Popular German car marque, VW recently invited us to an off-roading expedition to test Tiguan’s prowess off the beaten tarmac. We’ve always felt that the flagship VW makes for a less costly and, arguably, more practical alternative to the likes of Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA. What this means is that the SUV has catered to a slightly niche segment of SUV buyers that desires a high practicality and decent comfort this side of the Rs 50 lakh mark. We’ve been sure of the Tiguan’s soft-roading capabilities right from the time we drove it for the first time many years ago. Interestingly, though, the SUV turns out to be a lot more capable as was found out at the recent event. Basically, we were given a few laps of an off-road-specific track specially constructed to showcase what the Tiguan is capable of. By the end of our drive, we were reassured that VW’s trademark 4MOTION all-wheel drive system lets this SUV overcome some serious off-road hurdles.
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VW Tiguan Off-Road Drive
There were a few mandatory exercises for this event. Firstly, we had to drive over an autocross, which is a set of humps of sorts, lined up one after the other to test the suspension travel and ground clearance. The SUV was able to clear this obstacle without breaking a sweat. Thereafter, the luxury SUV was supposed to be driven over depressions lined up on either side one after the other. This was to check the stability and wheel articulation. It was important here to drive extremely slowly and stop after each depression. Again, the SUV performed quite well.
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Then came the challenge to climb up a slope and then descend. This might seem easy to the onlookers, but precision is needed for this challenge. It also tests the power of the SUV to take it up the slope at low speeds. In addition, the driver must drive extremely slowly to emerge onto the other side. Otherwise, there are chances to scrape the underbelly. But the traction in all four wheels ensured that it was able to climb and descend with utmost confidence. Then the vehicle had to be driven on a sideways slope. Light throttle input is the key to preventing the SUV from toppling over. Finally, the water-wading capacity of the SUV was tested by driving it slowly in water for a short distance. All in all, the SUV felt adept at handling such challenging terrains with quite an aplomb.
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Price & Specs
The VW Tiguan features a powerful 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine, delivering an impressive 190 PS and 320 Nm of peak power and torque. This engine is paired with a 7-speed DSG gearbox, and the power is efficiently distributed to all four wheels through the advanced 4MOTION technology. The Tiguan is offered in a fully loaded “Elegance” trim, providing a comprehensive package of features. This SUV has a retail sticker of Rs 35.17 lakh, ex-showroom. At this price point, the Tiguan makes for a well-priced SUV that offers a powerful engine, great road-handling manners, high level of comfort, and, of course, good off-road capabilities.
