newznew (Chandigarh) : The Indian SUV market is flooded with lots of options in the mid-range to high-end segment. While the budget segment is dominated by the SUVs like the Hyundai Creta and Renault Duster, the high-end segment has options like the Toyota Fortuner, Ford Endeavour and BMW X1. Latest entry in this segment is from Volkswagen, called the Tiguan.
The VW Tiguan is the first ever SUV that the brand has released in India after the Touareg was discontinued from the market. The brand’s new SUV flaunts its versatile MQB platform and competes directly against the likes of the Fortuner, Endeavour, Isuzu MU-X, Hyundai Santa Fe and BMW X1 etc.
The Volkswagen Tiguan comes in two variants – the Comfortline and Highline. The Highline model competes directly against the luxury BMW X1 SUV. The first Tiguan was a smash hit in the market. Can Volkswagen pull off the same trip with its new more sophisticated model and give competition to the BMW X1? Let’s find out.
Exteriors
Talking about the looks department first, the Volkswagen Tiguan gets off to a good start with its muscular appeal. The bodywork and design of the SUV appears sharp and bold. At the front, the car features LED daytime running lights, which flow seamlessly into the grille. It comes with a sweptback headlamp cluster, chrome inserts on the front and horizontal slats. With a length of 4486 mm and a height of 1672 mm, the Tiguan is taller and longer than the BMW X1, which is 4439 mm long and 1612 mm high.
The BMW X1 flaunts the brand’s iconic kidney grilles, which sit between the headlights. The SUV features LED daytime running lights with extended functions like cornering lights. It flaunts a panorama glass roof, which allows plenty of light into the interior. There’s upward sweep of the side windows of the BMW X1, which leads to the car’s sporty design. The X1 looks appealing and sporty, but it misses out on the Volkswagen Tiguan’s blend of style and understatement.
Interiors
As for the interiors, the Volkswagen Tiguan features a digital instrument cluster. It sports Android Auto or Apple CarPlay-powered 8-inch touchscreen display with MirrorLink smartphone connectivity. The SUV features multiple driving modes, hill start and descent assist, traction control and more. It also gets automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, flexible seating, and heated front seats with memory function.
The BMW X1 also features a beautifully built cabin. The dashboard of the SUV is angled towards the driver, which gives a sporty feel. There’s BMW’s iDrive infotainment system on board. The SUV has simple and easy to read dials and Harman Kardon speakers. It features electrically adjustable front seats, push button stop / start, automated climate controlling, and side and curtain airbags. Overall, in the interior segment, the Tiguan and X1, both have almost similar features and feel premium.
Engine and transmission
As for the power, the Volkswagen Tiguan comes in a single diesel power train variant. It is powered by a 2-litre TDU engine, which is capable of delivering 141 bhp and producing a maximum torque of 340 Nm. The turbocharged, four-cylinder engine is coupled with the brand’s 7-speed BSG automatic transmission. The displacement of the Tiguan is 1,968cc and it gets 4Motion intelligent auto wheel drivetrain. The company claims the SUV to deliver 17.06 kmpl efficiency.
The BMW X1 comes in a number of petrol and diesel variants. However, since Tiguan is only a diesel drivetrain offering, we are going to compare the diesel model of the BMW X1 here. BMW’s SUV is powered by a 2.0 litre engine, which has the capacity of 1995cc and a maximum power output of 192.7PS. The maximum torque churned out by the X1 is 400Nm. The engine is coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission setup. The SUV is capable of delivering 20.68kmpl of fuel efficiency. As you can see, the BMW X1 is certainly more powerful than the Tiguan.
Verdict
The Volkswagen Tiguan is the more affordable SUV here with its price starting at Rs 27.68 lakh for the Comfortline variant. It’s more high-end Highline model is being offered for Rs 31.04 lakh. The Tiguan is for those who are looking for a muscular SUV with a bold design, and excellent interiors. It boasts a powerful diesel engine, the brand’s MQB platform and comes at an affordable price point. However, it falls short on the power a little when compared to the BMW X1’s diesel variant.
The BMW X1 impresses with its sporty design and offers excellent handling and high-speed composure. The design language of the BMW X1 is superb, and its interior is also luxury and premium. The SUV is capable of delivering much higher efficiency and power than the Tiguan. As for the pricing, its on-road price starts at Rs 31.27 lakh, but you will have to shell out as much as Rs 41.84 lakh for the highest-spec variant.
Overall, if you are looking for a powerful and bold SUV in the affordable prices, then the Volkswagen Tiguan is worth considering as it’s a value for money buy. If you are looking for a sporty design, a more powerful engine and better fuel efficiency, than the BMW X1 is a good buy.
Source: Autoportal
