Just before we entered the current financial year, Volkswagen India came clean on its plans to launch four SUVs. Out of the lot, we’ve received the updated T-Roc and the much-awaited Taigun, bookings for which crossed 18,000 earlier this month. And soon, we’ll get the third offering – the refreshed Tiguan. Volkswagen has started producing the upcoming SUV at its plant in Aurangabad and will reveal all about it, including prices, on December 7, 2021.

Sure enough, the Tiguan is late to join the party in India. But then, the last couple of years have been anything but normal. Like all other models from the Volkswagen Group, the new Tiguan will also arrive as a petrol-only offering. Under the bonnet will be a 2.0-litre, turbocharged petrol engine that pumps out 188bhp/320Nm. Mated to it will be a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that will feed the oomph to all four wheels. For the record, the same engine also does duty in the Skoda Superb, Skoda Octavia, Audi Q2 and Audi A4. After the Tiguan goes on sale, the same powerplant will find another project – the refreshed Skoda Kodiaq. That, by the way, should launch in January 2022.

Coming back to the Tiguan, it’s a handsome looking car. The design updates, which include a restyled front fascia, new wheels and sharper lighting units at either end, have pushed the “premium feel” bar higher. Even the interior has received subtle changes to revive the “newness” aura.

Expect Volkswagen to offer the Tiguan in a couple of variants. And depending on which one you settle for, the list of features will include Intelligent IQ.Lights technology with adaptive control, a massive panoramic sunroof, 30-colour ambient lighting, a digital instrument cluster, a touchscreen infotainment system with connected-car tech and three-zone automatic climate control. On the safety front, the new Tiguan will come with stuff like a Driver Alert System, six airbags, auto-hold, Hill Start Assist and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

Volkswagen has yet to start accepting bookings for the SUV in question officially. However, with the launch date nearing, expect that window to open soon. Once it goes on sale, the Tiguan should fall in the same price range as the Audi Q2, MG Gloster and Toyota Fortuner.