What else can you buy for the price of Volkswagen Tiguan?

Volkswagen reentered the SUV segment in India with the introduction of the new Tiguan crossover SUV. The Tiguan is the first SUV to be based on MQB platform that makes it to our shores and is available in two trims with one engine and transmission option. The Tiguan was expected to be priced in line to take on the likes of Hyundai Tucson or the Honda CR-V. However, the German carmaker has upped the ante and moved the price bracket further up the segment. The price tag now reads ₹ 27.98 lakh for Comfortline trim and ₹ 31.38 lakh for Highline trim (ex-showroom Delhi). Here are other options one can consider as an alternative to the Tiguan in this price range.

Starting with the Comfortline, the trim comes decently loaded with almost all the features from the Highline. If the five-seater is the only car you are looking at, there are plenty of options this side of the crossover body style. You can get yourself a Skoda Superb ‘limo’ sedan with a huge boot and quality engineered car; the entry level Superb is even a whole Rs 2 lakh less. Apart from the Superb, the Toyota Camry is also available under ₹ 30 lakh which is acclaimed for its reliability, and now with a hybrid powertrain as well. 

Moving away from the sedan, there is a host of seven seater SUVs to be considered. The Toyota Fortuner is an acclaimed name in the segment with good off-road credentials and Toyota’s brand reliability. The Ford Endeavour is another contender with its powerful 3.2-litre oil burner with all-wheel drive and automatic transmission at the same cost as the Tiguan Comfortline. Another seven seater SUV in this price range is the Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, however, the Japanese SUV is less equipped and a bit old-school compared to the new Tiguan. The French have put up the Renault Koleos into this fray, but it is a five seater with 4x4 and automatic transmission.

But if you are a more enthusiastic petrol head, there is a trio of impractical hot-hatches around the price of the Comfortline. The GTI is from the same VW stable and you get access to 189bhp hot hatch which is seriously quick. The Mini Cooper S is a British brute but is a tad expensive. The Fiat Abarth 595 Competizione is a head turner Italian beauty but totally impractical. If a style icon is what you want, the iconic Volkswagen Beetle is also a prudent choice. The sensible alternative here is the Volvo V40, which is powerful, potent and very practical.

The Highline variant of the Tiguan is priced at ₹ 31.38 lakh.  In this price range, the Hyundai Santa Fe is an option that you might want to consider. The Korean seven-seater is well laden with features and AWD in top variant as well. Mercedes also offers the B-Class at a similar pricing while the BMW has the 1 Series. These cars again primarily carry brand value more than anything else compared to the fully-loaded Tiguan. And if you add a couple of lakh rupees to the Tiguan pricing, the Mercedes-Benz CLA and Audi A3 are premium entry-level sedans which would attract more glamour than Volkswagen’s ‘people’s car’ brand image.

The Tiguan is a feature loaded crossover SUV, which is pitted against the likes of BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA. It is even a whole lot affordable than both the other Germans. The Tiguan is a sensible choice and if you are looking for an understated crossover to carry five people and which comes with all the bells and whistles in the Rs 30 lakh price bracket, look no further.