2021 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line eHybrid [UK]

The fleet-friendly Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid is priced from £35,515 OTR in Life trim. The latest addition to Volkswagen's plug-in hybrid range is a key piece in the company's Way To Zero climate strategy. The newest PHEV model from the brand has a CO2 output from just 38 g/km (WLTP) and fuel economy of up to 176.6 mpg (WLTP, combined), with the capability to travel up to 30 miles purely on electric power from a single full charge.

The eHybrid drivetrain combines a 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine and a powerful electric motor, resulting in peak system output of 245 PS. It is available on value-packed Life, luxury-focused Elegance, and sporty R-Line trims, with respective WLTP CO2 emissions of 38, 43 and 41 g/km. The Life, starting at £35,515 OTR, also boasts a low P11D price of £35,460, and BIK taxation rate from only 11%, while the other trim levels represent similar value, especially to fleet customers, with respective BIK taxation rates of 13% and 11% for the Elegance and R-Line.

The high power output of the Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid is complemented by an abundance of instant torque from the electric motor, while the petrol engine provides 250 Nm of twisting force, available between 1,550 and 3,500 rpm. These contribute to a top speed of 127 mph (where permitted) and a brisk 0 to 62 mph acceleration time of 7.5 seconds, while maintaining the low running costs associated with plug-in hybrid models.

An electric-only range of up to 30 miles (WLTP combined, and depending on specification) is available from the Tiguan eHybrid's 10.4 kWh battery, and depending on the power source, charging takes place with 2.3 or 3.6 kW alternating current (AC). When supplied with 230 volts at 2.3 kW via the normal domestic grid, the battery can be fully charged in five hours from empty. This is reduced to three hours and 40 minutes using a 3.6 kW wall box or public charger.

The VW Tiguan eHybrid always starts journeys in all-electric E-MODE if the battery is sufficiently charged (except at battery temperatures of below -10°C), meaning that for those who travel less than 30 miles in a day, all-electric running will likely become an everyday occurrence. E-MODE can also be used at speeds of up to 80 mph (where permitted), making this setting suitable for all types of UK roads can be undertaken with zero tailpipe emissions.

The eHybrid's intelligent powertrain can be programmed to reserve electric power, to be used later in a journey. For example, if the destination is in an urban setting, the driver can request that the car retains a percentage of battery capacity to allow zero tailpipe emissions during the final part of the journey. The car can also charge the battery on the move with brake energy recuperation and via the petrol engine, if requested by the driver.

With the Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid trim options starting with Life, standard equipment for the model includes 3-zone automatic climate control; Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Front Assist; front and rear parking sensors; and a Discover Media Navigation infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touch-screen. IQ.Light LED matrix headlights with multiple lighting modes for different driving environments and scenarios also feature as standard on the Tiguan eHybrid Life and Elegance. These are optionally available for R-Line models.

Elegance specification adds to this tempting formula with such highlights as a heating function for the steering wheel; 30-colour ambient lighting throughout the cabin; electric boot opening and closing function, with sensor for hands-free access to the load area; keyless entry with start/stop button on the centre console; and Volkswagen's 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro TFT dashboard display. A suite of systems to assist the driver are also standard-fit on the Elegance model, including a rear-view camera, Side Assist, rear traffic alert, and Predictive Cruise Control, which uses road sign recognition and navigation data to automatically alter the preset speed to the legal limit, as well as safely, pre-emptively slowing for bends, roundabouts and junctions.