Volkswagen Tiguan 4 Motion SUV Off-Road Experience - See Video

It's been some time since the Volkswagen Tiguan mid-size SUV came into the Indian market. It has been a superb SUV for niche buyers who look for top-notch German quality & great driving dynamics. However, it comes equipped with a standard AWD tech which makes it capable of going off-road confidently. But, it is true? Can it be used for some serious off-roading? Well, we found out about its off-road capabilities recently at an experiential drive event & let me tell you, the results were surprising. Read the complete off-road drive review of the Volkswagen Tiguan 4 Motion SUV below.

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What We Liked!

• Superb build quality
• 5-star rated cabin means safety is ensured in every situation
• Powerful 2.0 TSI petrol engine
• 4 Motion works seamlessly in touch situations
• Water wading capacity of 700mm is stupendous
• One of the best ride quality in its segment

What We Didn't!

• Cabin space feels less when compared to the bigger rivals
• It's pricey at Rs 35.16 lakh (ex-showroom)
• No diesel engine option

Volkswagen Tiguan 4 Motion Off-Road Experience Video Review

Before you scroll down to read the in-depth details of this experience, you can watch our short & crisp video review of this drive by clicking below.

Introduction To The Tiguan: A Different Type Of Warrior

As I entered the mammoth-sized off-road zone, the first thing I saw was a Tiguan hanging sideways with a full load of people on the inside. Now, it might not sound intimidating but the bank angle and the approach & departure were so steep that it almost looked impossible for such an SUV to do. We don't need an introduction to the Tiguan. It's been in the Indian market for a long now. In the past, we've seen Tiguan All Space, we've seen diesel and whatnot. But, the latest gen comes with a single engine option i.e. a 2-lt TSI petrol engine. Long story short, this 4-cylinder turbo-petrol engine makes a peak power of 190 PS but the peak torque of 320 Nm is made from as low as 1,500 RPM to 4,100 RPM! Crazy for a petrol engine to make peak torque at so low RPM! This power is transferred via a quick 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox. And to make it more interesting, the Tiguan comes with a shift-on-fly knob for different driving modes as per the road conditions. These include - On-road, Off-road, Snow, & Custom Off-Road.

The Off-Road Track & Layout

The man-made track consisted of multiple hurdles. The beginning of the track was speed bumps which tested the car in its normal driving mode. After this small hump test, the first major hurdle was a ditch which was followed by an equally steep incline. Once you cross it, the car will again come down over this small yet steep incline/decline. Then, to test the hill-hold assist, another steep incline followed (less than the previous hurdle). You'll stop the car here and see how it holds itself & then further pass over it.

Crossing it will enter into the bank angle test zone where the big ditches will let you test the approach/departure angles and the AWD of the Tiguan. Moreover, if your car is fully loaded, it is a superb test for its suspension capabilities. Once done with both sides' inclinations, the last hurdle included a very deep pool of water to test the water-wading capabilities of the Tiguan.

The Test & The Result: Is Tiguan Worth As An Off-Road Machine?

Now, as soon as you get behind the steering wheel of Tiguan, finding a commanding driving position is super easy. Thanks to the powered adjustment for seat as well as the steering wheel can be adjusted. Moving forward, I straightway wanted to shift it to the Off-Road mode but my experienced instructor who also happens to be a very hardcore off-road enthusiast, Mr. Vikram (ORAZ), told me not to do so! I mean he was confident and said why don't I just move the car and enjoy it in the normal mode. In fact, the first hurdle was not even a proper off-road situation but yes it was tough for suspension. Now, the suspension on the Tiguan is very well tuned for the roads but the low-speed sharp bumps do transfer inside the cabin as a strong thud.

Now, in the second stage & we entered the ditch where the hill descent control system overrides the brakes and you can just sit with your gut bouncing to your mouth. The gut bouncing kept happening to me until the car stabilized itself on the plain. Although it wasn't very tough as per Vikram I knew it was not something we do every day. While the roads around Delhi NCR have become ORAZ in themselves, this one was a very very steep incline. Well done here by Tiguan!

Now, the steep incline and full throttle in the off-road mode led all four wheels to get enough torque to move the car uphill. Mind you, there were 4 people inside it and the AC was still running. All this bouncing back & forth and the car seemed very cool with it. On the next incline, Vikram told me to stop the car just before the top point. Here, the proper hill hold test was done. Tiguan holds for a few seconds (4-5 estimated) and then starts rolling back. To be honest, it was something already expected and I didn't find it very mind-blowing until I entered the next stage.

Now came the bank, approach, & departure angle testing area. Here, one side of the SUV will remain on the high side while the other side will keep going through deep ditches. Superb test for suspension, wheel articulation, & obviously the powertrain. Tiguan did it all without any fuss. Only after it was done, I used the touch controls to increase the AC fan speed to look cool & calm! And then the last testing looked like a normal day of driving around Mumbai in the rain. It was a deep pool of water with waves touching the bonnet. Before I entered, Vikram told me that Tiguan has a water wading capacity of 700mm; which is simply fantastic for its size. Easy-Peasy-Japanesey! Tiguan did it without any hiccups and without any MID warning lights as well. Just kidding. It was an eye-opening experience for me because Tiguan has never been tested in such a manner by us; until now.

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