Is the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line the GTI of SUV's?

[@kevinluna8175]

This car is on par with every other SUV in the class, it’s not meant to be a street racer. It’s a beautiful comfortable everyday driver built for the average everyday driver. In my opinion it is one of the best if not the best.

[@ForeverrCheer]

No, it's not, but a lot of people look to VW for the higher end, luxury, of the standard types of cars. Usually, with luxury, you at least get a bit of power. It's not even just the tiguan. VW has really made their engines stupid slow compared to what they used to be capable of years ago. I think thats why most people complain. I really do want them to either beef the Tiguan up or give us something like the Touareg back with some power because I honestly think that would do so well in the current market we are in.

[@joenissan]

Kevin Luna Agreed. I love this engine as much as I love the 1.8T in our Jetta. Not a race car, but ride and handling are top notch.

[@LP-co4lm]

I think the fact that this is the R-Line version, the expectations for speed and agility are set higher compared to a normal Tiguan. That’s why it’s disappointingly slow.

[@Treizez34]

For what this car costs, not having a more powerful engine is a sin when you look at the rest of the competition. This is a near $40k car, find me another German marquee offering a vehicle in the $40k range that's got as low HP/TQ numbers as this. You can't. If you want a simple SUV, buy an SEL; well equipped and reasonably priced (albeit boring and plain). If you're going to spec up to the R-Line at this price point, a larger power train is a must and it's a gross omission by VW to not include this. You're buying this for the performance aspect (driving dynamics in this case). It should have more power.

[@ForeverrCheer]

Treize Elements EXACTLY!!! I was so disappointed after test driving the Tiguan that I was like well shit maybe I’ll just have to buy a BMW if I want a decent SUV. Because I refuse to pay that much for a wimpy engine. But esp with the R-Line point... Literally all the package is is cosmetics. Which irks me. Ugh. We need a GLI but for the SUV segment!!! Lol. And I dont want the Atlas because thats a literal bus

[@learntolove3683]

I just recently bought a Tiguan and as I continued driving it I started to appreciate the Tiguan alot more. It's runs so smoothly, the brakes are perfect. It really pulls and it's such a comfortable and fun experience to drive. I had a Passat before which was also a good car but the Tiguan is definitely on another level.

[@thrasherx2k1]

It def doesn’t pull, but the rest of your assessment is on point

[@MinutemanMedic]

@@thrasherx2k1 I test drove it and I feel like it does. But only on the low end.

[@thrasherx2k1]

@@MinutemanMedic compared to the 09-17 Tiguan it just lost its sporty nature all around.

[@handyManny312]

O got a 21 r line tiguan , that thing pulls especially in sport , not so much in eco , decent on regular mode

[@IvanBosnjak89]

I have a GTI - and got this for my wife. I actually like how it rides, it’s comfortable and really well refined. It’s not quick (at all), but the trade-off is that I can get 6.9 l/100k on a simple highway trip. As a family vehicle to ship along our two big dogs, it was the best option for us.

[@crbb3099]

Yeah you have a diesel right? I have the North American option and I'm lucky to get 8 l/100km on the highway

[@IvanBosnjak89]

CRB B Nope. The EA888, no diesel here - we’re in Canada. When it’s in its Budak cycle it does really well for us. It’s actually better than I managed in my previous Golf R.

[@crbb3099]

Ivo Bosnjak Oh really? Hah, I’m in Canada too, I’ve never seen numbers like those on mine!

[@SaraK_69]

I like VW, but truth is the 2020 Subaru Forester blows the Tiguan out of the road.

[@jaygaymes]

I just bought mine about a week ago and I can honestly say it is perfect for me. I don’t need all the power and 0-60 in no time flat, it has enough get up and go for me and I love that on the sticker it says I should get 23mpg average and I get almost 30. I love all the tech features, for sure. Good, honest review of this vehicle.

[@elpetenero1]

Three months later, do you still like it as much as you did the first week? My wife and i are seriously thinking about buying one next week!

[@jaygaymes]

@@elpetenero1 Yes! I absolutely love it 💜

[@jaygaymes]

@@elpetenero1 I’m not doing as much highway driving as I was doing when I first got it but for an SUV I’m still shocked at the gas mileage I’m getting.

[@0502reed]

I have a 2018 just like this except black. It's styled well and well equipped. Think of it as a budget Q5, not a GTI suv and you'll be happy!

[@Marre480]

Congrats to the best reviewer on YT. Love how you see all the little things other reviewers just skip on, like the door shut, remote key quality etc. The main reason I bought three VWs in the past five years was the high interior quality. Really disappointing to see all the cost cuts making the VW just another brand. At the same time the asians and especially the koreans are really stepping up on the interior quality.

[@DMCarReviews]

You meant worst reviewer?

[@GhostPrime21]

Idk why but I love the bloopers. Maybe it shows that even the best can mess up

[@jumpyg1258]

I picked up my 2019 tiguan sel premium r-line for 34k last year. These things are always on sale at dealerships. I get a combined 26mpg on regular 87 gas. Yeah a beefier engine would be nice but if you look at the competitors suv's, the engine is around the class average. This is supposed to be a SUV for family use, not for racing. If I had a beef with the car, it would be that there is too much black in the interior. I would swap out that grey carbon fiber mesh he describes at 8:10 that is on the dash and doors with a brown wood to brighten it up a little bit and make it look classier like an Audi.

[@2004cyrus]

jumpyg1258 I also have the 2019 as and I agree with your comments. Happy with it and the long warranty and the price I paid

[@scottrivkin3307]

You may have paid 34k but with a 39-40k sticker, a better engine should come with it. Many other car brands add more powerful engine options with higher trimmed cars, as they should. No one is asking for a race car, but if Mazda can offer a 250HP 2.0T option in their higher trimmed CX-5 for 35k, VW should be able offer the same.

[@2004cyrus]

Scott Rivkin it’s coming Scott! VW has an R-Line Tiguan & Arteon coming soon.

[@pozytywniezakrecony151]

You can get a tune for 350$ I guess. I bought salvage 2018/19 r line with decent mileage shipped to Europe in total for 25k$ with repairs,.gonna register it in 2-3 weeks hopefully and it's what I'm gonna do. Not the cheapest deal but prices in Europe are 20-30% higher than in the US :(

[@poochthedog8079]

Great job on this video! I have a 2018 sel and see no reason to trade up. The power issue of which you speak has never been a problem for me, especially when I’m getting 27 mpg. I love my car. You didn’t mention how quiet it is. So airtight. 🦙

[@oliviercharbonneau8120]

I have a 2018! Highline also! I totally agree with you! No issues at all with the power!

[@luistapia2340]

Love my 2018 tiguan have stuffed it for a road trip with my wife myself father in law and 2 daughters and cargo in the back and it's a great cruiser and road trip vehichale cant challenge a Ferrari or BMW but I didn't get it for that. My sel premium with 12 year/120 thousand miles maintenance plan I got from vw cant complain. Love my vw.

[@Collectible_Andy]

I agree with almost everything said in the video. One important thing to note is the EA888 engine in thjs Tiguan is that it's incredibly tunable. I wish he would mention that. With a simple ECU APR tune you can get 60 hp and 80 lbs tq more. The engine just need to be unlocked for max potential.

[@jeremysepeda2521]

Thanks for the info, definitely will be adding some power for my Tiguan

[@anthonyg3044]

How much does that tune cost?

[@vaughan2203]

Just don't. You're not an engineer.

[@pozytywniezakrecony151]

Yup exactly, first thing to do ❤

[@peteyification]

Most likely answer? No.

[@NileshR12]

VW NEEDS to offer the Tiguan with cooled front seats & heated rear seats because other competition in the segment already offer that

[@lttsr]

I don’t like the new VW USA strategy personally but it makes perfect sense. They tried over the years to introduce more premium versions of existing cars or models like the Touraeg, Phaeton, old Passat, etc here but time and again, Americans have shown that they don’t care about semi-premium or nice materials at higher costs. If they want that, they will go for cars with actual luxury cachet. They want inexpensive, spacious, higher riding, and smoother cars. So, what VW has to do to be successful here is pump out SUVs (and I think they need another 2 crossover to slot below the Tiguan) and the sedans and sporty cars get left behind. The Jetta makes sense but the Golf doesn’t make sense outside of the GTI and R. And I think whatever they’re doing with the Passat is pointless. It’s like they don’t care about that car at all.

[@dannielz6]

This is one of the best looking SUVs out there. And I wish other small SUVs offered a 3rd row.

[@jbm0866]

You make a great point, and it really has nothing to do with expecting it to be the GTI of small/midsize SUV's..but rather simply using it for its intended purpose. Imagine it loaded with 4 people plus luggage at about 4-5k above sea level in Colorado..and thats not even climbing up a winding mountain road to reach a ski resort...just tooling around at higher elevations. Prepare to be passed by lighter cars with even less HP/TQ. Why doesnt at least the R-line Tiguan get the same 268hp version of the exact same engine in the Arteon? I can't imagine real world fuel economy suffering much if at all if they did..and it seems like the perfect tune for a machine like this.

[@ricksgiraldo]

I live in Colombia and I have that car. Really love it. Here it comes with less HP (180) but about 10% more torque and also 7speed DSG transmission. Man! The car flies, I’ve drag raced it with all the competition and it’s always ahead, I’ve even tried it against some 3.3 and 3.5 naturally aspirated engines and it also does really good.

[@ricksgiraldo]

Also it does 0-62 (100km/h) in 7 sec at 1mile above sea level (Medellín, Colombia)

[@solid1378]

For people criticizing the low HP & lack of a DSG, remember this, VW offers a very generous American Warranty. The warranty is the best in Murica, than they offer elsewhere in the world. A highly boosted engine will cost more in LT warranty repairs and VW DSGs are noted for their reliability nightmares. The 8 Speed Auto used in the American Tiguan is an Aisin (Toyota). This means this transmission will be super-reliable. With massive Dieselgate settlements, VW cannot really afford to have high LT Warranty liability expenses.

[@splyce9712]

My man made sure that Range Rover was in the background on every shot. Thank you for spicing it up. Shout out to the editor 🙌

[@gabevillarreal96]

When the car starts and when it accelerates nobody should be talking. Every other time its fine but just like we hear the doors close on silence, I think it should be the same when the car is started and full throttle acceleration. He's fantastic though. Big fan!

[@minivanmaster]

Hearing the "thunk" of a door shutting is somehow more important. I can't decide to agree or disagree with this haha. I think the engine noise is fake

[@gabevillarreal96]

@@minivanmaster I happen to think its important to the overall solidity of the assembly quality and the structural integrity of the vehicles platform. Most ignore that. I don't.

[@trent7080]

I love the Interior space and overall simplicity of the interior; The exterior is elegant and understated. 0-60 numbers are similar to the other compact crossovers. Hopefully VW continues to sell over 100k units a year.

[@2004cyrus]

ATX Trent I own a 2019 and love mine. Great price and warranty.

[@DamirSab]

I own one and sell VW. It is my #1 seller. Best bang for the buck in its class and is a blast of a car. You can get an SE R Line Black for under 37k and an SEL R Line for around 42k. 2022 gets a facelift and a ton of standard features added. The 21’s a little cheaper if you can find them.

[@UzumakiNaruto-xt9fm]

why the hell VW still keep those three climate control knobs, it actually makes this car look like it comes from 20 years ago.

[@77ytse]

I just bought one. Totally awesome.

[@barryspc]

I got a Canadian highline 2019 last year.. interior wise basically the same, we also get the LED headlamps, interior is basically the same as the R line. Without the lowered front bumper and uses a relatively economical 18 inch wheels.. the R line is just for the looks. Quite happy with it so far for everyday driving. I have test drove the CR-V, maybe it is due to the CVT, it doesnt feel much faster than the VW. I would say you do need to floor it to get a head start off the line..

[@wocaomade]

The rline isnt just for look, because it has wider tires too which helps with handling too

[@brianholland77]

I have this vehicle and the biggest mistake VW made is power. All R-lines should have a significantly more powerful engine. This car should have 300 horses.

[@isimonsez]

Aesthetically this car beats every comparable crossover in its class IMO and as far as HP, I agree more would be better say around 210hp but most people don’t buy this type of vehicle for 0-60 speed or looking to haul a trailer so....

[@alextube1101]

Maybe I'm getting old but 8 seconds to 60mph in a SUV is acceptable ...methinks your car reviewer bias is showing! You're in all the greats

[@jumpyg1258]

He thinks every car needs to be able to race for some reason. This SUV's engine is on par with every other SUV's in its class.

[@2004cyrus]

Alex Beatty I own one and it’s just fine! I’m 43

[@chicoh22a]

$40k for 187hp ??? Heeeelllllllll naaaaahhhh ✌🏽 🤣🤣🤣

[@JDMHaze]

Ernesto Ramirez couldnt even crack 200ho and this the R-line?? they just throw badges anywhere lol ... 0-60 is 8.5-8.8 but the Rav4 hybrid is like 7.5-7.8 lol.. FAILL. dishonor on you volkswaylol

[@manuthpung0074]

typical suv, low HP, expensive af

[@alengreen589]

40000 $ is very cheap in germany you pay for the same car over 50000 euro ( 55000 $ ).

[@bassandtrebleclef]

Yeah, it's not competitive. $40k is what an RDX costs, a MUCH better vehicle.

[@alengreen589]

@Tyrel Tolliver Amen.

[@paulcolmer9046]

Had a 240 BHP Tiguan bi turbo , now have 300 bhp Cupra Ateca , same MQB underpinnings. That's a sports SUV

[@scotnoco]

I love how this suv looks! Coming from a golf 1.4 T I don't think this will be slower than that ! This is definitely in my list up there for handling and looks.

[@THEsoulquarian]

Not really my cup of tea (crossover segment), but this is a nice, understated design that should age well. I prefer the Tiguan’s design over the CRV or Rav-4. I don’t think the R-Line trim stands out enough visually, but I guess it doesn’t matter since it’s not doesn’t have any powertrain, transmission or suspension upgrades. The 20 inch wheels seem like overkill for the Tiguan. I can’t imagine most people who’ll buy this will complain about the sluggishness. VW knows the market for these type of vehicles.

[@tapper701]

Volkswagen is upgrading the Tiguan nicely. Overall, good evolution in suv product. Pet peeve is not having dash air vents match, none of the 4 match in design. Could easily have done this and had a more harmonious look. Also, turn lights in rear of ALL vehicles should be amber/orange. Much easier to distinguish from night taillights or brake lights ... Slainte' ! Cheers !

[@derekrobinson2366]

*The one thing that bothers me about VW is even though you can get a fully loaded model you still have plenty of blank buttons🙄*

[@derekrobinson2366]

Tyrel Tolliver that’s true

[@wocaomade]

@@derekrobinson2366 That's not entirely true, because in other markets outside of north america, you can have Tiguans with those buttons filled, like park assist from Atlas and Top trim Golf, DCC (Adaptive suspension) and things like auto hold. The NA version is just a price cutting version, with none of the lower price when you go for the top trim

[@derekrobinson2366]

Mobi Wori Im referring to the North American market VW’s. But yes in other markets the buttons are filled

[@oFailBoat]

Tyrel Tolliver tehehehehe

[@2004cyrus]

Derek Robinson a lot of cars have blank buttons

[@Yksisuuntainen]

"essentially the Volkswagen of crossovers..." Yeah, I mean, that's what it is 😂

[@Dick-Cheese-4]

Did he meant to say the Golf of crossovers instead?

[@ThePabloG30]

@@Dick-Cheese-4 The 1.4 L version sold in the Caribbean is actually slower than a Versa.... they try to distract you with features... but it has poor fuel economy and no power in the engine... If you're in traffic with kids.. its comfortable.

[@LetsBeRealNow]

this guy is overrated ... he sucks at reviews

[@jayjuggrnaut]

His use of words in general, and analogies in particular, is superfluous.

[@aidangraham4727]

@@LetsBeRealNow Not true hes a good car reviewer

[@Djchrisman1]

16:56 Exactly how Sofyan feels about this car...

[@justinnegron4843]

🤣🤣😅😅😅

[@jambajuices21]

That loud sigh he gives after saying power. I felt that.

[@gabevillarreal96]

He didn't talk while accelerating this time! Love it!

[@iamslf]

VW has been noticeably making cars to a price point for a while now. I mean, all economy manufacturers do that, but VW is really making it noticeable. Regarding their engines, I dunno, maybe their research is showing ppl don’t care about power as much as you’d think 🤷‍♂️. They got rid of the Jetta SE’s performance, and are now solely using the R badge for styling purposes, besides the Gold R.

[@f181234]

CRSJNSN . That’s because everyone complained they were too expensive so they cut out a lot of features

[@sebastianandrew9077]

This is why Europe gets the best versions of everything.

[@lrob5657]

Dig it. Sharp looking, sophisticated classy SUV

[@johnlubbad6205]

Looks a lot like, the previous edition Q5, 2015-2017. The body lines are almost identical.

[@Lovejoi222]

Yes! I love my Tiguan!

[@jschannel7917]

lol he said like the turbo fell off

[@JDMHaze]

javo l probably did knowing how eurotrash motors quality is lol

[@stephenhendricks103]

VW has learned one thing about American consumers. They want their VW's cheaper and bigger than their European counterparts. Thus, the Atlas replaced the Touareg in America and isn't sold in Europe. The excellent European Passat was replaced by the cheaper, bigger American Passat. The current generation Jetta, larger than the last generation, is not even sold in Europe.A new generation of the previous Tiguan is still sold in Europe while it has been dropped in North America. The American "Tiguan" is called the AllSpace internationally where it's seen as a midsize SUV. The only near Euro-spec VW's still available in the US are the GTI, the Golf R, and the Arteon. Though the GTI lacks some of the bells and whistles of its European counterpart (e.g. the digital cockpit in the GTI and the Arteon has a torque converter AT rather than the DSG in the European version.) As a GTI owner I looked carefully at the American Tiguan when shopping for an SUV about a year ago. (The R-Line wasn't available at that time.) I liked the Tiguan's size (185.1" long) and its familiar minimalist interior design. My wife and I had found the surprisingly accommodating third row in our KIA Sorento to be a welcome feature for occasional use but the Tiguan's 3rd was pretty much a joke. (Ironically, though, the 27.9" of legroom in the third row is 0.2" more than offered by the 2020 Highlander. A "midsize" 3 row crossover that's nearly a foot longer than the Tiguan.) Like Sofyan, I was disappointed by the performance provided by the Tiguan's EA888 2.0L turbo engine, especially since I was accustomed to the performance of my GTI with the same powerplant. Putting the Tiguan in "Sport" mode reduced the deficit but didn't eliminate it by any means. I was also disappointed that VW opted for a traditional torque converter transmission rather than its excellent DSG (dual clutch) transmission that's standard in Europe and the standard so-called AT in the GTI. As to why VW doesn't offer the GTI's specs for the engine/drivetrain in the Tiguan, the answer is fairly obvious. First, scalding performance and acceleration rank about 25th among the top 10 priorities of compact crossover buyers. Second, the 189/221 HP/Torque figures are quite competitive with the best selling compact crossover rivals. It's 1 hp less than the CR-V, 14 less than the RAv4, and 9 more than the Nissan Rogue. In terms of torque, it's more than competitive with 221 ft compared to the Honda's 179, the RAV4's 184, and the Nissan's 175. I suspect that VW looked carefully at how many high performance Tiguans they were likely to sell and decided it was such a minuscule number that it simply wasn't worth the effort. Sofyan (and I) might yearn for more performance but even he understands that crossover buyers often prioritize other factors far more highly. (Witness the recent purchase of a Subaru Outback as his spouse's daily driver.) Nevertheless, it's worth noting though that there is an option. A Stage I ECU tune from APR raises the HP and torque figures to the level of performance Sofyan yearns for (60+ HP 50+ lb/ft torque increase at a relatively modest cost. ($700 or so.) And contrary to claims that the tune invalidates the Tiguan's manufacturer warranty, that's not the case. Warranty claims can be refused only if the tuning mod can be shown to contribute directly to a problem. In the end my wife and I purchased a second KIA Sorento rather than the Tiguan. It's only 4" longer than the VW and has a more powerful naturally aspirated V6 that delivers smoother and more linear power. And while the 3rd row is used only occasionally, the fact that it has nearly 5" more legroom made a significant difference when we have to transport more than 5 passengers. Nevertheless, if it had been up to me alone I might have opted for the Tiguan and a Stage I tune.

[@izzyifdu7599]

It’s slow and heavy because it’s the long wheel based version. They should of just given us the regular wheel base version and then have the CrossSport and Atlas to fill out the lineup.

[@MichaelStanton]

I just bought the R-Line Black edition. Very happy with it minus the power. I’m hoping the aftermarket tune scene fixes that.

[@johnlubbad6205]

You could try: Neuspeed Power Module, Piggyback ECU Tune. APR is getting the full tune ready though. Soon. Hopefully. I just bought a 2020 SE R-Line Black Edition, 4 Motion. Love it...except for the lack of power. He hit it dead on-we need 50 hp or at least.

[@johnlubbad6205]

I also have had for week, well I immediately change headlights/fogs, to LED. Changed springs to H&R OEM Sport. Dropped it about 2 inches and handles better.

[@MichaelStanton]

John Lubbad I’m interested in the LED conversion. Can you shoot me some info

[@ChrisS-nj3ye]

You may have bought one too soon, VW are going to release an actual R version sometime soon.

[@calabriamia6307]

@@ChrisS-nj3ye Nope 2021 doesn't have it

[@oscarkanal]

I have an 2018 EU-spec Tiguan and comparing it to the North American Tiguan my feels a lot more premium. For instance it features a tri-zone climate, adjustable armrest in typical VW fashion, no blank buttons in the center console and much cooler led taillights. The taillights on this tester is actually the entry taillights in Europe. It is a shame that VW does not offer the same quality and features in North America as they do in Europe.

[@wocaomade]

That is right, i wish they offer these options. But on the side node yours is probably much more expensive than this right?

[@ramonj08]

4000 lbs with 184hp engine which would be around 150hp at the wheels after drivetrain loss. All of that for 40k? Nooooo siiiiiiir

[@JustinD630]

I have one. Nice but no GTI. Very underpowered for sure.

[@JDMHaze]

Justin De Bel a base camry:/rav4 have more power than this lol, this is sad and nowhere near a GTI character in any way

[@DecemberMoon]

but very reliable

[@MaxusMV]

In Europe they sell mostly short wheelbase version and the 2.0 turbo engine (which is around 230 hp in stock) can be easily and safely chip tuned to 315 hp. By saying safely I mean that the 7 double clutch wet transmission DQ500 can officially withstand 700 nm of torque (350 nm in stock engine). So, by paying around $500 for the booster chip you’ll get an SUV with proved dynamics of 5 sec 0-60. Isn’t it a GTI?

[@sebastianandrew9077]

The T-roc that they sell in Europe is the GTI of the SUVs.....amazing vehicle.

[@fz6854]

For people who complains about the performance, I can say he is very much biased ... I have driven the 2020 models of Tiguan, RAV4 and CRV, all top of line trims... The performance of RAV4 and CRV are much worse than the Tiguan... It is still much better in comparison with its competition... This is a compact SUV segment not a sport sedan to expect power like the GTI... As a overall package with Styling, Performance, features and space, Tiguan is a clear winner compared to its competition... (Although he has reviewed the 2020 Honda CRV, which is clearly under powered, he never mentions anything about it nor complains about the performance in that video... And the CRV is one of the best selling in this segment...Very biased video in that regards)

[@f181234]

FZ nah he’s not wrong we have the previous gen Tiguan and it’s much faster than this new one and the lower trims look really cheap with those Halogens there’s a reason why the RAV4 and CRV continue to sell

[@_IIN01]

My real biggest pet peeve with Volkswagen is the amount of empty buttons around the gear selector even for the highest trim. It makes the interior look like it’s missing options.

[@tomseddon3715]

Correct me if I’m wrong but the USA tiguan is actually the tiguan allspace that the rest of world gets such as Europe and Australia along side the normal size (smaller) tiguan.

[@johnsonl3656]

Decent looking car, but underpowered engine and lazy transmission

[@JDMHaze]

Johnson L and had the AUDACITY to call it the R-line lol

[@manuthpung0074]

that applies to every SUV ever

[@moshariff6320]

Johnson L and very unreliable

[@DJG333]

Tyrel Tolliver or no one cares about performance as much as the small amount of enthusiasts

[@boa4533]

The interior could have been nicer in termsof the design. If you been to the palisade or the Telluride, you dont wanna look back to this interior.

[@juniormeyer27]

My 17 (Tiguan 2) with the E888 tsi is more so considered the gti of suvs. Smaller, lighter and much more nimble. I make 260 ish hp and 250 torque with a stage one tune from MA Performance and a Cobb v3. Everything else is stock minus an apr rear turbo inlet pipe and an afe power dry drop in filter. I’d like to see numbers like that from this model year even with the same mods. It’s pulls hard and does everything an suv should. Go back a couple year models and then yes you have the gti of suvs.

[@wocaomade]

Yes 17 tiguan’s engine is pretty much straight from mk6 gti. Wheras 18 tiguan has an eco version of ea888 with throttle intake flow and higher efficiency combustion cycle. With less hp and potential for tuning

[@thrash123ful]

Best looking inside and out in its segment it does need more power or a hybrid would be cool.

[@karoltofik8873]

In Europe you can get short body version with 230hp petrol(or 240hp diesel) paired to 7speed DSG. But in US they only offer what americans want - cheap underpowered suv - to be on pair with CRV, Rogue and RAV4

[@aluminumfalcon552]

Nothing a tune can’t fix, get that 230-240HP and about 290 ft-lbs of torque with no other mods

[@StellarBlue1]

The Achilles tendon of most new cars is always the underpowered engine. With four thousand pounds of car, it needed either a V6 or Turbo-4 with at least 230 - 250 horsepower to be a decent mover. Funny thing is, VW had the Golf GTI engine available and chose not to even offer it as an option. Strange...

[@StellarBlue1]

Tyrel - Totally agree with you. Even with their downsides, V6 and V8s are much less stressed than Turbo/Supercharged engines. Give me a naturally aspired V6 over a 4 banger any day,..

[@f181234]

Tyrel Tolliver a v6 in this would get 21 mpg and make it more heavier

[@bellazroddaz]

I got the manual in the uk 2018 model R-Line and it’s a beautiful vehicle to drive , well happy with it

[@chefhomeboiardee4574]

Could definitely use more power...but I'm loving the refinement of the Tiguan. Handling is very nimble for the kind of vehicle it is... The panoramic sunroof is a win. Infotainment system is a go. The Blacked out version with the white exterior IS beautiful. Also, sport mode definitely fools me into thinking the vehicle is faster than what it is, really. it was either the Tiguan or a Mustang Ecoboost. The Mustang has a lot of pep in it's step. But at the end of the day, practicality wins out. But just to reiterate your point, the Tiguan could certainly use 30-50 more horses to murder everything.

[@dave8319]

We test drove it in residential streets. Power seemed OK with four people in the car. It didn't seem sluggish or like I would be panicking on on ramps. But it's not the GTI of anything for sure. It's smooth, you don't feel shifts. Wife loved how it drove. We also drove the GLB, which seems more powerful but also kind of jumpy. My knock on the powertrain is the mileage; I would expect a bit better considering past EA888 cars with only 6 gears do about the same. I blame those wide 20s.

[@wocaomade]

Yes basically trading fuel economy and comfort for better handling and looks…

[@0farmerjohn0]

I remember when I visited the US. My friend keeps complaining his 220hp VW is underpowered when merging into a 65mph interstate. While my 150hp Passat is slower yet regularly cruises at 150-160kph (100mph) in the autobahn. I could never understand the obsession with power yet no possibility to use it. 😂. I know have a Tiguan R 7 seater because of kids. It's not the fastest at 0-60 but damn it feels great at 220kph.

[@mikei3738]

Test drove one a couple months back. Nice clean look. That’s about it. Wife loved it. I said hell to the nah. Agree with Johnson L comment

[@djtrepound2407]

If they want even more sales make a offroad back with blacked out emblems, lift it, add cross terrain tires, rugged wheels and they’ll attract a whole other segment of buyers.

[@michaelstone7514]

I like the car but agree its way underpowered. The R line trim should come with the golf R engine. I would keep the 8 speed trans because its smoother thN the dual clutch. Upgrade the brakes suspension ,and steering to golf R levels ND you have a winner imo.

[@jonnieinthe256]

How the hell you gonna have halogen fog lights on that top of the line model. Come on VW and spend $150 and put leds in the dogs from the factory geez!😳

[@DecemberMoon]

VW puts sluggish automatic transmissions in North American vehicles because americans want very reliable cars. In Europe and other countries Tiguan is equipped with DSG and it drives really fast.

[@Biggeo7]

You are 100% right on the engine. VW, please give us the GTI engine. That’s why I personally didn’t buy this car. And I love VW and had a 2015 Golf R

[@brucemadu8535]

‘Truly disappointing’ power. Love it!

[@cadeere74]

Thank you for the bloopers

[@billyhughes9776]

GTI of SUV's? Nah,....and no one wanting a GTI is gonna buy this....

[@JDMHaze]

Billy Hughes nobody wanting reliability is gonna buy this either lol

[@issuesexplained681]

Exactly

[@DJG333]

Car manufacturers dont care about the small amount of people that want GTIs vs the large amount of people that would but a SUV

[@dohboi]

It really IS the GTI of SUVs for everywhere but the North American market though. At least give us DSG, even Mexico has DSG.

[@KaydenDanger]

I personally know a guy with one of these that has a S3 IS28 turbo and pushes like 375kw on the wheels with just minor hardware

[@kevsingh]

Oh man! I usually like and agree with your opinions on cars, but I think you dropped the ball on this one. This is a crossover that starts at under $25k. It's for the common Joe/Joanne with kids who need space. If someone really wanted a fun-to-drive vehicle, for about the same price the could get a GTI/GLI. If someone has $40k to spend, and wants performance out of a crossover, they should not be looking at VW, they should be looking at Mercedes, Audi, Acura, etc... Most importantly, usually people who want comfort and space don't care about performance, and vice versa.

[@JohnnyUkeOfficial]

Love the look and space. Where VW dropped the ball was putting a mediocre engine in a car that they made bigger with more weight. Most cars in this segment aren't quick. Seems like the torque comes in at the higher RPM range for fuel economy which probably makes it feel lethargic.

[@PunxsutawneyDave]

The "Mack Daddy" of the Tiguan line up. *giggle* And Sofyan is the Mack Daddy of car reviewers!

[@kigna1234]

IN Australia the Tiguan comes with the 162TSI motor which is the older GTI tuned motor and also has DSG gearbox, 220 hp vs the 182hp here

[@johnprangnell3244]

Over here in NZ, they sell the skoda kodiaq vrs diesel, 176kw &500nm torque,. Goes rather well and is based on the same chassis as tiguan

[@mitskef]

The 2.0 petrol engine with 220 hp did it for me.

[@Nycholas1998]

IMO the last generation Tiguan was cooler. It was a smaller more upscale option In this crowded segment. Now it’s just another box on wheels.

[@MN-ch7pc]

To the US mockers: in Europe we have it with a 220HP TSI (Not 230HP!) and a 240PS TDI... and then, hell yeah, it is a GTI 😎 And with the facelift in the end of year 2020 it will come as R model with a 300PS TSI engine and then 🤘 Besides your Tiguan is called Tiguan Allspace in Europe. The "real" Tiguan is about 25cm shorter...

[@Ryan-id5xt]

In Australia we get the Tiguan (shorter 5 seat variant) and the Tiguan Allspace (7 seat variant similar to the US) with the same engine as a GTI 0-100kmph in 6.5 seconds

[@davepaek5014]

That’s why the AllTrack is a much better option. Sits lower. Available in DCT or Manual. Weighs less. cheaper. and it looks so much better. give up a little space overall and you end up with a better car overall.

[@mauriceetal1426]

Too excited to see you back

[@natekenny7106]

7:48 yes! I've been saying that Volkswagen has become too mainstream. I understand everything is done for a reason and for business purposes I understand, but man. I miss the days (early 2000's) when Volkswagen/Audi/even Bentley interiors all felt connected. You could really tell they were similar. Nowadays a Tiguan interior feels about as similar to a CR-V or Rav4 as it does to an Audi Q5

[@harshitbaweja5594]

I saw this car parked in the background in your Velar video and I knew it was gonna come up.

[@emerc267]

Way better options for a 40k car, esp one with 184 hp, that’s a joke. At 4000lbs it should have cx9 and/or highlander power numbers (highlander torque w cx9 hp). Get it together VW.

[@lizardgreen2121]

Enrique Mercado you can get a well equipped telluride for that money

[@JDMHaze]

lizardgreen2121 EASILY

[@JDMHaze]

Tyrel Tolliver lmaooo that turbo will probably really fall off 😂😂

[@weirdshibainu]

I've owned 2 Volkswagens brand new. One was a lemon and the other was a fantastic car. VW lacks consistent high quality standards.

[@JDMHaze]

which 2 were these? lol

[@JT-fq2bl]

This is not the GTI of compact crossovers, even if it had the GTI motor in it. I'll take a T-Roc for 500 please.

[@airlaurian]

Easy solution on the power, folks......APR Tuning....Stage one - 245-269 hp and 300 tq.....add cold air intake.....260hp.....Easy!

[@1GQ_gent]

I had a v-dub GTI in H.S. even received my first speeding ticket moments driving off the lot the power was unbelievable test drove this it didn't bring me back that 20+ year ago G.T.I experience

[@robhall4267]

I have a biturbo diesel Tiguan Rline which makes 238hp. 6.7sec to 62mph and comes standard with head up display and 7 seats. Most certainly drives like a GTI. Unfortunately no longer available as diesel. Will have to buy a Skoda Kodiaq VRS next time if I want the biturbo engine.

[@SteveBoyer10]

We have the previous generation Tiguan and we’re excited to upgrade to the new one. The engine is just soooo sluggish I couldn’t stomach it. So we’re still on the hunt.

[@NZsarge1]

We get the GTi motor in our R Line and the there’s a rumored Tiguan R coming.

[@hellodzheng00]

I love your bloopers man

[@DMCarReviews]

It's a great car! Does 0-60 in a little under 8 seconds, which is plenty. Enough to beat Camry 4 cylinders and similar cars off lights😂 Let's ask semi truck drivers of how they merge onto highways, if you say it has no power. Most cars in Europe have less than 150hp. No, it's not slower than a RAV4 or whatever equivalent car. Has plenty of midrange passing power.

[@shopwithaaron]

Please park that gorgeous Velar out of view of this vid!!!! Nice take of course!

[@texx1017]

I have a 2018 SE W/4 motion....trans is lazy and shifts hard in sport mode. Lots of turbo lag and delay when pulling out into traffic. Normal mode its seems like it cant ever find the right gear at low speeds. But it is a beast in the snow. Cant praise it enough for that. ..Interior is almost silent at highway speeds. Just FYI, mine has had 2 suspension recalls and eats tires. It seems to suffer from similar camber issues that the CC had. 23 avg mpg.

[@danielfeldman7913]

Will this wheel/tire combo work OK in the winter? And sorry if I missed this, but is there a big sacrafice in ride quality with these wheels? That aside, I completely agree, R-line makes all the difference in terms of looks and sportiness!

[@PeteinMD]

How many changes to the engine would need to be made to bring the power up to GTI standards? I'm thinking aftermarket...

[@eduardoguillen6385]

I agree, 200 + HP should it be better for the r line, I know they have now the r with 300+ HP. looks are good and I am sure there is many modifications available.

[@tylerfrazier5043]

I don't understand why people believe it is under powered. If it was tuned up then the fuel economy would be terrible and people would complain about it.

[@SimonStrother]

I think the big issue for Volkswagen, for all their cars, is competing against themselves. I'm thinking of Audi, who as most people know are part of the VW group. The Atlas can't be too nice or luxurious because it might compete with the Q7 and steal sales from a more expensive and profitable product. The Golf R can't be too powerful because of the A3/S3 it would end up competing with. I think the Tiguan is being held back because Audi has the Q3. If VW made the Tiguan more luxurious and more powerful people would probably be more likely to buy it rather than spend the extra cash on a Q3 apart from the badge snobs. I think this will always be a concern for VW of America, competing with themselves. Other brands like Subaru and Honda dont have the same issue or at least not to the same extent.

[@wosby_limited]

Here in the UK, they offer a 230hp petrol and 240hp diesel motor on the R-Line.

[@chigasaki06]

Unfortunately, Americans generally don't care about performance. As waistlines expand, the need for driving prowess decreases, while the need for bigger, more "comfortable" vehicles increases.