Volkswagen Tiguan AD/BW 162TSI R-Line (2016-2026)
VerifiedAlso referred to as: Volkswagen Tiguan AD/BW 162TSI R-Line 2025 and Volkswagen Tiguan AD/BW 162TSI R-Line 2027.16 reviews
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So much for "German engineering" – Our MY 2017 Tiguan (Adventure) is fun to drive but a PITA and stressful when something painfully goes wrong. In the 6 years of ownership, our Tiguan is mainly used in city driving and did only 2 interstate drive and the car was religiously serviced every year. We had the dreaded "Gearbox in Emergency Mode" appear after year 6 of ownership (<70k… Read more
mileage). (Other VW forums confirm this is a widespread/known issue with the DQ381 DSG gearbox used in Skoda, Audi Q5 & VW Golf and Tiguan.) The gearbox was unable to engage gear 1, 3 and 5. The car had to be towed to the dealer. It took the dealer one week to organize with VW to get a hired car. We (not the dealer) have to call the dealer, VAG and the EuroCar to extend the lease of the car every week. For the first five weeks, we have to call the dealer (up to four times per week), VAG (up to four times per week) and the hire car (up to four times per week) as the dealer refuses to talk to VAG direct. By week 5, VAG took it upon themselves to extend the lease of the hired car indefinitely.
By week 8 (Wednesday), we got a call from the dealer that the Tiguan was fixed and we picked up the car that afternoon.
Because the DQ381 DSG failed within the 7-year warranty period, parts, labor and the hire car was paid for by VAG.
We took the car on a 30 km run on a Friday and confirm that everything went well. On Saturday, we took the car on an 85 kms run and the "Gearbox in Emergency Mode" has returned. We turned off the engine for about 30 minutes and the error message went away. Thinking that it was probably a glitch, we drove back home. About 20 minutes away from home, the "Gearbox in Emergency Mode" returned and stayed on, whether we turned off the engine off or not. Like before, gear 1, 3 and 5 would not engage.
We dropped the car off at the dealer and went across the street to Mazda and put a deposit on a CX5 (made in Japan). We got rid of our Tiguan the same day the dealer said it was ready. (Web search for "DQ381" and see the number of result pages.)
I am giving the MY2017 VW Tiguan (5N series) a one star because of the faulty part that integrated in the design.
- +8
The most powerful 7-seat VW Tiguan you can buy – It’s the fastest 7-seater you can buy with a Volkswagen badge on it. In traditional Volkswagen form, the Tiguan Allspace provides plenty of high-end materials. There’s lots of soft-touch plastic, but it’s complemented with lots of hard plastic too. Compared to cheaper rivals, the Tiguan does feel solid in its construction. This is the second… Read more
most expensive Tiguan Allspace you can buy, at $60,190 before on-road costs. The highest tier Tiguan Allspace is the 147TDI powered R-Line, which will cost you an extra $1,600 for the privilege of being powered by diesel.
You'll need to purchase the Sound and Vision package if you’re after the surround view camera, Harman/Kardon speaker system and heads-up display.
Like all Volkswagens, the Tiguan Allspace comes with a 5 year/unlimited kilometre warranty. A 5 year service plan will cost you $2,950 for this 162TSI powered Tiguan with service intervals every 12 months/15,000km. You can get a cheaper plan for just 3 years which will cost $1,650.
I found the brakes on the Tiguan Allspace R-Line to offer plenty of bite on the initial press. This isn’t going to be as hardcore as the Tiguan R, but it does offer enough brake feel to encourage some spirited moments of driving.
This 162TSI motor produces 162kW (217hp), and 350Nm from a 2.0L turbocharged petrol four-cylinder. Power is sent to all four wheels via an all-wheel drive system, allowing this Tiguan to hit 100km/h in a claimed 6.8 seconds.
While this car feels quick in Sport mode, there really isn’t a sense of urgency in the other drive modes. It’s a quick feeling car, but for a large SUV, it doesn’t feel as capable as the Skoda Kodiaq RS which it’s closely related to.
Another refreshing alternative is the gearbox, which is a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, offering crisp upshifts and responsive downshifts.
Sometimes, it’s a little late to engage at low speeds, compared to a traditional torque converter auto. It does, however, make for a great case to use those paddle shifters on the steering wheel, which can make driving this car a little more fun. I’ve always felt paddles to be completely unnecessary on most family cars, but they earn a place here in the R-Line.
The reason why you’re looking at the R-Line is for the added visual flair and the fact that this gets a proper performance upgrade over normal Tiguan Allspaces. You get larger 20-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion rubber, a more powerful motor, adaptive dampers and progressive steering.
The claimed fuel consumption for the R-Line is 8.6L per 100km. I saw figures as high as 11L per 100km in my combined test. If you’re looking for superior highway efficiency, you’re going to have to opt for the diesel motor there.
I found the interior of the Tiguan Allspace to feel utilitarian, although it did feel a little dated. Having just stepped out of the Golf R Wagon, it was easy to see the older tech used inside the Allspace.
It’s a practical cabin, offering lots of room for passengers in the front and second row. In addition, there were even compartments on the headliner to store smaller items. It’s a great place for your kids to hide important things that you've assumed were long lost.
This is called the Allspace after all, so you’re getting more boot room than a traditional Tiguan. You’ll get just 230L of space with all seats up, 700L with the third row folded, and 1775L with all the seats folded.
It misses out on joining the 2000L club, but that’s more than enough storage space for large items, especially for a 7-seater this small.
Speaking of those 7 seats, that third row is strictly for children and smaller adults. As a 5’11” (180cm) adult, I found it pretty much impossible to find any way to get comfortable back there.
Second row seats are just what you’d hope in a slightly larger Tiguan, with ample leg room and head room. I especially appreciated touches like the tri-zone climate controls and ability to recline my seat.
It’d say consider the R-Line as a fun-to-drive option on your 7-seater shopping list.
You have to appreciate that the third row is not going to fit an adult and really is for children. If you’re okay with that, then this is a decent alternative to the more comfort-oriented and larger 7-seat options out there.
At that point, you might appreciate jumping into something like a Tiguan R to get your performance SUV fix. Personally, I’d recommend spending slightly more for a Skoda Kodiaq RS if you still require the 7 seats and are pursuing a faster SUV.
*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.
Nothing but problems and bad service from VW – 2017 MK2 VW TIGUAN SPORTS LINE It is a lovely car to drive and handles great when it is working but it has been the most temperamental car, the least reliable car, the most expensive car to maintain or fix when things go wrong by far. I wanted this car to be a long term car that I would keep for 10-15 years and upgrade it but it's been mostly… Read more
just stress an waste of money and it fails in very dangerous ways and is unfair to have so many issues over a few years. VW doesn't do recalls on known faults on there cars even if class action items they have had to fix overseas and thousands of people in Australia have same issues but no help from manufacturer. I have recently had two major faults and VW dealers would not help at all for good will with labour, parts cost or anything.
Very good, not quite great – I have owned a 162TSI Sportline since new. 4 years and 60,000km later, I remain impressed by how the car handles daily utilitarian duties. The highlight is the sheer usability of the interior. For a car with a modest footprint, there is plenty of room inside and thoughtful touches abound such as rear seats that slide aft and forth with a backrest… Read more
that drops at a pull of a lever from the boot area. The door pockets are huge and lined with carpet to minimise noise. The 162kw engine is a stand out, providing a tractable mid range that delivers effortless progress even when towing a 2,200kg boat.
Annoyances?
- Maintenance costs are at Premium levels. Why VW?? You compete with Toyota, not BMW.
- A vertical black line has appeared on the 8.8inch multi media screen - it happened just after the 3 yr warranty expired of course...
- the fuel cap release mechanism became stuck - not ideal as you only discover this when the car needs fuel!!
- the ride on standard 20inch rims is almost awful. Way too firm for a family oriented SUV, even with dampers set on comfort. Avoid huge rims if you can, get a lower spec
- 20 cent carpet is painful to vacuum
So many serious problems and VW just not taking anything serious – On paper the Tiguan looks like a great car. It's certainly functional and looks good, BUT it's riddled with so many serious faults and VW just keep ignoring my emails and calls... Bought this car new and at 4 months it went in to limp home mode and wouldn't go over 40kmh, before coming good again. Shortly after while driving along it just… Read more
completely died and I rolled to a stop. Had the dealer come pick it up, they got it back and hooked it up the their diagnostics and only to be told there's no log of it having broken down!!! So frustrating. Auto Stop Start has left me stranded in the middle of the road numerous times, typical for 5-10 minutes. The car just will not re-start no matter what. It seems the computer management has hissy fits and takes about 5-10 minutes to re-boot itself before the car will finally restart. The sensors regularly false trigger causing the car to slam on the emergency brakes. Sometimes while stationary the cars sensor alarms will for no reason start screaming. Crossing over totally flat driveways, entering/exiting petrol stations, etc, the car is prone to slam on the brakes, many stranded 1-2 metres on the road in front of on-coming traffic bearing down on you. There's been quite a few close calls that have been worrying. Adaptive Cruise Control is seriously faulty and extremely dangerous. Frequently while travelling on freeways the car will suddenly and unexpectedly brake. I've had several time this has happened while a large semi was following close behind and nearly drove over the top of me. You look like an idiot but more importantly this is extremely dangerous. On one 30 minute trip this happened 8 times! Gear changes are clunky and all over the place. The cars ability to pick the right gear is really frustrating, sometime it just won't down change and labours at 1,000rpm up a hill. Another time I was waiting at a T-intersection for a break in the traffic. A small gap eventually appeared and I went for it but the car groaned and limped out in front of the on coming cars and would not accelerate. Eventually I realised the Tiguan was attempting to take off from a standing start in 3rd gear. I floored the accelerator to make it kick down a gear but it refused. Cars braking to avoid hitting me. The entertainment system sometime just dies completely for 5-10 minutes. The clock will not hold time and each day displays a random time. The reversing camera has at time just refused to work. These are just a selection of the many faults with this car. Doncaster Volkswagen have not responded to repeated emails sent to both the Service Manager and the Dealership Owner. Complaints to VW head office about the dealer ship are not investigated. Complaints and numerous emails to Volkswagen are not taken seriously nor handled appropriately. Since my most recent email detailing extensively all the problems and faults this car has - I still have not had a reply after nearly 3 months, despite several follow up emails. A call to VW Roadside assist when the car broke down went unanswered and diverted to a message service. Despite leaving a message saying the car had completely broken down, I never heard back from VW Roadside assist. I am completely disgusted with Volkswagen Australia. Everything about VW is completely unacceptable. DO NOT BUY A VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN!
Should be better – Lots to love about the 162TSI with all the options , but a few things that shouldn't be an issue at this price . 1/ incredibly cheap carpet through out the car , have to wonder how much that saves on cost. 2/ cheap hard plastic everywhere , I get the idea of hard plastics being durable , but this plastic is so hard it actually scratches more… Read more
easily and again how much does this save ? my 15 year old Subaru RB has a much better quality interior , don't get me wrong, sitting in the drivers seat you wouldn't know the difference , but after a while when I had a closer look it is disappointing. 3/Not as smooth as it should be , I experienced random vibration at certain RPM coming from the doors and when the car was idling in neutral after 6000k. also bit harsh under hard acceleration with a whining sound from the drive line ,not super loud but I'm comparing it to my wife's new i30 n-line and a fifteen year old Subaru both of which are smoother. 4/ DSG feel like it has a lot of slack in it sometimes and in any setting other than sport, always changes up to early laboring the motor. Other than those things, it was a great car to drive , loved the adaptable dampers so you can have the best of both worlds , all the tech was great , though no wireless charging was weird( i30 n line has it at half the cost of the VW) and in my opinion one of the best looking SUV,s in R -line option . Sold the car after 10 months for $3000 less than i payed for it , ( Thanks to covid I guess ) and looking for something better.
A Great Car – The car is very nice. Brought brand new after comparing with BMW X3, Mercedes GLC, Volvo XC60 and Audi Q5. Price wise is not much cheaper than all above but it is with all options ticked. Only thing I wish it had is the heads up display. The servicing is pretty expensive and heavy on fuel consumption. Car has plenty of power and huge in internal space. There is a bit of wind noise from the side mirror at high speed. Show details
Tiguan- major issues – Bought brand new fully optioned Highline with R-line package. Loved the car, perfect in every way until......after 4 months and about 3,000kms the following issues started: Major DSG problems- harsh grinding noises during gear changes which needed mechantronics replacement- still hasn't completely fixed the problem (which the dealer actually tried… Read more
to charge me for- big $$$$). Shortly after this the cooling system went, left me stranded in a pool of coolant- apparently the radiator cracked- (it was a 22 degree day). Took 4 weeks to get parts and complete the work (no courtesy car of course). Few weeks later 4motion AWD issues- the car started sounded like an "ex-taxi" diff when de-accelerating. VW were adamant it was "normal characteristics". Electric seat adjustment just stopped working. Rain sensing wipers couldn't tell the difference been monsoon rain and fog (apparently that is normal). To top it off VW dealer and head office couldnt be more useless if they tried and would actually try charge me for warranty repairs on a car less than 6 months old. My first and last car from the VW group. I feel sorry for anyone who owns one after warranty runs out. $$$$
Great quality and practical 7 seater. Killer engine – 2 months and 2000km into ownership of our high line 162 tsi high line with sound and vision, panoramic sun roof and R line pack. All positive, interior quality is high, and the engine especially in sports mode goes like the clappers. The extra 2 seats in the rear don’t offer enough room for adults for long trips but have come in handy for the kids… Read more
and their friends. Shopped around for a while before buying and for the features at the price nothing compared. Love it!
Noise – Bought car in 2019 top of line great around town but very noisy on open road not impressed for a $60000 plus car thought in would. Preform better for a car of that value Show details
ok for now – Bought it last year 2018 end. Excellent Handling. Excellent ride quality with comfort setting(Adaptive or Dynamic Chassis control Hmmm!!!).Excellent luxurious features, Excellent overall Value.Loving it for now. I like the slick design of the car. Show details
Tiguan 162 TSI RLINE 2019 Best car I have owned in 68 years of driving – Bought this to replace a Passat as easier to get in and out of at my age. Is very easy to drive and very comfortable to travel in. Has adjustable suspension settings for Sport or Comfort etc Is very well appointed and has a myriad of electronic functions. We just use it for occasional running around and the odd trip of 100km or more. Is… Read more
reasonably economical but uses 95 octane so a little more expensive to run Update Sold car in 2022 at 43000km Never had any problems at all in the time I owned it. I read about all the problems and wonder , Was I lucky or are they unlucky. My ACC performed flawlessly always and could do a 100km trip without touching the pedals regardless of traffic conditions. I had done over 30 electronic enhancements to liven up features which were there but not enabled. Made car better without any troubles. Have owned over 35 cars and this would be the best one of them all. Sold because of medical licence problems or would still have it
Economical and a joy to drive – With the added luxury pack and driver assistance pack, the interior is not unlike the R-spec high line, and the added features are definitely worth the money. Electronic dash, 360 cameras, lane assist and blind spot warning are all used regularly, and self park works like a dream. Lots of space for rear passengers too, and the elevated seats mean… Read more
no more car sickness in the back. The adjustable rear seats are very handy when needing more boot space, and still allow adults to sit in the back seats. Only design flaw is the position of the front and rear cameras/sensor (front sensor is critical for using auto cruise control). Both are obstructed by mud and rain droplets, which are usually present during weather conditions when driver assistance would be beneficial for safety! Otherwise, very happy with the purchase a couple of years on.
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Best Car I've Owned – This is our weekend car. Its used mostly by my partner. We have already had the screen replaced under warranty and had the Panoramic Sunroof harness changed under a service campaign. But the car is great. Made in Germany. Show details
Best bang for your buck – Best bang for your car vehicle. I purchased the r-line option and it looks great. It is great external and internal and has a punchy engine. No better car for the price tag. Show details
I just LOVE my New VW Tiguan Special Edition Wolfsburg 4WD SUV!!!! – I purchased this car from VW Ringwood about 3 weeks ago now. I live in Rural Victoria. I just love this car and all the many safety features that come with it. I purchased it as my retirement car after looking at many, many reviews. Beautifully made - fantastic to drive - and I am still working out the many safety features that this vehicle comes… Read more
with. It is early days - but so far - excellent. One small down side - to disengage the Stop/Start Feature (This is the feature where when you are in heavy traffic the motor turns off to save fuel when you are stopped - and once you touch the accelerator off it goes again) each time you start the vehicle you have to press the button on the console that then disengages this function. I would have preferred an option to turn it off permanently - and be able to turn it back on if you find that you ever need it. Other than that - so far - I can't fault this vehicle!!
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