Just Road Tripping in A Tiguan
The weather reports were quite concerning. The main concern was for the roads – not just within the Road America property.
A Victory & Reseda review of the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan
Let’s take a road trip, shall we?
To fulfill an invitation for a media drive at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The weather reports were quite concerning. Up to a few inches of snow were called for the Elkhart Lake area. The main concern was for the roads – not just within the Road America property.
I had a choice of vehicles to take. There was the battery-electric SUV – the 2024 Kia EV9. Great idea for a road tipper, but trying to find DC Fast Charging along the way would be a game of roulette I know I’ll lose at.
There was also the V&R Machine – the 2021 Mazda CX-5. Since it already had winter tires on, it would be a more comfortable and familiar choice.
The third choice arrived a day prior to my departure for a staging night en route to Elkhart Lake. There was a sense of irony when it arrived, since George and I were considering it prior to taking delivery of the CX-5. It is in the same class – a “compact” SUV.
That third vehicle was the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan SE R-Line Black in King’s Red with 4Motion.
Maybe this was the third choice I needed for this trek into the heart of the Kettle Moraine.
Just an overview of the 2024 Tiguan. It was the top seller for Volkswagen in 2023 since it was the right size for families and folks looking to have an SUV for the sake of owning one.
However, the current long-wheelbase Tiguan has been on sale since 2017 in this country. It is showing its age, but it continues to prove its worth as a considerable vehicle in its class.
A lot of things have not changed since its debut for the 2018 model year. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and eight-speed automatic transmission continues to motivate the Tiguan. You can still get the 4Motion all-wheel drive as a choice for the final drive.
The basic exterior and interior design also remained throughout this generation. There have been some updates throughout the year from grille shapes to instrument clusters and a few details here and there.
What we’ve seen in the 2024 Tiguan has been an apex of all of the updates it has undergone in the past six years. The SE model always sat in the middle of the lineup full of upgraded materials and a value-added level of features. Adding the R-Line layer adds a bit of performance-looking appearance bits. The Black part is yet another layer if sportiness thanks to some black painted trim and 19-inch wheels.
Within the layers of this trim level are a set of Leatherette seats. The front ones are heated, which helped in the colder temperatures. The Digital Cockpit is a clear read and offer some information for the driver. A light, but quick shifter is a recent update on the Tiguan. An eight-inch infotainment touch screen serves as a hub for all entertainment playback and connectivity.
On paper, the Tiguan should be the right vehicle for the trip. It was. The large cargo hold did well to swallow a folded rollator with my luggage without resorting to fold down the second-row seats. That comes to 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space with a lot of room to spare.
The advantage of the Tiguan is not the 184 horsepower, as it is the 221 pound-feet of torque when it comes down to performance. The low-end grunt helped in various ways for passing and hill climbing. The Tiguan does very well in cruising on the highway overall.
Fuel consumption during my care of the Tiguan came to an average of 26.3 MPG. I saw no different for the road trip specifically.
The Tiguan was very well mannered during my time with it. The ride was fine with no drama from rougher surfaces and winter conditions. Brakes were very good with solid stops in all situations. I will also add that I love the solid feel at the pedal.
My 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan SE R-Line Black with 4Motion tester came with a sticker price of $37,450. There are a total of four Tiguan models available, starting from $28,880. You can choose between front-wheel drive or 4Motion for most Tiguan models, except for the SEL R-Line. That comes in 4Motion only.
It was no surprise that the Volkswagen Tiguan was the right choice for this road trip. It went about its business without much fanfare. That’s exactly what I hoped for considering the weather and distance.
Given this is the 75th Anniversary of Volkswagen in the USA, one wondered whether this would be the top selling model in the lineup after years of Type 1 Beetles, Rabbits and Jettas. The Tiguan is a reality check not just for the brand, but also for the industry.
DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by Volkswagen of America
All photos by Randy Stern