Volkswagen Tiguan R: Five things we love

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan R  is in high demand and low supply, which is a shame for those that like the mid-size German performance SUV as much as we do here at carsales.

Here are the five things we love most about Volkswagen’s fire-breathing mid-size SUV, which is on sale now priced from $68,990 (before on-road costs), even if you’ll have to wait to get your hands on one.

Launch control

Few will believe the brutish standing-start acceleration the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan R delivers via its launch control until they experience it.

So I thought I’d show my 60-year-old dad, who legitimately thought he was going to lose consciousness. Twice… just to make sure he wasn’t experiencing an unrelated medical emergency the first time.

His words: “I don’t know how to describe it. I just went all very light-headed. It was like being on the rotor at Luna Park, when you can’t pull your head forward off the wall as it spins around and the G-forces push you back. Had I not asked you to back off, I think I would’ve passed out.”

Everyone else we showed just smiled in disbelief; that is, after they unglued their head from the head restraint.

For the record, the Tiguan R hits 100km/h in a claimed 5.1 seconds, which is two-tenths slower than the European version (4.9sec), which comes with a petrol particulate filter an extra 20Nm of torque at 420Nm, but a whole 1.5sec than the previous 162TSI R-Line range-topper.

Versatility

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan R is highly athletic – both in a straight line and around corners – but it’s more than just a go-fast family hauler.

OK, it’s no off-roader and it might not take you absolutely anywhere, but it is fitted with Volkswagen’s Driving Profile Selection, which allows you to toggle through Snow and Off-Road drive modes via a rotary dial on the centre console.

That’s on top of the Comfort, Sport, Race and Individual modes, which make a noticeable difference to ride comfort and powertrain response (although it lacks the Golf R’s Drift and Special drive modes).

Practicality

Not only will all five occupants of the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan R enjoy plenty of head room and legroom, but a big 615 litres of cargo capacity means all their shopping, luggage or sporting equipment will fit on-board too.

Traction

The secret behind the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan R’s savage acceleration runs much deeper than its muscular 235kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine.

Like the Golf R hot hatch, the high-output medium SUV is able to send all that thrust exactly where it’s needed thanks to its R Performance Torque Vectoring system, which can send up to 100 per cent of torque to the outside rear wheel via the rear differential’s twin-clutch set-up.

That increases cornering traction, reduces understeer at the limit and, combined with sticky Hankook Ventus Evo 3 SUV tyres on 21-inch Estoril alloys, means you’ll almost never run out of grip.

Throw in performance front brakes, adaptive dampers, a 10mm-lower ride height and sports steering, and this Tiguan is made for cornering.

Better than a Golf R

Many performance car enthusiasts may disagree, but almost every person I spoke with during my seven days with the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan R said they’d have the hot SUV over the Golf R in a heartbeat.

Most cited the spacious cabin that makes it so much more practical – and we know Aussies love their space – but also its minimal performance deficit. Where the Golf R can hit 100km/h in 4.8sec, the Tiguan R is only just behind it at 5.1sec.

That sentiment is reflected by the latest sales data. Volkswagen says the Tiguan R currently accounts for 48 per cent of all R model sales, with the Golf R hatch comprising 44 per cent and the Golf R wagon accounting for the other eight per cent.

Volkswagen Australia says the high-performance Tiggy is in shorter supply than the Golf R but is adamant the Tiguan R will remain its best-selling R model – even after the smaller T-Roc R arrives in August and the larger Touareg R arrives in November… as long as it can keep up with demand.

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