What's all this about?

The refreshed Volkswagen Tiguan family SUV will get a host of new technologies when it goes on sale. The German manufacturer has confirmed the updated car will get hybrid technology and a range of new safety systems, as well as new interior tech, when it goes on sale in the UK.

A new Tiguan, you say?

Indeed. VW has already teased us with camouflaged test mules, but this is the first time we’ve seen the new model in the metal. Expected to go on sale at the beginning of next year, the top-selling family car is designed to be more efficient and more technologically advanced than its predecessor.

How so?

For a kick-off, VW is basing the car on a more advanced version of its MQB platform, which underpins the VW Golf and Passat models, among myriad others. According to VW, the modular platform now offers faster charging for plug-in hybrid cars, better interior quality and the latest safety systems. And Volkswagen claims it makes the cars cheaper, because the tech is shared between so many models, meaning the company and its subsidiaries don’t need to develop new systems for each car.

Great, but what does that mean for the new Tiguan?

First of all, it means there’s a new infotainment system, in keeping with the displays already seen in some of VW’s newest products. That means the screen is sandwiched between two ‘touch bars’ at the top and bottom of the screen, both of which can be used to assign ‘favourite’ functions, essentially giving drivers personalised hot keys for the system.

The Home Screen essentially uses similar tech to the existing screen, with tile-based menus to aid user-friendliness and a voice assistant for easier access to some functions. And VW has taken a leaf from BMW’s book by ensuring the climate control menu is never more than a screen tap away.

And though VW is persisting with the touch-sensitive slider bars for heater and volume control, the company has at least backlit the sliders to help drivers use them at night.

And the rest of it?

Well, this focus on technology has seen things change for the driver, too. There’s a digital instrument display as standard, offering a choice of different displays for the driver to configure. There’s a classic display that apes conventional dials, and a ‘progressive’ display that hides the round instruments, as well as a navigation display and an R-Line view that’s billed as the “sportiest” option.

There’s also lots of safety tech, including the Park Assist Plus system nicked from elsewhere in the VW range. That system allows assisted driving into or out of parallel or bay parking spaces, and the optional Park Assist Pro system adds to that by allowing the car to be removed from a space remotely.

Other safety and driver support systems include a trailer manoeuvring system, adaptive cruise control and the Side Assist blind-spot monitoring tech.

You said something about tech under the bonnet…?

We did indeed. Glad you were paying attention. The new Tiguan will be offered with a wide choice of engines, including the 1.5 TSI Evo2 petrol motor, which will be offered in 150hp and 177hp forms. That engine will also be used in conjunction with electric motors to power the 204hp and 272hp plug-in hybrid powertrains, both of which will be fed by a 19.7kWh battery offering a range of up to 62 miles on a single charge.

Elsewhere in the engine range will be the 130hp and 150hp eTSI mild-hybrid petrol powertrains, also based on the 1.5 TSI Evo2 engine. And higher up, customers will get a choice of 2.0-litre TSI Evo4 petrol engines with a choice of 204hp or 265hp, as well as 150hp and 193hp versions of a 2.0-litre diesel engine. The more powerful 2.0-litre petrol and diesel units - the 265hp and 193hp engines - will come with all-wheel drive as standard.

Any more for any more?

Oh yes, we aren’t done yet. The new Tiguan also gets a Dynamic Chassis Control Pro (DCC Pro) system that reacts to the road conditions and can be configured to find the desired balance between comfort and handling.

What about the new exterior?

Although the new Tiguan looks vaguely similar to the existing car in silhouette, there’s obvious influence from the ID.4 electric car in the design. The slightly pillowy lines of the bumpers and the gaping lower grille are all part of VW’s latest design language, and there’s a wide light bar across the front and rear of the vehicle. In our view, though, it’s a fairly attractive thing, although familiarity will probably breed a bit of indifference.

And the new interior?

Again, there’s clear ID.4 influence there, with the massive central touchscreen, but the faired-in instrument display and the boxy air vents give it a slightly more rugged feel.

When can I have one?

We don’t really know as yet. The car is expected to go on sale in the coming months - possibly even before Christmas - but whether the first customer cars will arrive by then remains to be seen. We’ll keep you posted.