New Tiguan set to impress

POLOKWANE – The new Volkswagen (VW) Tiguan is a great all-rounder with distinctive styling and has been nominated as one of the 10 finalists for the 2017 South African Car of the Year competition.
BONUS had the opportunity to test drive the new Tiguan 1.4 TSI Comfortline six-speed manual alongside our special guest, Elizabeth Modiba.
Modiba is the coordinator at the Limpopo branch of the Businesswomen’s Association of South Africa based in Polokwane. We were accompanied by the friendly and knowledgeable VW Polokwane sales executive, Malerato Shirinda.
The design of the new Tiguan emphasises style, presence and dynamism. With this car, VW is introducing a completely new design character for its SUV’s which combines striking proportions with a clear commitment to sophistication and authority.
All these aspects are aimed to impressed right off the bat, and Modiba said they hit the nail right on as she was greatly impressed.
The completely redesigned Tiguan with its 92kW 1.4 TSI engine thoroughly impressed Modiba and she was quickly at home behind the wheel in the ergonomically designed cockpit.
She said she clearly sees why the new Tiguan got a well-deserved nomination as the 2017 Car of the Year as this six-speed manual was a dream to drive. As an expecting mother, a roomy and safe cabin was at the top of her priority list when considering a new vehicle and the Tiguan passed with flying colours in her book.
Along with the safe and roomy cabin, boot space was also high on her list and the Tiguan ticked all the right boxes. The new Tiguan has a boot capacity of 1 655 litre when the rear bench is folded, making it both practical for everyday use and when transporting cargo.
The Tiguan on the safety aspects side has driver and front passenger airbags, an airbag curtain system and front seat side impact airbags. The hazard lights flash automatically under hard braking, while Electronic Stability Control, XDS transverse differential lock and fatigue detection (Rest Assist) are all standard.
Other key points of the Tiguan that impressed during the test drive was its delightful manual air conditioning, electric front and rear windows, cruise control, front fog lights, leather multi-function steering wheel, connectivity package (for Bluetooth and USB interface) and the roof rails which are among the many standard-fit features on all models in the range.
Despite its lower overall height, the Tiguan has a clever ergonomic design which offers more headroom than before. In the new Tiguan, VW implements the latest generation of infotainment systems, based on the brand’s Modular Infotainment Platform (MIB).
The active bonnet, a first for any VW, reduces the risk of injury to pedestrians and cyclists.
When contact is made with the bumper, a sensor strip triggers a pyrotechnic actuator that lifts the rear edge of the bonnet by around 50 mm within 22 milliseconds. This increases the distance between the hard engine components and the relatively flexible bonnet. In turn, it reduces the risk of serious head injuries.
The LED basic headlights (standard from Comfortline) deliver 10% better lighting performance compared to halogen headlights.

Shirinda explained the new Tiguan can be customised with a number of optional convenience features such as:
• Panoramic sunroof.
• Electrically detachable towbar.
• LED-mid headlights package.
• R-Line exterior package with 19-inch Sebring alloy wheels.
• Heads-up display.
• Parallel parking assistance with rear view camera.
• Active info display.
• Eight-inch Discover Pro Radio with satellite navigation system.
• 6,5-inch Radio and CD composition media.
• App-connect.
• Ambient light package.
• Leather seats with electric adjustment.
• DynAudio Premium sound system.
• Keyless Access (keyless locking and engine starting system).
• Electric tailgate.
• Adaptive cruise control.
The new Tiguan 1.4 TSI 92kW Comfortline manual is currently priced at R474 921 (including VAT, administration fees and accessories) and comes standard with a five-year or 90 000 km service plan, a three-year or 120 000 km warranty and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty. The service interval is 15 000 km.
To view or book a test drive of the new Tiguan, visit VW Polokwane at the corner of Nelson Mandela and Grobler Street, N1 Motorcity, Polokwane or contact any of their friendly and competent sales executives at (015) 299 8800.
roelof@nmgroup.co.za