2021 Volkswagen Tiguan facelift revealed

• Styling updates include revised bumpers, new head-light and tail-light units and new alloy wheel designs
• All-new Tiguan R powered by EA288 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine paired with a 7-speed DSG gearbox
• Standard 5-seat Tiguan expected to launch in India as a locally assembled model that’s powered by a 150hp 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine

Volkswagen has released a first set of pictures and details of the refreshed Tiguan SUV, and has also unveiled the sportier R-Line top-spec trim. The Tiguan is the brand's most popular SUV globally, with more than six million examples having been sold since it was first unveiled back 2007.

Volkswagen Tiguan facelift: What’s new on the outside?

The refreshed SUV gets an all-new grille that merges into new-look headlights; these units are similar to the ones on the current-gen Golf. The SUV also gets a sportier front bumper with more pronounced air intakes. It also gets new tail-lights, restyled wheel designs and an updated rear bumper.  The “Tiguan” badging has also been relocated to the centre of the tailgate.  The model gets additional chrome bits on the side and at the back, depending on the variant.

Volkswagen Tiguan facelift: What’s new on the inside?

The interior changes bring the Tiguan in-line with Volkswagen’s newer models, with the latest version of the VW’s infotainment system and larger touchscreens now available. Wireless Apple CarPlay is also offered, alongside Volkswagen’s We Connect system, which includes live traffic data and numerous app-based functions. Options include natural speech control. The 10.0-inch digital dial display has also been updated.

There are also details such as two illuminated USB-C ports in the centre console, new multi-coloured ambient lighting and, on the Tiguan R, exterior logo projection. The Tiguan can be specified with a touch-sensitive control module for climate functions in place of the physical dials, including illuminated sliders for fan and temperature control.

A sports steering wheel can be chosen, as can a different wheel that has touch-sensitive controls and sliders in place of buttons. Meanwhile, the old Dynaudio stereo upgrade has been ditched in favour of a 480W, 10-speaker Harman Kardon system.

The new Volkswagen Tiguan R

The new Tiguan R joins the larger Touareg R as part of the performance division’s rapidly expanding line-up. It uses the fourth-generation EA888 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine. Performance and efficiency details have yet to be disclosed. As usual, this four-cylinder unit is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox, four-wheel drive and the Dynamic Chassis Control system, which lowers the ride height by 10mm. The Tiguan R also benefits from a similar torque-vectoring function in its four-wheel drive system as the Arteon R. This system can vary the drive between the front and rear axles as well as the left and right rear wheels.

Volkswagen Tiguan facelift: Is it coming to India?

Volkswagen India replaced the standard Tiguan with the longer, 7-seat Tiguan AllSpace earlier this year.  However, as reported by us earlier, the 5-seat Tiguan will come back to India in the future in facelift form.

The SUV will be powered by a 150hp, 1.5 TSI turbo-petrol engine, similar to the one under the hood of the Skoda Karoq. There will be no diesel engine on offer. The refreshed Tiguan in India will come with a willing 7-speed twin-clutch automatic gearbox or DSG as VW calls it, paddleshifters and features like hill-descent control and an electronic parking brake.

To keep costs down, the SUV will come to India with a front-wheel drive layout only.  The facelifted 5-seater Tiguan is likely to be assembled at VW’s Chakan plant near Pune. Expect aggressive pricing for the new Tiguan in India, somewhere in the range of Rs 23-26 lakh (ex-showroom).

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2021 Volkswagen Tiguan facelift image gallery

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