By Staff Reporter

The updated Tiguan has been revealed with fresh looks and new technology. Car enthusiasts will be delighted to know that a 235 kW Tiguan R will headline the refreshed line-up. The news in the streets is that VW SA is considering bringing the hot Tiguan R to Mzansi later in 2021.

New looks

Upfront the Tiguan takes on the new VW look that was first showcased on the new Golf 8. Upfront, the Tiguan gets a revised grille, bumper and air intakes, and new LED lights. The back is also revised with new LED lights, glossy black rear diffuser (in some models) with new exhausts tips and prominent Tiguan lettering standing out.

For global markets, the Tiguan will come in four flavours – S, SE, SE R-Line, and SEL R-Line. The base S model gets standard 17-inch wheels, while the SE gets 18-inch wheels, the SE R-Line gets 19-inch wheels and the range-topping SEL R-Line gets 20-inch wheels. The R-Line and SEL R-Line also get a few blacked-out trim pieces.

The updated Tiguan also gets two new exterior colour options for 2021: Oryx White and Kings Red.

Interior

The cabin sees quite a number of improvements introduced. These include a new multifunction steering wheel and a redesigned center stack that features a new infotainment screen with the latest VW MIB3 system.

All Tiguans will be adopting a digital instrument cluster. The base digital instrument cluster is 8.0 inches and the optional screen is 10.0 inches. The latter is standard on the SEL R-Line. A new 480-watt Harman Kardon sound system has also been added to the options list.

The updated gets two new interior colour options for 2021, these are Cinnamon and Horizon.

Safety

Not only does the updated Tiguan gains new looks but the safety systems have been updated. The updated Tiguan gets VW’s “Travel Assist” safety suite with safety features such as lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go. The equipment is optional in lower models but comes standard in higher models.

Engines

At the top of the updated Tiguan range is a hot Tiguan R with 235 kW of power and 420Nm of torque. Performance details such as 0-100km/h data and top speed are yet to be revealed although we are made to believe that this model may very well be making its way to our shores next year. The familiar turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 137 kW and 300 Nm of torque will be retained and European buyers will also be treated to a more efficient plug-in hybrid with 180 kW.

The details above are specific to European models and we will only know the South Africa line-up and engine offering closer to launch in 2021.