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As the festive season rolls in each year, my priority remains unchanged—I need a fuel-efficient, reliable, and comfortable car. But the 2024 holiday break came with a twist. With a new addition to the family, space became the deciding factor in my search for the perfect ride.
Then there’s the drive to Bushbuckridge, about 500km east of Johannesburg, an annual test of patience. If you have ever driven that route, you know the drill: gridlocked traffic, careless excitement, and frustration that often makes you question your life choices.
My chariot for the season? The third-gen Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line. If there was ever an SUV built to make gridlocks more bearable, this is it. Packed to capacity, it still delivered an effortless, stress-free drive, turning what should have been a holiday nightmare into something surprisingly enjoyable. This further cemented its reputation in its respective segment, which is why it has remained a popular choice for family travel since the introduction of the first-generation model in SA in 2008.
The thing about the design of the Tiguan is that it’s rather polarising; you either love it or you don’t. But looking at it through the designer’s lens, the softer approach to its design makes perfect sense. Like the Golf and GTI, the Tiguan nameplate is built for longevity and is expected to thrive well into the EV future. So, it’s unsurprising that it looks completely different from its forebear, and that’s for a good reason.
Back to the trip, picking the car up and gearing up for the trip to Bushbuckridge, the Tiguan R-Line’s interior exudes a modern feel while remaining simple and minimalistic. Almost everything is controlled via the large 15-inch infotainment screen, paired with a crisp, responsive 10-inch digital instrument cluster.
It’s high-tech, I agree, but the touch-sensitive pads for heating and volume took some getting used to. In the end, I found myself relying more on the infotainment screen, which felt more intuitive. If there’s one thing that VW nailed, it was bringing back actual buttons on the steering wheel, and trust me, it makes a difference, especially on long drives where you don’t want to fumble around with finicky touch controls.
Speaking of the minimalist approach, the centre console contains only a start button, two USB-C ports up front, an electronic handbrake, large cup holders, and a stylish volume knob that also serves as a drive mode selector. The massage function for the front seats was also a welcome addition, especially during the long hours on the road, helping to keep fatigue at bay.
When you’re on the road with a packed car, kids included, every little convenience (or inconvenience) starts to matter. Take the sunroof controls, for example. VW has opted for touch-sensitive buttons instead of physical ones, which sounds futuristic until they decide to act up. A couple of times, I had to pull over, switch off the car, and use the key fob just to get the sunroof to close. This is not exactly ideal, especially if you’re caught in a sudden downpour.
Then there’s the issue of USB ports. Up front, you’re sorted with two USB-C ports, but rear passengers? Nothing. And on a long trip, that’s a problem, especially with kids who need their devices charged to maintain the peace. For a mid-size family SUV, having rear USB ports should be a given.
Frustrations aside, the Tiguan R-Line exudes interior qualities that I have come to expect and appreciate in previous iterations. It also delivers where it matters: practicality. With a generous 652-litre boot, it easily outshines key rivals like the Chery Tiggo 7 Pro, BMW X3, and Hyundai Tucson. Space is never an issue when it comes to packing for a holiday trip.
Our final destination was a small village called Agincourt, about 100 kilometres from Mbombela. That meant driving from Johannesburg to the village for about 7 hours, with a couple of stops along the way. Even when laden with five passengers and chock-a-block with luggage, the 1.4-litre TSI engine with 110kW and 250Nm that powers our vehicle performs exceptionally well with ample shove in all seven of the DSG’s gears. It felt lively and eager in most situations along the way, but it did run out of breath higher up on the rev spectrum. This is where the TDI variant with 340Nm would have been a welcome alternative; its torquey nature would have made highway cruising and overtaking that much easier. No doubt about that.
The ride quality strikes a satisfactory balance. It isn’t harsh or clumsy over bumps, though some passengers might notice a bit of a jiggle. That became especially noticeable while navigating the pothole-riddled roads in and around Bushbuckridge, which provided a true test of the Tiguan’s suspension. Honestly, I’m still amazed the 19-inch wheels made it through unscathed, but here we are. Upon arriving in Agincourt, most of the driving was in and around town, with a few detours onto gravel roads. Despite being a front-wheel-drive family SUV rather than a hardcore adventure vehicle, the SUV was able to confidently go off-road thanks to its raised ground clearance.
Out on the open road, the Tiguan proved to be impressively efficient, with fuel consumption hovering just below 7l/100km. The onboard range estimator suggested we could squeeze up to 680km from its 55-litre fuel tank, a reassuring number for long trips. However, the story changed once we hit stop-and-go traffic or navigated through town, particularly from Nelspruit to Agincourt, where consumption crept up to around 7.7l/100km. While still reasonable for a petrol-powered SUV, it did make me wonder how much more economical the TDI variant could be. Given its torquey nature and diesel efficiency, it could be the smarter choice for those who prioritise fuel savings, especially on longer journeys or urban commutes.
After spending plenty of time behind the wheel of the new Tiguan R-Line, it’s easy to see why this SUV has built such a loyal following. It perfectly balances practicality, refinement, and premium finishes—everything you’d want in a mid-sized family SUV. Whether it’s the spacious interior, comfortable ride, or well-thought-out features, the Tiguan feels like a vehicle designed with real-world usability. For those who have always appreciated what this nameplate offers, there’s little here that would make them look elsewhere. If anything, it only reinforces why the Tiguan remains such a solid choice in its segment.
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