21 May 2025
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Volkswagen of America Inc. unveiled the all-new 2026 Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo, which will be the nameplate’s top trim beginning in Model Year 2026. The Tiguan Turbo takes all the great features of the 2025 Tiguan—bolder styling, a refined, high-quality interior, and an advanced infotainment system—but adds 67 more horsepower to give the vehicle a more sporting character. Under the hood, the Tiguan Turbo features a more powerful version of the EA888 evo5 turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0-liter TSI® engine that powers the rest of the Tiguan range. The engine makes 268 horsepower at 5500 rpm, an increase of 67 hp over the other models, while torque increases from 207 pound-feet to 258 lb-ft, delivered between 1900 and 5400 rpm. The improved performance compared with the base engine comes from a number of changes. The engine has a larger turbocharger that enables higher boost pressure, combined with a lower 10.5 to one compression ratio. Internally, the engine benefits from stronger pistons and connecting rods, as well as a nitrided crankshaft. The engine also has oil cooling for the pistons, as well as variable valve lift on both the intake and exhaust side. It still uses Miller-cycle technology to help improve fuel economy compared to a conventional four-cycle engine, and runs on regular gasoline. The Tiguan Turbo powerplant also benefits from several changes shared with the lower power engine, such as higher fuel injection pressure, raised from 5,076 psi (350 bar) to 7,252 psi (500 bar). There are further tweaks to the intake, intercooler, and lubrication system, including a higher-displacement vane-type oil pump. Changes to reduce friction include optimized chain drives for the cams and oil pump. The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The Tiguan Turbo has standard 4Motion® all-wheel drive. In addition to the power upgrade, third-generation Tiguan models weigh up to around 170 pounds less than the outgoing model, helping both fuel economy and acceleration. EPA-estimated fuel economy is not yet available and will be released at a later time. The weight savings are in large part due to the use of lightweight materials in the body structure and suspension, as well as to changes to the braking system.
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