2022 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line - Review by Mark Fulmer +VIDEO

Tiguan's top-of-the-line trim enhances its look and driving experience

Mark Fulmer
THE AUTO CHANNEL

With new style elements and performance features, the 2022 edition of the Tiguan is beginning to make moves on the Honda and Toyota SUV fleets.

Under the hood, the TSI 16-valve DOHC turbo 4 cylinder engine is enhanced by 4MOTION® All-Wheel Drive sending power to the front and rear axles to help drivers by creating better traction in a variety of weather and road conditions as well as increased grip on windy roads. The 8-speed automatic transmission also helps with its Tiptronic® and Sport mode. If you stop for a stoplight and the engine dies, it's not a problem, it's a feature called Start-Stop letting you conserve fossile fuel waiting for the green light.

Switching driving modes is as easy as turning its large knob and pressing the center to activate.

Inside there is Vienna leather upholstery and steering wheel with multi function touch controls, a nine-speaker Fender audio system, ambient lighting, power driver's seat with memory feature, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

The rear seats are 40/20/40 split-folding that slide and recline, and also USB charging ports for those hungry mobile devices. Depending on your mood, or the mood you'd like to supply to your passengers there multi-color adjustable ambient lighting.

The 10 inch digital cockpit provides high resolution displays instead of traditional instrument clusters. This can include full screen navigation and more importantly can be customized with plenty of driver personalization.

The 8 inch infotainment screen has navigation, AM/FM/HD Radio with voice control, Bluetooth, and wireless charging.

In terms of safety there are more than two dozen systems including automatic high-beam headlights, a surround-view parking camera system, a hands-free liftgate, lane keep assist, rain-sensing windshield wipers and Dynamic Road Sign Display which uses a forward-facing camera to recognize road signs, and then displays what it registers on the center console, instrument binnacle or head-up display. Pretty cool.

The 2022 Tiguan, in all its trims and iterations, responsive handling and comfort is a worthy choice.