MY15 Volkswagen Tiguan from $27,990

Volkswagen's MY2015 Tiguan will come with a lower entry price, more standard equipment and new flagship R-Line variants when the facelifted small German SUV goes on sale here later this month.

With stocks of the existing Tiguan all sold, Volkswagen dealers were today advised of the new range structure and pricing so they can begin selling the upgraded model, first examples of which won't arrive for a few weeks ahead of an official launch next month.

Pricing for the fresh Tiguan line-up starts at $28,990 plus on-road costs for the entry-level 118TSI 2WD manual, plus $2500 for the six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic version ($31,490 plus ORCs). The rest of the Tiguan line-up continues to come standard with a seven-speed DSG.

As with the mid-range 2.0-litre turbo-petrol 132TSI AWD DSG (now $36,990 plus ORCs), that represents a $500 price increase.

However, for the first time, the base 1.4-litre turbo-petrol 118TSI 2WD manual is available for $27,990 drive-away, spelling a significant saving over the model it replaces ($28,490 plus ORCs).

This is despite the range-wide standard fitment of a reversing camera (previously found only on the top-shelf 155TSI model), and rear parking sensors and a colour touch-screen, plus fatigue detection and an XDL electronic limited-slip differential, neither of which have previously been offered in the Tiguan.

In addition, the 103TDI AWD DSG variant (previously $38,890 plus ORCs) swaps its 103kW four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine for a more powerful (and now class-leading) 130kW version, and the upgraded 130TDI AWD DGS now costs $39,990 – up $1100.

Rounding out the changes is the premium 155TSI, which continues to be powered by a 155kW 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, but now comes with a host of R-Line extras as standard.

Priced at $44,990 plus ORCs (up $1500), the 155TSI AWD DSG R-Line gains satellite-navigation, heated front sports seats, Vienna leather trim, an R-Line sports steering wheel with gearshift paddles, aluminium door scuff plates, adaptive chassis control, unique 18-inch alloy wheels and a full R-Line body kit including a rear roof spoiler, sportier bumpers, side skirts and an R-Line grille.

While the Tiguan joins the larger Touareg in offering an R-Line model standard at the top of its range, the same R-Line treatment can now also be applied to Tiguan 132TSI and 130TDI models, for an extra $2500.

Volkswagen has also confirmed it will offer an R-Line package for the Golf Wagon from next month, joining other Volkswagen models to be available with R-Line packages including the Golf and Beetle hatchbacks.

Apart from the new 155TSI R-Line, more powerful diesel engine for the 130TDI and extra standard safety features across the range, the MY15 Tiguan brings fresh wheel designs on selected models.

As we've reported, a new Tiguan is still two years away from Australian shores, but the German giant's next local release will be the facelifted Scirocco R coupe in November, followed by the facelifted Polo GTI and facelifted Jetta in the first half of 2015, and the all-new Golf Alltrack wagon and eighth-generation Passat in the second half.

2014 Volkswagen Tiguan pricing:
118TSI 2WD manual — $27,990 drive-away
118TSI 2WD manual — $28,990 plus ORCs
118TSI 2WD DSG — $31,490 plus ORCs
132TSI AWD DSG — $36,990 plus ORCs
130TDI AWD DSG — $39,990 plus ORCs
155TSI AWD DSG R-Line — $44,990 plus ORCs