Volkswagen Tiguan R 2022 Review - Australia

There are two types of vehicles Aussies simply can’t get enough of, and from the outset the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan R seems to be the perfect blend of both.

Combining the familiar practicality and load-lugging ability of a mid-size SUV, along with the same scorching 235kW turbocharged powertrain that powers the new Volkswagen Golf R, this hotshot SUV is set to be a smash hit.

Officially priced from $68,990 plus on-road costs, the R-fettled SUV now tops the recently facelifted Tiguan range in Australia.

From the outside, it’s easily recognisable thanks to more aggressive front and rear bumpers, huge 21-inch Estoril alloy wheels atop blue brake callipers, matte silver mirror caps, Matrix LED headlights and quad exhaust tips.

Inside, you’ll find a heated R-Performance steering wheel with shift paddles, rain-sensing wipers, ambient interior lighting, super-soft Nappa leather seats (with heating), tri-zone climate control and illuminated ‘R’ puddle lamps.

An electric tailgate is part of the package, too.

Available options include a panoramic sunroof ($2000) and Harman Kardon premium audio system ($1000). Metallic paint is a no-cost option. 

As with the rest of the VW range, the Tiguan R is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, with services costing $1650 and $3100 over the first three and five years respectively. 

Ensuring it’s fit for family duties, the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan R is packed with all the latest safety equipment and driver aids.

The standard fitment of Volkswagen’s IQ.Drive safety suite brings autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian monitoring, driver fatigue warning, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane assist, proactive occupant protection, front and rear parking sensors, and more.

Travel Assist is also standard, where a one-touch button on the steering wheel provides semi-autonomous driving.

As seen on the facelifted Tiguan range that lobbed in 2021, the Tiguan R has a 9.2-inch Discover Pro infotainment unit that brings gesture control, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, digital radio and voice control.

It’s simple to use and easy to navigate, with the touch-sensitive climate controls also adding to the Tiguan R’s high-end feel.

Behind the steering wheel, there’s more ability to customise the 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro instrument cluster, with R-specific display options and important info portrayed clearly.  

A 12-way power-adjustable seat for the driver also makes it easy to find a comfortable driving position, while three USB-C ports and three 12-volt outlets feature throughout the cabin.

Of course, it’s out on the open road – and on the racetrack, as we experienced – that the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan R really makes its mark.

Sporting an impressive 0-100km/h sprint time of just 5.1 seconds, the R-rated Tiggy isn’t here to muck around.

Power comes from same upgraded 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine and seven-speed DSG dual-clutch auto used in the all-new Mk8 Golf R.

But even though the Tiguan R is 220kg heavier (at 1722kg) than the hot hatch with which it shares so much tech, it feels surprisingly athletic.

With an identical 235kW of power and 400Nm of torque on tap, the mid-size SUV absolutely hustles.

Activate launch control, and you’ll have a car-load of passengers smiling from ear to ear as they’re pinned back in their seats as the Tiguan R propels forward.

Another thing it borrows from the Golf R is the upgraded 4MOTION all-wheel drive system with ‘R-Performance Torque Vectoring’.

Unfortunately, while it doesn’t get the same cool Drift Mode feature as the flagship Golf, you do get the same twin-clutch system at the rear-end, with the ability to send 100 per cent of torque to an outside rear wheel.

Put simply, torque is sent to whichever corner it’s needed, which Volkswagen says improves drive out of corners, helps negate understeer and “ensures extreme stability” when cornering at high speeds.

We were able to really put that into practice on the racetrack, where the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan R performed surprisingly well.

With just a tiny hint of body roll to remind you it’s still an SUV, the Tiguan R rips around corners with a level of enthusiasm you’d probably never expect of a car this size (and mass). It’s smooth, flat and confidence-inspiring.

That said, out on the open road the R-fettled Tiguan has the tendency to feel a little too firm, even with the adaptive dampers in their softest ‘Comfort’ setting.

Road imperfections and potholes tend to make their presence felt in the cabin, and on rougher surfaces such as these we also noticed high levels of road noise filtering in, too.  

That’s in part due to its huge 21-inch wheels and low-profile Hankook rubber.

On smoother tarmac around town, the Tiguan R is much more pleasant, with a smooth and supple ride for the most part.

With five passengers comfortably loaded in, there’s headroom and legroom aplenty, and if you drive conservatively you’ll likely be able to match – or even better – Volkswagen’s combined fuel consumption claim of 8.8L/100km.

We came close, at 9.0L/100km, running on the minimum 98 RON premium fuel that required for this and the new Golf R.

It’s also good to know that the Tiguan R can tow up to 2.2 tonnes (braked).

For many, the beauty of the high-performance 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan R will be that it still brings the same solid family-car credentials Aussies have come to love from the Tiguan nameplate.  

Given there’s no Subaru Forester turbo to get similar juices flowing, unless you’re prepared to push the budget out to push the envelope further with rivals from the likes of BMW M or Mercedes-AMG, few other mid-size SUVs can match the Tiggy R on price and performance – and that’s what makes this car so appealing.

It certainly gets our vote.

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