Volkswagen Tiguan now priced under $35K

For the first time in more than a year, the price of admission to the Volkswagen Tiguan range has dropped below $40,000.

The in-demand mid-size German SUV will be priced from $34,150 (plus on-road costs) with the release of the Volkswagen Tiguan Trendline 110TSI model grade in August.

This low-end pricing will give the brand more scope to take on top-sellers in the medium SUV segment, such as the Mazda CX-5 (from $31,770 with an automatic) and the new Toyota RAV4 (from $32,640 auto), which has gone up in price in new-generation form.

The base-model Volkswagen Tiguan is equipped as standard with front and rear parking sensors plus lane assist with adaptive lane guidance, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, an 8.0-inch touch-screen infotainment system, 17-inch alloy wheels and black roof rails.

Other standard features of the entry-level VW Tiguan Trendline include a self-parking system, reversing camera, driver fatigue detection system, automatic headlights and wipers, three USB ports and native Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.

All Tiguan models have a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Powered by a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine (110kW/250Nm) driving the front wheels through a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, the Volkswagen Tiguan Trendline 110TSI undercuts the current cheapest Tiguan in the range by $9000, the 2.0-litre turbo-petrol all-wheel drive Tiguan Comfortline ($43,150 plus ORCs).

The new price-leading Tiguan is joined by the two other new front-drive models fitted with the same powertrain in the form of the Tiguan 110TSI Comfortline ($38,650) and seven-seat Tiguan Allspace 110TSI Comfortline ($40,150).

The Tiguan Comfortline model grades get all of the abovementioned equipment but with upgraded 18-inch alloy wheels, sat-nav, a powered tailgate, LED headlights, keyless entry and engine start, electrically folding wing mirrors, tri-zone climate control and chrome accents.

As previously reported, the Tiguan 132TSI R-Line Edition ($46,990) is pitched at the high number of buyers wanting a sporty look and feel.

The new entry-level models can't come soon enough for VW Australia, with Tiguan sales slipping almost 30 per cent year on year.

As a pair of all-new sub-$30,000 SUVs in the form of the T-Cross and T-Roc arrive in early 2020, Volkswagen hopes to make big gains in the evergreen SUV segment, to which it will add its all-new Touareg flagship next month.

Volkswagen Australia director of customer experience and marketing, Jason Bradshaw, said the resumption of "…entry level medium SUVs means that the leading vehicle of its type is once more available at all price points in its segment."

The reason for the lack of a smaller, cheaper engine option in the Volkswagen Tiguan range? Production constraints due to new WLTP emissions standards, which have cost VW around $6 billion in 2018 alone.

"The advent of WLTP in Europe and the necessity to test every variant for the new regulations placed enormous pressure on supply globally," Volkswagen Australia's general manager corporate communications Paul Pottinger told carsales.com.au.

He explained that top-end 162kW Tiguan models had become the most popular variants in Australia due to the lack of supply of cheaper models.

"That was great, but Volkswagen lacked a Tiguan of either type – any SUV for that matter – under the $40K mark.

"That’s something like 40 per cent of the medium SUV segment, so getting the 110TSI models back online is more than welcome news.

“Next year when T-Cross and T-Roc reach us Volkswagen will have not only a full SUV line-up, but also its most affordable SUVs since the first generation Tiguan."

The new entry-level Tiguan model grades can be optioned with metallic or pearl paint ($800) and a driver assistance package that, for $1600 on Trendline models and $1700 on Comfortlines, adds adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, rear traffic alert and side assist.

The sound and vision package ($3200) adds the high-tech active info display (aka digital dashboard), Dynaudio Excite premium sound, ambient interior lighting and 360-degree parking camera.

The luxury package ($4000) brings Vienna leather appointed-upholstery, a slide/tilt panoramic glass sunroof, heated front seats and an electrically adjustable driver's seat with memory function. The latter two packs are not offered on Trendline models.

Like all Volkswagen passenger vehicles, Tiguan variants come with a five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, one year's roadside assist and the option of capped-price servicing.

How much does the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan cost?
1.4 FWD 110TSI Trendline — $34,150 (new)
1.4 FWD 110TSI Comfortline — $38,650 (new)
2.0 AWD 132 TSI Comfortline — $43,150
2.0 AWD 132TSI R-Line Edition — $46,990 (new)
2.0 AWD 162 TSI Highline — $50,150
2.0 AWD 162 TSI Wolfsburg Edition — $55,490
Allspace 1.4 FWD 110TSI Comfortline — $40,150 (new)
Allspace 2.0 AWD 132TSI Comfortline — $44,650
Allspace 2.0 AWD 162TSI Highline — $51,650

How much do Tiguan options cost?
Metallic/Pearl paint — $800
Driver Assistance Package — $1700 (Trendline)
Driver Assistance Package — $1600 (Comfortline)
Sound and Vision Package — $3200 (Comfortline)
Luxury Package $4,000 — (Comfortline)