Volkswagen Tiguan R Grid Edition 2023 Review

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan R Grid Edition is a 235kW all-wheel drive five-seat performance SUV that will set you back $63,990 plus on-road costs. That’s a $6500 saving compared to the Tiguan R and we’ll get into the explanation of why that is below.

In the complex matrix that is the Volkswagen GTI and R performance model pricing hierarchy, the Grid Edition of the Tiguan slots in above the T-Roc R and below the Golf R.

Potential rivals start with VW Group brand Cupra and its Formentor VZx, which has exactly the same drivetrain outputs as the Tiguan R Grid Edition.

The Skoda Kodiaq RS is another competitor from within the VW family, although it’s more expensive and less powerful.

Branch out further and it really becomes a struggle to find competition anywhere near this price point. Maybe the 206kW Alfa Romeo Stelvio Veloce?

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan R Grid Edition is an Australia-specific limited-edition response to the supply shortages created by the auto industry’s global microchip crisis.

Rather than worry about what’s unavailable, the decision was made to create the Grid Edition from what is available. The name has history as VW did a Mk7.5 Golf R Grid Edition back in 2018 as a bit of a stripper.

This time round, it’s not only the Tiguan R getting the treatment but the T-Roc R as well.

Check out 2023 VW T-Roc review and video

While the core mechanical spec remains the same as the Tiguan R, the Grid Edition swaps to less sophisticated LED headlights and tail-lights and deletes some driver assist and other safety systems (more on that in the safety section below).

It also swaps out Nappa leather upholstery for a tartan-tinged cloth/microfleece seat trim and loses power adjustment of the front seats. Power assist is also deleted from the tailgate.

Externally the Grid Edition is distinguished by black door mirrors, roof rails, body trim, quad exhausts and specific badging. It shares its 21-inch alloy wheels and rear spoiler with the Tiguan R.

Shared interior equipment includes tri-zone climate control, keyless entry and start via a push-button, ambient lighting in 30 customisable colours, front seat heating, a leather-trimmed, heated flat-bottomed steering wheel with shift paddles and a gearshift knob in leather and matte chrome.

Metallic and pearl-effect paint is standard. A panoramic sunroof is a $2100 option. There is no spare tyre, just a mobility kit and pressure monitoring.

The Tiguan R Grid Edition is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. Service intervals are 15,000km/12 months and a capped-price servicing schedule costs $4282; that averages out at $856.40 each over the first five services.

A five-year pre-purchased plan will save you more than $1000 at $3200.

As the Volkswagen Tiguan was tested by ANCAP in 2016 its five-star rating has now lapsed. Volkswagen has yet to apply to retest the Tiguan, so no rating for the Grid Edition.

The safety equipment deleted from the Grid Edition compared to the Tiguan R includes blind spot assist, rear traffic alert and a pre-emptive safety system that anticipates accidents and tightens seat belts, closes the sunroof and so on.

A head-up display has also been deleted, while the LED headlights are no longer the tricky Matrix units that avoid dazzling oncoming traffic. Cornering lights are retained. Dynamic indicators are dropped from the tail-lights.

Safety gear shared with the Tiguan R includes front, front-side, curtain and driver’s knee airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian monitoring, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go (that holds speed well down hills), adaptive lane guidance, lane assist and emergency assist.

The Tiguan R Grid Edition also comes with driver fatigue detection, 360-degree and reversing cameras, front and rear parking sensors and park assist.

There are three top tether and two ISOFIX child restraint points mounted in the rear seat. All passengers get lap-sash seat belts.

Infotainment duties in the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan R Grid Edition are carried out via a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster in front of the driver and a 9.2-inch colour touch-screen embedded in the dashboard.

The cluster can be rotated through multiple views from conservative analogue dials to full-screen sat-nav map coverage.

Displays for the sat-nav system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (wireless or cabled), Bluetooth and AM/FM and DAB+ radio frequencies are all found here. There is no separate power/volume dial.

Climate controls claim their own patch of real estate below the screen on the centre stack.

Audio is beamed around the cabin via an eight-speaker sound system.

All up, there are three USB-C ports to be found in the cabin – two in the front and one in the rear seat area.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan R Grid Edition is powered by a 235kW/400Nm version of the EA888 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that is seen in various states of tune in performance models across the VW Group.

In this case it hooks up to a seven-speed dual-clutch (DSG) gearbox and an on-demand multi-plate-clutch 4MOTION all-wheel drive system. Torque vectoring is offered between the rear wheels.

The Grid Edition also get the XDL (Extended Electronic Differential Lock) that keeps front wheelspin in corners under control.

With the aid of launch control, VW claims the Grid Edition (and the Tiguan R for that matter) can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.1 seconds. That’s 0.2sec slower than the smaller, lighter, less powerful (221kW) and cheaper T-Roc R and T-Roc R Grid Edition.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan R Grid Edition claims an average fuel consumption rate of 8.8L/100km and CO2 emissions of 201g/km.

Automatic engine idle-stop helps the Grid Edition be more frugal, but it also runs on the most expensive 98 RON premium fuel. The fuel tank takes 58 litres.

On a test drive that included some mountain road revving, freeway cruising and gridlock idling, the trip computer reported a 10L/100km average.

Jumping into the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan R Grid Edition only a few minutes after an extended and eminently enjoyable thrash in the T-Roc R Grid Edition did the bigger, heavier car no favours.

Sure, the Tiguan displayed user-friendly manners and could still be hustled along at a quick rate on the winding roads of our test drive in the hills above Marysville. But it was not as nimble, tight and together as the T-Roc.

It felt a bit top-heavy and narrow, a sensation reinforced by the driver’s sports seat not adjusting low enough to suit my driving position.

But focus on the Tiguan R Grid Edition alone and the conversion of this family transporter into a performance car is an impressive achievement.

The drivetrain is strong and flexible, with bucketfuls of torque and a thrummy soundtrack typical of the EA888 breed.

The gearbox snaps through the up and down changes and enjoys being manually shifted. The all-wheel drive system provides sure and planted grip that’s great for lunging out of tight corners.

Steering is accurate if not particularly feel-some, brakes are solid if a bit grabby on the pedal and the adaptive suspension can dial from almost-supple to cabin-shaking firm depending on which of the modes are selected – Comfort, Sport or Race.

The drivetrain is also tuneable through the modes, although its character does not change as much as the dampers. Steering weighting gets heavier the closer you get to Race.

Thankfully, there is an Individual mode so you can select your preferences for different parts of the dynamic armoury.

Pick the right modes at the right time and the Grid Edition is comfortable enough to be an everyday commuting device as well as a sports drive when the mood strikes.

Only the DSG’s much-documented – but these days, thankfully occasional – grabbiness detracts in an obvious way from the Grid Edition’s day-to-day user-friendliness.

Yep, in theory the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan R Grid Edition can go off road. But that wasn’t part of the test route and it’s hard to imagine any owner having that as a high priority.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan R Grid Edition would have to be one of the most family-friendly performance vehicles on sale in Australia today.

Despite only measuring up at 4.52m long, interior space is a great asset. Rear seat passengers have no shortage of legroom or headroom, even if they are 180cm or taller. Elbow-room is also good if it’s two passengers only.

The big tombstone front seats make things feel a little enclosed in the back seat, but that is counterbalanced by the large windows and – in the case of our test car – the optional sunroof.

A substantial transmission tunnel cruels space for a middle rear-seat passenger. Everyone back here has to put up with firm seat padding that is typically German. But the seatback can be laid back at multiple angles.

Up front, the heavily bolstered sports seats provide excellent side support, the fat-rimmed steering wheel has plenty of reach and rake adjustment and there is a sizeable left footrest.

Boot space is a generous 615 litres available with all seats upright. With the bench split-folded – there are handy levers in the boot to help with that – stowage expands to an impressive 1655 litres. Stow and go … Really go.

Storage for knick-knacks is also good, including a lidded bin, glove box, netted pocket and dashboard compartment up front, bins in all doors, cup holders front and rear, pockets on the back of both front seats and bins on both sides of the bench seat.

Useable door and overhead grab handles for all outboard passengers are other laudable features.

The presentation of the interior isn’t bright and cheery, but up front it does have a sense of quality to it with distinctive ‘R’ blue stitching.

The rear seat area is devoid of character and dressed in hard plastics. Obvious cost-cutting here.

Essentially, the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan R Grid Edition is fast family transport. And good on it for that!

So far, Volkswagen can guarantee 365 examples will head to Australia with the expectation more will come if demand justifies it. It should.

It’s hard to see any reason to spend the extra money on the Tiguan R when the Grid Edition offers the same driving goodness at a significantly cheaper price.

2023 Volkswagen Tiguan R Grid Edition at a glance:
Price: $63,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 235kW/400Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 8.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 201g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested