2022 Volkswagen Tiguan: Digital is the Name of the Interior Game
The Volkswagen Tiguan isn’t about to take a back seat to the Taos.
While the latter is going to make a lot of news as a new small crossover in the brand’s lineup — indeed, I will have my first sampling next week, with a review later in May when the embargo lifts — the already-existing Tiguan isn’t going anywhere. And VW is using a refresh to remind us of that fact.
As per usual, the changes are minor — a new front end, new wheels, and new colors.
Inside, a digital cockpit is standard, along with wireless charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections. A suite of driver-assist tech called IQ.DRIVE will be standard on all but the base model, and trim levels are simplified.
The front-end changes included standard LED lighting and an available light-up VW logo, and top trims get “sportier” bumpers and side sills. The taillights are LED, too.
Meanwhile, the rear badging is moved and centered so that the Tiguan can match up with other VWs. Exciting news here, people.
The new available wheels are offered in sizes from 17- to 20-inches.
Inside, the standard digital cockpit is 8 inches, with a 10-inch screen available. Heated front seats are now standard, with heated steering wheel and cooled seats available.
All but the base model get haptic touch interfaces for the climate controls, and R-Line models get similar controls for the steering wheel. Available features will include premium audio, leatherette or leather seating, power front seats, and interior ambient lighting.
The IQ.DRIVE system will include forward-collision warning and autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian monitoring, blind-spot monitor, rear-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, travel assist, and emergency assist. Base Tiguans get front assist (FCW and AEB), side assist (blind-spot monitoring), and rear-traffic alert, and the IQ.DRIVE system can be added.
Other available driver-aid tech will include automatic high beams, parking assist, and road-sign recognition.
The 2.0-liter four-cylinder (184 horsepower/221 lb-ft of torque) and eight-speed automatic transmission carry over. There will be four trim levels — S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line.
Pricing has yet to be announced, and the refreshed Tiguan is slated to reach dealers in the third quarter of this year.
[Images: Volkswagen]
Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.
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Regarding more power, perhaps VW doesn’t want to intrude into Audi territory, where the Q3 has an optional 228 HP engine.
I just looked at VW’s Web site because I wanted to figure out what the bloated, whale-like thing with slit windows, a beltline that looked neck-high for a small-statured individual, and a VW badge that I saw whilst trundling through the soul-sapping construction zone behind a fool driving ten-under was. An Atlas Sport. Picture a 1st-generation Chrysler 300 on stilts with a hatchback and a wagon body (somehow the Magnum’s windows didn’t seem as short), and you’d have it! In a vehicular environment festooned with shapeless blobs on stilts, that one looks particularly awful!