Volkswagen Tosses Out an R-Line Tiguan as It Waits for More Crossovers

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Volkswagen’s American fortune will not come by way of an electric, next-generation Beetle. No, the automaker’s U.S. game plan rests firmly on the success of existing and future utility vehicles. With no new models kicking around to bring to L.A., the automaker decked out its recently introduced second-generation Tiguan in ever-so-edgy R-Line trim and headed to the show.

Featuring an added (but not heaping) dose of visual aggression, the Tiguan R-Line, available in the first quarter of 2018, should give crossover buyers something new to look at while the company fleshes out its lineup with new tenants. It’s early days yet, but it seems the company’s crossover push is already working.

Let’s be honest — finding the differences between the R-Line and another uplevel Tiguan would be much more difficult if the model shown above wasn’t white. Clearly, adding the R-Line package brings a revamped lower fascia with black-ringed air intakes, front fender badging, a blacked-out rear diffuser, and a choice of edgier 19- and 20-inch aluminum wheels.

Inside, there’s no shortage of glittery reminders that this Tiguan is an extra-special one. Even the welcome screen informs you of this fact.

The removal of the stock Tiguan’s side sill and wheel arch cladding lends the impression that this Tiguan’s home is the mean streets of Anytown, USA, not the woods. Of course, appearances aside, there’s no real difference between the R-Line and its Tiguan siblings. The same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder rests under the hood, making the same 184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, and connected to the same eight-speed automatic. (A powertrain described as “unresponsive” and “lackadaisical” in a recent TTAC review.)

If R-Line is your thing, prepare to pay more for it. The package only applies to the Tiguan SEL and SEL Premium, and the markup amounts to 1,795 for the lesser trim, $1,495 for the range-topper.

When it debuted in early summer, the 2018 Tiguan represented a more Americanized version of the crossover, stretching some 5 inches longer than a Toyota RAV4. The former Tiguan (which soldiers on as the Tiguan Limited), was often criticized for its puny size. There’s even a third row on offer if you feel like handing over an extra $500.

While the new Tiguan’s performance isn’t exactly scorching, the model’s sales performance is (so far) quite the opposite. By keeping the old model on hand, the nameplate recorded its second-best U.S. sales month in October, with volume rising 54 percent, year-over-year. September saw a year-over-year sales gain of 44 percent.

Meanwhile, there’s new volume rolling in from the midsize Atlas SUV, introduced this past spring. Between them, the Atlas and Tiguan are making up for lost sales in the traditional passenger car segment. So far in 2017, only one month has seen a sales drop compared to last year’s Volkswagen brand figures. North of the border, sales are on track to surpass last year’s figures by a healthy margin.

[Images: Volkswagen]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

More by Steph Willems

Comments
Join the conversation
4 of 9 comments
  • Arthur Dailey Arthur Dailey on Nov 28, 2017

    It's astonishing how differently VW is viewed in Canada than in the USA. In Canada VW is accepted as a European marque and Passats, CC's, even Tiguans are therefore generally considered more upscale than more mundane/mainstream Domestic, Korean and Japanese segment competition. More in line as a 'junior' Volvo. And in Canada their comprehensive warranty is 'only' 4 years/80,000kms, which equates to 50,000 miles. We can however still get deals on Jettas, but not so much on other VW products.

    • Hamish42 Hamish42 on Nov 28, 2017

      Exactly true sir. The way the brands are presented up here I would consider my wife trading her Corolla for a Jetta an appreciable step up. Similarly, I consider my brother's Tiguan to be in a demographic above the RAV4 and the CR-V twins. We just consider European to be intrinsically a class above Asian.

  • Kosmo Kosmo on Nov 29, 2017

    I'd look hard at a Tiguan GTI (or Sportwagen, or Alltrack). Otherwise, passing interest only.

  • Kwik_Shift Hyunkia'sis doing what they do best...subverting expectations of quality.
  • MaintenanceCosts People who don't use the parking brake when they walk away from the car deserve to have the car roll into a river.
  • 3-On-The-Tree I’m sure they are good vehicles but you can’t base that on who is buying them. Land Rovers, Bentley’ are bought by Robin Leaches’s “The Rich and Famous” but they have terrible reliability.
  • SCE to AUX The fix sounds like a bandaid. Kia's not going to address the defective shaft assemblies because it's hard and expensive - not cool.
  • Analoggrotto I am sick and tired of every little Hyundai Kia Genesis flaw being blown out of proportion. Why doesn't TTAC talk about the Tundra iForce Max problems, Toyota V35A engine problems or the Lexus 500H Hybrid problems? Here's why: education. Most of America is illiterate, as are the people who bash Hyundai Kia Genesis. Surveys conducted by credible sources have observed a high concentration of Hyundai Kia Genesis models at elite ivy league universities, you know those places where students earn degrees which earn more than $100K per year? Get with the program TTAC.
Next