Published:
31 May 2024VW’s claim to have added cabin quality to this car seems very much to be defined in a predictably modern, digital sense. Because what makes it different from the outgoing Tiguan isn’t the solid, expensive look and feel of the mouldings and materials or the hefty feel of the switchgear.
For that kind of built-in perceived quality (for so long a VW strong suit), the car sets a decent standard but not an exceptional one. Its primary fixtures and secondary controls feel solid and secure, its storage cubbies are lined and some plusher finishes catch the eye. There's nothing especially lavish or noteworthy but just enough richness of feel to bear comparison with premium rivals.
Instead, and in a familiar-sounding theme, the money has clearly been spent on other things. Backlit decorative ambient lighting panels span the dashboard and doors, which have selectable colours depending on the car’s chosen 'cabin atmosphere’ (Minimal, Joy, Energetic, Lounge, etc).
Then, in our test cars' particular cases at least, a 15in landscape-oriented, free-standing infotainment touchscreen sits on top of the fascia and a large head-up display behind the 10.3in digital instrument screen.
Plainly, VW is feeling the need to compete with 'disruptor' brands and pack in as much digital technology as a modern buyer might want, at the risk of reduced functionality.
The centre console layout is a case in point. Without a manual gearstick to accommodate, VW has moved drive selection to the right-hand column stalk, freeing up storage space. But it has therefore had to consolidate the headlight, indicator and wiper controls onto the left-hand stalk, making the wipers especially only slightly but noticably less intuitive to use.
