New VW Tiguan R-Line pairs Golf GTI firepower with Continental traction

VW’s third-gen Tiguan just got a few degrees hotter. Find out how a punchier powerplant and standard 4MOTION all-wheel drive transform VW’s best-selling SUV to date.

We recently reported on the arrival of the latest VW Tiguan, and the facelifted Golf GTI shortly after, but what if you want a car that can do both?  

Previous fast Tiguans, like the venerable R, proved you really could have your cake and eat it. Combining relentless poke, tenacious traction, a lofty driving position, and a cavernous boot, the outgoing hot Tiguan appealed to families and fanatics in equal measure.  

However, since VW pulled the plug on Tiguan R production last year, practical petrolheads have been all out of luck. That is, until now: meet the all-new Tiguan with Golf GTI power. 

Ok, so it’s not the full Vindaloo R model, but with 261-bhp and proper all-wheel drive, the R-Line is at least a Madras. This newfound fire in the Tiguan’s belly is then channeled through the familiar seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox for a sub-6 second surge from 0-60 mph. That’s not only quicker than you might expect, but also nipping at the heels of the previous range-topper which boasted over 50 bhp more.

To ensure the R-Line can handle the enhanced grunt VW has suitably tightened up the chassis. Standard Continental SportContact 6 tyres act as a solid foundation for the Tiguan’s heightened dynamic ability. With its revolutionary Black Chili compound, the SportContact 6 improves traction in all weathers and should work harmoniously with the R-Line’s adaptive chassis control system and variable dampers to sharpen things up in the bends.

Of course, the R-Line can still play the practical family hauler with aplomb. Inside, the vast 652-litre boot remains intact, while all the latest infotainment and tech trappings are present and correct. It should even return reasonable fuel economy (32.5 mpg combined) if you can keep your inner enthusiast in check and not dip into those power reserves too often.   

From performance to practicality the new Tiguan R-Line sounds very promising, though there is a caveat: you’ll need to fork out significantly more money for one compared to the equivalent Golf GTI. Where the hot Golf starts from £39,000, the sporty Tiguan will set you back £47,540. But, if you look at it from a pounds per litre of boot capacity perspective, the Golf costs £102 for each litre of luggage space compared to just under £73 for the Tiguan. If that feels like fair value, you’ll be interested to hear UK order books open from the 15th of August. 

Is the R-Line the high-performance Tiguan you’ve been waiting for, or are you holding out for the fully-fledged R model?

Hero image credit: VW