol.

The Benefit-in-Kind rate for business drivers is an attractive 14 per cent and the Tiguan R-Line eHybrid sits in insurance group 28.

VW Tiguan R-Line eHybrid

Quality & Reliability

The Tiguan R-Line eHybrid is very nicely put together – as is the VW way – with a strong build quality along with tried and tested powertrain technology.

The cabin has a high-end feel to it with smart decorative inlays, strong switchgear and a touchscreen that is easily wiped clean from fingerprints.

The Flint Grey upholstered seats are supportive and the material should survive the test of time, as should the rest of the car to help deliver mile after mile of trouble-free motoring.

Like all VW’s the Tiguan is sold with a three year, 60,000-mile warranty, while battery cover is extended to eight years or 100,000 miles. Customers also benefit from a year’s Breakdown Assistance in the UK and Europe.

VW Tiguan R-Line eHybrid

Safety & Security

The second-generation Tiguan was tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating in 2016 and awarded the maximum five stars. This latest model with a thorough facelift and all its new technology maintains the same safety score.

Features include adaptive cruise control with front assist, city emergency braking and pedestrian detection. There is dynamic road sign control, a speed limiter and traffic jam assist, plus lane assist with road edge detection.

A driver alert system with emergency assist will intervene if the car detects the driver is incapable of driving. It will activate the hazard lights and bring the car to a controlled stop within its lane.

Other safety systems included as standard include side assist with rear traffic assist, park assist, Isofix fittings and a full suite of airbags.

An option on our test car were the quality IQ. Light matrix headlights which introduce superior lighting along with automatically dipped and main beam headlights, costing £450.

The car is fitted with remote central locking, along with an alarm and immobiliser for added security.

Verdict

VW Tiguan R-Line eHybrid

The VW Tiguan eHybrid could be viewed as an ideal first move towards a fully electrified car. But it’s an increasingly competitive sector right now and there are rivals that offer a more dynamic driving experience. That said; this VW is a very good all-rounder and competitively-priced.

Secure your test drive today
Request a Volkswagen Tiguan test drive
By Maxine Ashford
Oct 05, 2022

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