Tweet
I drove a Singapore spec Tiguan 155TSI the other day. Never got around to penning my thoughts but it's a lazy Sunday. So, here goes.
The Singapore spec is a fair bit different in options than the Australia spec. Even if you check all the options, you won't find the MFD Premium on the Australian version. That actually looks very very nice and upmarket. No idea why we don't have that as an option. it's a higher resolution screen and in full color like some of the Audi's.
The Singapore spec doesn't have many options. In part because most of the options we have are already standard in the 155 model.
Panoramic glass sunroof. Tick
Bixenon with LED DRL. Tick
MFD Premium. Tick
Reverse camera. Tick
RNS510. Tick
Keyless Start and Go. Tick (we don't get that either)
They also come standard with
- Programmable tilting side mirror when Reverse is engaged and
- Sports Suspension but not ACC
Are these standard in the Aus spec? Pretty useful the tilting side mirror.
The leather is locally fitted so there's no electric drivers seat. I think the Aus leather option also adds the leather wrapped/stitched wheel (at least according to the worldwide Tiguan brochure I got, that was printed in Germany and covers the complete range)
Anyway, back to the driving.
I made the mistake of driving a friend's Scirocco R to the test drive. I suspect this might have colored my impressions.
The Tiguan sits a fair bit higher obviously. I actually found it more of a chore climbing in vs the Golf or even the lower Scirocco.
Inside, the seats were comfortable. Sports seats are a bit of a misnomer. The side bolsters are not as pronounced like in the GTI. But I guess I might have been spoilt silly by the other cars I have been driving.
That said, I can see myself driving very long distances on this car though. It's very comfortable inside.
Anyway, with the 17" and sports suspension, the ride is firm but not uncomfortable. Nowhere as harsh as the Scirocco on 19s I had been driving earlier. The car stays fairly flat through corners. Not as much roll as I was expecting for such a tall car. And the seat in the back was quite comfortable despite my driving a bit more exuberantly.
In Auto mode, the acceleration seemed quite dismal. I am quite used to a BSR tuned MkV GTI and had just been driving the Scirocco R so that comment needs to be tempered. That said, the power delivery is not dissimilar to the GolfR I had driven the previous night. I think the 4Motion and the heavier chassis does definitely result in this lethargy.
In S mode or with manual gear changes, the car is a tad more responsive. I suspect a reflash might help the low end response more like what the R guys are doing. Not sure if that's what I'll end up doing though. Will need more time to get used to the car.
The Singapore spec is a fair bit different in options than the Australia spec. Even if you check all the options, you won't find the MFD Premium on the Australian version. That actually looks very very nice and upmarket. No idea why we don't have that as an option. it's a higher resolution screen and in full color like some of the Audi's.
The Singapore spec doesn't have many options. In part because most of the options we have are already standard in the 155 model.
Panoramic glass sunroof. Tick
Bixenon with LED DRL. Tick
MFD Premium. Tick
Reverse camera. Tick
RNS510. Tick
Keyless Start and Go. Tick (we don't get that either)
They also come standard with
- Programmable tilting side mirror when Reverse is engaged and
- Sports Suspension but not ACC
Are these standard in the Aus spec? Pretty useful the tilting side mirror.
The leather is locally fitted so there's no electric drivers seat. I think the Aus leather option also adds the leather wrapped/stitched wheel (at least according to the worldwide Tiguan brochure I got, that was printed in Germany and covers the complete range)
Anyway, back to the driving.
I made the mistake of driving a friend's Scirocco R to the test drive. I suspect this might have colored my impressions.
The Tiguan sits a fair bit higher obviously. I actually found it more of a chore climbing in vs the Golf or even the lower Scirocco.
Inside, the seats were comfortable. Sports seats are a bit of a misnomer. The side bolsters are not as pronounced like in the GTI. But I guess I might have been spoilt silly by the other cars I have been driving.
That said, I can see myself driving very long distances on this car though. It's very comfortable inside.
Anyway, with the 17" and sports suspension, the ride is firm but not uncomfortable. Nowhere as harsh as the Scirocco on 19s I had been driving earlier. The car stays fairly flat through corners. Not as much roll as I was expecting for such a tall car. And the seat in the back was quite comfortable despite my driving a bit more exuberantly.
In Auto mode, the acceleration seemed quite dismal. I am quite used to a BSR tuned MkV GTI and had just been driving the Scirocco R so that comment needs to be tempered. That said, the power delivery is not dissimilar to the GolfR I had driven the previous night. I think the 4Motion and the heavier chassis does definitely result in this lethargy.
In S mode or with manual gear changes, the car is a tad more responsive. I suspect a reflash might help the low end response more like what the R guys are doing. Not sure if that's what I'll end up doing though. Will need more time to get used to the car.
Comment