Germany’s biggest brand is renowned for its bangers. This one is tasty, though you do have to pay.

 Price: $68,990.
Powertrain and economy: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol, 162kW/350Nm; direct shift transmission; 4Motion all-wheel drive.
Vital statistics: 4511mm long, 1859mm high, 1675mm wide, 2677mm wheelbase. 20-inch alloy wheels.
We like: Tech improvements; high quality look and feel.
We don’t like: Getting pricey; premium touches potentially impinge on practicality; not being able to buy currywurst in NZ.

ONE made every 35 seconds to satisfy demand … and we’re not talking hamburgers. Or sausages 

Volkswagen knows all about best-sellers. It’s had a few. The original Beetle, of course, with 21.5 million between 1938 and 2003, is the giant in terms of lifetime achievement.

When it comes to annual domination, the Golf holed in one for many years. Then the Polo took over, but for just 12 months.

 In 2020, both hatchbacks were outperformed by a sports utility wagon that still rules supreme now: Tiguan. VW delivered around 778,000 examples of this medium-sized blocky five-door in 2019. Production slumped to just over 590,000 units last year, and surely no need to explain why. But it’s going gangbusters again this year.

Kiwis are up to latest pace in respect to latest trend – we buy more Tiguans than any other VW and, now its mid-life update time, there’s confidence the sales chart will continue to look healthy; not only will the models here already fuel a surge of interest but more are incoming – the updated seven-seat Allspace and some new turns, in the shape of plug-in hybrids and a pukka performance edition.

Already settled in are front-drive models, with 1.4 and 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrols, plus one with VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive.

The R-Line 4WD on test stands out by adopting a punchier version of the 2.0-litre – with 30kW more power, 30Nm more torque than you get with the front-drive R-Line.

It’s the dearest version here and the family kingpin, if only temporarily because it’s just keeping the seat warm for that new performance Tiguan R, a high-rise equivalent of the Golf R – same platform, drivetrain tech and throaty 235kW engine. 

The full-out R is going to capture attention an probably quite a few sales, but consumer profiling confidently suggests this all-paw R-Line will be the most popular of the Tiguan variants, not just at the moment but also for the long term, an interesting scenario given it’s hardly a budget choice at a snip under $70k.

Whether then the average owner intention is to use it primarily as an executive high-rider which achieves occasional family use is probably a pertinent.

 At first viewing, despite being intrinsically no less utilitarian at heart than any cheaper Tiguan, it seems too plush to deserve careless kids and carefree canines; still perhaps a potential regardless that this sticker sites

it above several well-known SUVs out of South Korea and Japan that are physically larger, equally powerful, also well-kitted and also outgunning by seven to five on seat count.

No argument, spending at this level buys impressive quality. If Tiguan’s engineering and presentation is a primary allure then it’s hard to imagine anyone feeling short-changed.

As much as every Tiguan looks smarter through adoption of VW’s new frontal appearance, notably the chiselled headlights and wide grille that brings it into line with the newest family members, the R-Line detailing elevates the classiness. The test model being on 20-inch alloys and in a blue metallic – it’s either Lapis or Nightshade on the colour chart - came across as a car with enough whammy to make you question the need to upgrade to an Audi.

The same impression enforces when you slip into the cabin. Tiguan’s upgrade to a new control layout that, in look and technical aspect is similar to that in the fully new Golf Mark 8, is also wow-worthy.

The big spend model has the optimal 10.0-inch screen that delivers the best from the latest MIB-3 infotainment system or – if you prefer – your cell phone hook up; whatever screen display you go for, the presentation is massively impressive in look. The graphics are crisp, reactivity swift and operability seems less glitchy than in the Golf. This model also places a fully digital instrumental panel in front of the driver. Again, also beautifully-detailed and delivering a useful level of information without befuddling.

Tiguan also updates to a new steering wheel with haptic touch controls and you’ve got to take care with those, such are their sensitivity. The layout is good encouragement to adopt good hands on the wheel practice. The heating and air controls are also now haptic, which mightn’t be best for cold fingers, but at least unlike the Golf they aren’t integrated into the main layout but instead maintained within a separate zone; a more sensible solution.

Tiguan in all versions is quite strongly configured but go to R-Line and you achieve everything VW has to offer this car. The model achieves extras of Dynamic Chassis Control, “matrix” LED headlights that are superb in their reach and span - with a trendy auto-dip function that doesn’t seem to annoy others - and a head-up display, sports steering and suspension, keyless entry and ignition, adaptive cruise control, rear-view camera, self-parking, and the full family of electronic safety devices. Mind you, all Tiguans arrive with automated emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, parking assist and hill-descent control. It will seem an incredibly nit-picky whinge, but while it’s great it has a wireless phone charging pad and has upgraded from USB to USB-C ports, the latter are a bit awkwardly located.

Driving-wise, the sporty flavour of that R-Line badging is obvious, but it’s not overly intense. What you do notice is that the largest rims meted this model, and the 255/40 rubber attached to those, and the sports suspension, means the ride quality can get fidgety. Though it never devolves into fully unpleasant roughness, you will pay the price for a tyre that, due to its low profile, puts less air between the wheel and the road. Through corners, though, the Tiguan feels rock-solid and reassuring; with heaps of traction and grip.

The steering is enjoyable – it is not as light as in some, but the weight, which enhances from above city speed, adds confidence – but it’s not an all-out driver’s car; the braking performance isn’t at GT level and, though it has decent mid-range performance, the engine isn’t all-out edgy enough to put you into a fully engaged stage of mind. That’s fine because you know that VW is about to up the game. Indeed, if there weren’t areas where the ‘R’ team will have little trouble demonstrating how it can be made more involving and invigorating you’d be worried.

Dial back the enthusiasm a touch and slot the Drive mode from Sport to Normal and it’s more beneficial for driver and passengers; the engine is smoother and so too the DSG. The gearbox is great once you’re moving, but not always as smooth and easy in town as a conventional auto.

But with this car, it’s just about being a bit easier on it than the badging might suggest you could. Basically, if you allow it to relax a little it becomes extremely refined, save for the ever-present surface-generated tyre roar. There’s never been a German translation for ‘coarse chip’, sadly. However, driving in relaxed style will also impact positively on the fuel burn from an engine that, with a cited optimal of 8.3 litres/100km, is the thirstiest of those currently offered.

 Tiguan does feel well-suited to long distance driving; the front seats, in particular, are a highlight. The padding is quite firm but gives you excellent support and great comfort. Vision too is excellent all round, and in general the cabin feels exceptionally airy and spacious.

 This body shell delivered a lot more interior room than the first-gen Tiguan, and it shows particularly in the back seat, where occupants have decent leg and head room. The rear seats slide forward and back to adjust boot space, and you can adjust the seatback angle for comfort.

Boot space is good, too. With the rear seats up it’s 615 litres and with them down turns into a very large 1655 litres. The area in natural state is well-shaped, being flat, broad and deep, with binnacles in both rear corners for small items you don’t want rolling around. The rear seats fold 40-20-40, which adds flexibility for combining rear passengers with long loads.

Notwithstanding that the materials throughout the cabin are high quality, the surfaces look robust enough to take a few knocks. One change in the back over the pre-facelift R-Line is that this one loses the fold-up tables on the back of the drivers and passenger seats. 

Speaking of toughness. Adventuring isn’t out of the question for this car either, though within reason. The all-wheel-drive is going to be effective on gravel or snow covered roads and easy tracks. However, it does not have the ground clearance or low-range gearing required for challenging conditions.

Even though the R-Line is an expensive undertaking, there’s about it that supports why Tiguan is such a favourite to have become VW’s highest-selling product.

Actually, a clarification on that point. It’s the highest-selling automotive product within the passenger line.  

VW, in fact, bangs out another item that is even more popular, even though it’s pretty much restricted to Europe and generally not easily available for export beyond there.  

And that is….? 

Pork sausage. Currywurst sausage, to be exact. VW butchers created the original recipe in 1973 (and keeps it secret) but it has become so massively sought-after as to achieve its own item number-199 398 500 A.

Why’s a car maker in the food game? Sausage is hugely popular in Germany. VW has a long history of producing food for its factory employees. Moreover, its home factory, in Wolfsburg, is relatively remote. It’s not as if workers could just pop out at lunchtime to find a bite. Hence, they stay on site and eat in the vast company cafeterias.

When the company initially created its currywurst recipe for its staff in the 1970s, the dish became an instant hit. Realizing this, VW decided to sell its currywurst as an actual product in addition to making it in-house for its European factory workers. The year after next will be the 50th currywurst product anniversary.

Astonishingly, VW has produced more sausages than cars for the last few years annually. In 2019, the company made 6.8 million sausages and concurrently produced 6.2 million vehicles globally. VW says it usually makes 18,000 sausages a day. BTW, it’s not just a pork product. Since 2010 there’s been a vegetarian version.