Written by Marco Carvajal
2021 Tiguan SE R-Line Black
Test driving the 202 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line Black model brings pleasure and style into the Tiguan experience. The SE R-Line Black model is one the most luxurious Tiguan trim models with R-Line design in the interior and in the exterior. It includes features like front and rear Park Distance Control and a generous Panoramic sunroof.
Tiguan SUVs are the most popular and best seller within the Volkswagen”s brand, this car is not a new kid on the block, it is well known with nearly 6 million Tiguan units sold worldwide.
The Volkswagen Tiguan is a Mid-Size Sporty SUV for everyone. There is a Tiguan model for every SUV driver, 2 rows or 3 rows, with a more luxury sporty trim model or a more basic model for a lower price.
The Tiguan has been created with the optimal size for city SUV drivers. It is a mid-size sporty SUV with plenty of space for all the family. A great feature when buying a Tiguan is that some models include an additional third row of seats, something unusual in compact midsize SUVs, providing more space as you need it.
The 2021 Tiguan is a midsize SUV with a very affordable price between $25K and $39K. The Tiguan has different configurations, including the option to have a 3rd row of seats. The Tiguan is a beautiful compact SUV offering three rows in some models, plenty of space for all the family. Good technology and performance, beautiful exterior and interior style.
R-Line Black
Volkswagen’s R Line means a sport or high-performance model. The Tiguan R Line Black adds unique front black 20-inch wheels, black-accented front, and rear bumpers, and interior and exterior R-Line badging. This sporty and luxury model includes a panoramic sunroof, front and rear parking sensors, fog lights with cornering functionality, and black ceiling upholstery. Black roof rails and black headliner.
Tiguan drivers have the option to order the SE R-Line Black trim to enjoy all these details enhancing and making the Tiguan more attractive with design elements specific to the SE R-Line Black.
Tiguan is Volkswagen Best Seller
The 2021 Tiguan is built using Volkswagen’s modular MQB platform, the same platform used by the larger Volkswagen SUV, the Atlas. The Tiguan keeps selling, showing the good results of Volkswagen’s shift into the SUV market, sales keep rising on both the Atlas and Tiguan.
For North America, the Tiguan is manufactured at the German automaker’s plant in Puebla, Mexico.
The Tiguan is Volkswagen’s bestseller. It has sold six million units.
Volkswagen Tiguan is the brand’s current bestseller, breaking six million sales since its debut
The Tiguan sets an incredible production record of six million units, making it the best-selling car in the Volkswagen brand and Group. After two generations of Tiguan production, the new Tiguan has developed into one of the most successful SUVs in the world.
If you like to buy a safe and very attractive SUV with a value price above $30K then I think the Tiguan can be a great option to try. This can be a great entry model along with the Volkswagen Taos to get to know the beauty of Volkswagen SUVs and perhaps jump into a larger SUV like the Atlas in the future.
Competition
Tiguan keeps selling but it has strong competition from compact SUVs like the Nissan Rogue, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Ford Escape, Mitsubishi Outlander, Kia Sorento, and Chevrolet Equinox among many others who are competing to take a bigger piece of the pie. Every automaker wants to sell more SUVs.
Optional Third Row
The Tiguan features a third-row seat on certain trim models, something you can’t find on leading competitors. Three rows are rare in a compact-midsize SUV, making the Tiguan very attractive for those in need of 3-rows in this size.
2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Trims
For the 2021 model year, the Tiguan is offered in five trims: S, SE, SE R-Line Black, SEL, and SEL Premium R-Line. Pricing varies from $25,000 to $39,000 approximately, a good price range for most SUV buyers. I am test driving the SE R-Line Black, one of my favorite Tiguan trim models.
Highlights of the 2021 Tiguan SE R-Line Black
- EA888 four-cylinder engine.
- 184 horsepower with a torque of 221 lb-ft.
- Standard eight-speed automatic transmission.
- SE model adds standard Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Next-generation Car-Net Remote Access allows owners the ability to interact with their vehicle from miles away via the mobile app
- Wi-Fi standard
- All 2021 Tiguan models feature innovative Volkswagen MIB touchscreen infotainment systems
- Next-generation MIB3 infotainment system available
- The estimated fuel economy for front-wheel-drive models is 23 mpg in the city, 29 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. 4Motion all-wheel-drive models have an estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined.
- SE R-Line Black trim features standard 20-inch wheels
- Fog lights with cornering functionality
- Panoramic sunroof.
- Black roof rails
- Black-accented R-Line bumpers
- Black headliner
- Interior and exterior R-Line badging.
- SiriusXM. SE models and above will offer the newest and most advanced audio entertainment platform, SiriusXM with 360L.
SiriusXM with 360L
Tiguan SE models and higher include better features like the newest and most advanced audio entertainment platform, SiriusXM with 360L, available with a paid subscription with a three-month All Access trial is included free of charge.
The new SiriusXM with 360L combines satellite and streaming content delivery into a single-vehicle entertainment system including access to several hours of SiriusXM’s recorded On Demand content, and also more XM live channels. SiriusXM with 360L includes personalized recommendations and Individual listener profiles that allow multiple users to customize and receive recommendations similar to the currently playing channel and content.
Engine and Performance
The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan includes the advanced version of the EA888 four-cylinder engine. This engine is not the most powerful for an SUV, but it offers a good 184 horsepower with a torque of 221 lb-ft. All Tiguan trims are equipped with a standard eight-speed automatic transmission.
The four-cylinder, turbocharged direct-injection engine uses an innovative modification to the conventional four-stroke cycle to offer better power, efficiency, and responsiveness. Tiguan’s engine incorporates Budack cycle for improved combustion efficiency.
Fuel Economy
Features like Start/Stop are standard for all Tiguan trims to help improve fuel efficiency.
Front-wheel drive Tiguan models have 15.9-gallon fuel tanks; then Tiguan models with 4Motion all-wheel-drive feature a larger 16.4-gallon tank.
The estimated fuel economy for front-wheel-drive models is 23 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined. Models with 4Motion all-wheel-drive have an estimated fuel economy of 21 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined.
Exterior style
The Tiguan is compact but it doesn’t look that small from the outside. It actually looks larger and it has a very attractive silhouette. Volkswagen’s design is very appealing.
Interior and Technology
Tiguan includes good technology, I like Volkswagen’s intuitive smart system. The Tiguan includes standard driver-assistance features. Tiguan models are equipped with the next-generation Car-Net telematics system, as well as in-car Wi-Fi capability if you subscribe to a data plan. Wireless charging is also available.
Tiguan’s infotainment system includes a feature to set up four individual profiles, three for drivers, and one profile for guests, something very convenient when sharing the Tiguan with all the family.
The Volkswagen Digital Cockpit display, standard on SEL and SEL Premium R-Line models, offers drivers a reconfigurable display of key data and the ability to position navigation data front and center for easy viewing.
Safety Features
The Tiguan is very safe with safety features like Front Assist, Side Assist, and Rear Traffic Alert are standard on all Tiguan trim models. The Tiguan keeps improving as a safe car. It has been named more than once IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) when equipped with LED headlights and the Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) w/ dynamic cornering headlights.
We all care about safety and Tiguan is definitely ahead of some of its competitors in this aspect, with good ratings for crashworthiness and a superior rating for front crash prevention.
In addition to Front Assist, other driver assistance features offered on the 2021 Tiguan includes Standard Blind Spot Monitor (Side Assist), Rear Traffic Alert, Available Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keeping System (Lane Assist), Overhead View Camera (Area View), The Tiguan provides a combination of both passive and active safety systems, including six airbags, and a number of standard electronic safety systems, such as an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and Volkswagen’s Automatic Post-Collision Braking System.
