Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TSI 4Motion

VW’s second-gen junior SUV is the same only better – but it’s up against tougher rivals than ever

The original Tiguan was one of the stars of the junior SUV sector. And even with the Up, Polo, Golf, Beetle and Passat in the world, it was Volkswagen’s third highest seller in Britain.

Obviously, VW wants this new one to be just as popular. But that’s a bigger ask than ever, because there’s an ever-tougher set of rivals out there trying to poach its punters.

Since some of these are basically Tiguans under the skin (step forward not just Audi but, now, Seat and Skoda too), Volkswagen needed to get this car right. Predictably, the company has played a pretty straight bat in creating a new vehicle with the same core virtues as its predecessor.

Thanks to its new platform-based architecture, this Tiguan is a little lighter than the last – despite also being a little bigger.

Heavy is bad, even in the rugged world of off-roaders, and despite a firmness to its dynamics the Tiguan does feel nimble and fleet of foot. Body control is assertive, steering is positive – and with the 2.0 TSI petrol engine driven here, performance is healthy.

Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TSI 4Motion

On sale Now; Price £32,115; Engine 4 cyls, 1984cc, turbocharged, petrol; Power 178bhp at 3940-6000rpm; Torque 236lb ft at 1500-3950rpm; Gearbox 7-spd dual-clutch automatic; Kerb weight 1645kg; 0-62mph 7.7sec; Top speed 129mph; Economy 38.7mpg (combined); CO2/tax band 168g/km, 28%

This will be a less popular engine choice than the 2.0 TDIs in the range, but you shouldn’t dismiss it just because it burns petrol. The 178bhp unit comes as standard with a 7-speed DSG auto driving all four wheels, and that gives it a combination of pace, grip and smoothness to match its other attributes.

It also lets you go off-road, within reason and probably beyond given the context of what kind of vehicle this is. It’s all about electronics, of course, but they’re very clever and let you get places you’ve no right to go in a vehicle that can ride and handle this well on the road.

The 2.0 TSI engine is only available in two trim levels, and they’re the top ones, so however you look at it there’ll be a goodly slew of kit coming your way – including a particularly impressive 12.3” multimedia screen.

Needless to say, this is all crafted into a good, roomy interior whose quality is right up there and whose packaging means that whatever combination of luggage and people you need to carry, you’ll be able to do it in style.

So, like the old Tiguan then, only more so. The same could be said about its price, because the car we tested would list at £32,115 and a lot of those rivals will fancy a pop at that. If price matters, many of them will have it on their side – but they’ll be going some to beat this new VW in a straight cost-no-object fight.