The third-generation Volkswagen Tiguan has been confirmed for a May launch in Australia with a larger body than before, more standard equipment, and a new 195TSI R-Line flagship with Golf GTI-equivalent power.
Local specifications for the new-generation 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan have been announced ahead of its May launch.
Volkswagen has confirmed the third-generation Tiguan will be offered in three familiar trims – Life, Elegance and R-Line – when it arrives in Australia more than 18 months after it debuted in Europe.
The Tiguan Elegance will be offered with the entry-level 110kW 1.4-litre turbo-petrol powertrain for the first time – while two versions of the buyer-favourite 2.0-litre turbo R-Line will be available, in 150kW and 195kW tunes.
Volkswagen Australia says the 195TSI R-Line is a successor to the 235kW Tiguan R offered towards the end of the outgoing Tiguan’s life, while also providing a more powerful flagship option for existing Tiguan 162TSI customers looking to upgrade.
Diesel power in the Tiguan will not return to Australia after it was axed in 2023, while mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid options available overseas are currently off-limits – despite a rising number of electrified rivals aimed at the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Australia’s best-selling SUV.
Volkswagen will instead focus on the electric ID.4 and ID.5 mid-size SUVs in Australia, which are expected to arrive in local showrooms shortly before the new-generation Tiguan after multiple delays.
Drive understands there will not be significant price increases for the new Tiguan over the outgoing model, which costs between $43,990 before on-road costs for the 110TSI Life and $60,590 for the 162TSI R-Line – while the Tiguan R retailed for $73,790.
Volkswagen says a fully-optioned 1.4-litre front-wheel-drive 110TSI Elegance “targets flagship naturally aspirated four-cylinder rivals”.
These all-wheel-drive rivals cost around $51,000 to $53,000 in the case of the Mazda CX-5 G25 Akera, Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed and Nissan X-Trail Ti – less than $57,090 for the outgoing 2.0-litre AWD 162TSI Elegance, which continues into the new-generation as the 150TSI Elegance.
The 110TSI Life remains the entry point into the Tiguan line-up with its 110kW/250Nm 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol now matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic instead of a six-speed unit.
New standard equipment for the 110TSI Life includes 19-inch alloy wheels – up from 18 inches – a 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 360-degree camera, an electric tailgate, and a wireless phone charger.
It is also now fitted with side exit warning, blind-spot monitoring, front and rear cross-traffic alert, more-advanced autonomous emergency braking detection, and two more airbags to take the total count to nine.
A 2024-tested five-star ANCAP safety rating currently applies to New Zealand versions where it is already on sale, with this score likely to soon be mirrored for Australian models.
The Tiguan is the third Volkswagen to gain traffic sign recognition in Australia – a feature available in the brand’s vehicles in Europe for several years – following the Amarok (which uses technology from the Ford Ranger) and the Touareg.
Volkswagen Australia says the mid-range 110TSI Elegance is aimed at “private buyers who may not have previously considered a Tiguan”.
The new variant adds leather-appointed upholstery, power-adjustable front seats with heating, ventilation and massaging, chrome exterior trim, enhanced headlights and tail-lights, an extra-cost Sound and Vision package, and an optional panoramic sunroof – while retaining the most efficient 1.4-litre engine.
The all-wheel-drive 150TSI R-Line and Elegance – with a 150kW/320Nm 2.0-litre engine – replace the outgoing 132TSI Life, 162TSI R-Line and 162TSI Elegance variants, while the 195TSI R-Line tops the range with the same power output as the latest Mk8.5 Volkswagen Golf GTI hatch.
Torque for the 195TSI R-Line is 400Nm, matching the outgoing Tiguan R and 30Nm more than the Mk8.5 Golf GTI.
All 2.0-litre variants – the 150TSI R-Line, 150TSI Elegance and 195TSI R-Line – are fitted with improved ‘DCC Pro’ adaptive chassis control suspension with two-valve shock absorbers while, as before, R-Line trims add a progressive steering ratio and a sports-themed body kit.
“The step between 110TSI, 150TSI and 195TSI are clear and ensure the all-new Volkswagen Tiguan offers broad and significant medium SUV appeal,” Volkswagen Australia product and marketing boss Nathan Johnson said.
An initial specification list for all variants is available below.
The new Tiguan is 30 millimetres longer than before at 4539mm while retaining its existing 2680mm wheelbase, and has moved to the updated MQB Evo architecture shared with the current Golf.
Boot space is now listed at 652 litres when loaded to the height of the rear seat backrests, 37 litres more than before, and 1650 litres with the second-row folded.
Full Australian details on the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan – including pricing – will be announced closer to its May launch.
The seven-seat, long-wheelbase Tiguan Allspace has been replaced by the Volkswagen Tayron, which remains heavily based on the five-seat, standard-wheelbase Tiguan and is expected to launch in Australia in late 2025.
2025 Volkswagen Tiguan 110TSI Life standard features:
- 1.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine (110kW/250Nm)
- Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission
- Front-wheel drive
- 19-inch alloy wheels (up from 18 inches in outgoing 110TSI Life)
- 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen (up from eight inches in outgoing 110TSI Life)
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Built-in satellite navigation
- DAB+ digital radio
- Driving experience switch (new)
- 10-inch digital instrument cluster
- Wireless phone charger (new)
- Electric tailgate (now standard over outgoing 110TSI Life)
- 360-degree camera (now standard over outgoing 110TSI Life)
- Cloth upholstery
- Keyless entry and push-button start
- LED headlights (basic)
- Alarm system
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Lane-keep assist
- Blind-spot monitoring (now standard over outgoing 110TSI Life)
- Rear cross-traffic alert (now standard over outgoing 110TSI Life)
- Front cross-traffic alert (new)
- Adaptive cruise control
- Semi-autonomous Travel Assist highway driving system
- Traffic sign recognition (new)
- Side exit warning (new)
- Automatic parking
2025 Volkswagen Tiguan 110TSI Elegance adds (over 110TSI Life):
- Leather-appointed upholstery
- Comfort sport front seats with power adjustment
- Heated, ventilated and massaging front seats (ventilation and massaging a Tiguan first)
- Silver-anodised roof rails
- Chrome exterior trim
- Rear privacy glass
- ‘LED Plus’ headlights
- Illuminated grille strip
- 3D-effect full-LED tail-lights with illuminated centre strip
2025 Volkswagen Tiguan 150TSI R-Line adds (over 110TSI Life):
- 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine (150kW/320Nm)
- All-wheel drive
- R-Line bodykit
- Unique 19-inch alloy wheels
- ‘LED Plus’ headlights
- 3D-effect full-LED tail-lights with illuminated centre strip
- Sequential rear indicators
- ‘DCC Pro’ electronic active dampers
- Progressive steering ratio
- ‘Sport’ cloth upholstery
- Sport front seats with integrated headrests
2025 Volkswagen Tiguan 150TSI Elegance adds (over 110TSI Elegance):
- 15-inch infotainment touchscreen (up from 9.2 inches in outgoing 162TSI Elegance)
- ‘DCC Pro’ electronic active dampers (new)
- Matrix LED headlights
- Adaptive high beam
- Sequential rear indicators
- Windscreen-projected head-up display (now standard over outgoing 162TSI Elegance)
- 11-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system (now standard over outgoing 162TSI Elegance)
2025 Volkswagen Tiguan 195TSI R-Line adds (over 150TSI R-Line):
- 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine (195kW/400Nm)
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- 15-inch infotainment touchscreen (up from 9.2 inches in outgoing 162TSI R-Line)
- Matrix LED headlights
- Adaptive high beam
- Sequential rear indicators
- Windscreen-projected head-up display (now standard over outgoing 162TSI R-Line)
- 11-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system (now standard over outgoing 162TSI R-Line)
- Comfort sport front seats with power adjustment
- Heated, ventilated and massaging front seats (ventilation and massaging a Tiguan first)
- Driver’s seat memory function
- Heated steering wheel
The optional Sound and Vision package, available on 110TSI Elegance and 150TSI R-Line, adds:
- Windscreen-projected head-up display
- 11-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system
Individual options include:
- Panoramic sunroof (Elegance and R-Line)
- Metallic and premium paint
| Variant | Engine | Transmission | 0-100km/h acceleration time |
| Tiguan 110TSI Life | 110kW/250Nm 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, FWD | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic | TBC (9.2 seconds overseas) |
| Tiguan 110TSI Elegance | 110kW/250Nm 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, FWD | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic | TBC (9.2 seconds overseas) |
| Tiguan 150TSI R-Line | 150kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, AWD | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic | 7.1 seconds |
| Tiguan 150TSI Elegance | 150kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, AWD | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic | 7.1 seconds |
| Tiguan 195TSI R-Line | 195kW/400Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, AWD | Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic | 5.9 seconds |
Pricing and full specifications will be confirmed closer to the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan’s launch in May.
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