Turbo-diesel VW Tiguan now available in South Africa – Pricing and specifications

Nearly two years after the new VW Tiguan made its debut in petrol-only guise, the automaker has added a turbo-diesel (TDI) motor to the local line-up.

VW said in January that the alternate drivetrain would launch in South Africa sometime in the second quarter of the year, and it has since listed the diesel-powered SUV on its vehicle configurator with no official announcement.

The automaker confirmed to TopAuto that the Tiguan TDI is now officially on sale in South Africa, being available in a single R-Line specification with prices starting at R816,600.

Engine

The newest entry to the Tiguan family features a 2.0-litre, turbocharged diesel powerplant that generates a total of 130kW and 380Nm, paired with a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic gearbox and 4Motion all-wheel drive.

This means the TDI has more torque but a lower power output than the 2.0-litre, turbo-petrol found in the other R-Line, which has 162kW and 350Nm at its disposal.

Of course, the greatest benefit of the diesel setup is its lower fuel consumption, as it consumes roughly 6.6l/100km on a typical cycle, compared to the petrol’s 8.3l/100km.

Other notable stats include the TDI’s 0-100km/h acceleration time which clocks in at 8.3 seconds, and its top speed of 207km/h.

Furthermore, it has a ground clearance of 201mm, a towing capacity of 2,200kg, and driving modes for Eco, Automatic, Snow, Off-road, and Individual settings.

Features

The equipment sheet for the TDI is identical to the petrol version, meaning buyers can look forward to 19-inch “Valencia” alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights, daytime running lights, rain-sensing wipers, and silver roof rails.

Inside, there is an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and voice commands, Vienna leather upholstery with R-Line badging, heated front seats with lumbar support, a digital “Pro Cockpit” instrument cluster, ambient lighting, a multifunction sports steering wheel with paddle shifters, and three-zone climate control.

Safety and assistance features take the form of hill descent control, driver fatigue detection, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, a speed limiter, and six airbags.

Pricing

The South African pricing and updated model line-up for the VW Tiguan range are as follows:

• VW Tiguan 1.4TSI 110kW – R606,700
• VW Tiguan 1.4TSI 110kW Life – R677,900
• VW Tiguan 1.4TSI R-Line – R744,000
• VW Tiguan 2.0TDI 130kW 4Motion R-Line – R816,600 (new)
• VW Tiguan 2.0TSI 162kW 4Motion R-Line – R819,800
• VW Tiguan R – R1,045,300

Each purchase comes with a 3-year/120,000km warranty and a 5-year/90,000km service plan.

VW Tiguan R-Line