On sale now, the new Volkswagen Tiguan will start at £25,530 OTR.

The 2016 Tiguan is the first new VW SUV to sit on the brand's MQB platform – which also underpins the Golf. Standard from entry will be a range of safety features while hi-tech features available for the first time in a Tiguan include Active Info Display; Head-Up Display; Area View and Trailer Assist.

New from the ground up, and with a 33 mm reduction in height versus the outgoing car the new Tiguan features an even more sleeker profile while the wheelbase has been extended to 2,681 mm – a gain of 77 mm. 

At the front, the radiator grille and (optional) LED projection headlights ‘reinforces the car’s powerful impression and upright stance’. On the inside, VW has aligned the cockpit towards the driver for better comfort without ‘constricting the airy impression of the interior’. At the same time, the wider centre console typical of SUVs is paired with the new 4MOTION Active Control rotary switch to create an interior with a premium feel.

More head room and knee room is available than previously – up by 29 mm in the case of knee room – and when the rear bench is folded, boot space of 1,655 litres, is 145 litres larger than before.

The car will be offered with up to three new petrol engines (power outputs from 125 PS to 180 PS) and four new diesel engines ranging from 115 PS to 240 PS. All EU6-compliant, they are more powerful and more fuel-efficient than the comparable EU5 engines of the previous model. The diesel engines feature SCR catalytic converter technology, using AdBlue additive.

In time, a high-volume diesel will be available as a 2.0 TDI 150 PS with 4MOTION all-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox (DSG) or six-speed manual transmission; or with front-wheel drive and a manual gearbox. In addition the 2.0 TSI with 180 PS, 4MOTION and DSG is also on offer from today. Extended engine, drive and gearbox options will be available in two further order waves which open in the UK on 5 May and 2 June.

The first wave of engines offer 0-62 mph times of between 7.7 seconds (2.0 TSI 180 PS) to 9.3 seconds (2.0 TDI 150 PS), with top speeds ranging from 129 mph to 124 mph. For the first wave of engines, CO2 emissions are calculated at between 125 g/km (2.0 TDI 150 PS front-wheel drive with six-speed manual gearbox), to 170 g/km (2.0 TSI 180 PS 4MOTION with seven-speed DSG).

Fuel economy for the launch engines, on the official EU combined cycle, ranges from 58.9 mpg (2.0 TDI 150 PS front wheel drive six-speed manual) to 38.2mpg (2.0 TSI 180 PS 4MOTION with seven-speed DSG).

Active and passive safety measures includes Front Assist with City Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring; active bonnet; automatic post-collision braking and Lane Assist - all fitted as standard. The first active bonnet on a VW reduces the risk of injury to pedestrians and cyclists by lifting upward in the event of an impact – rising 50 mm within 22 milliseconds of an impact. Seven airbags – including a knee airbag on the driver’s side are also included along with automatic post-collision braking system, helping to avoid any secondary collisions.

Prices for the new Volkswagen Tiguan range from the aforementioned £25,530 OTR for the 2.0 TDI SCR BMT 2WD in S trim to £35,095 OTR for the R-Line 2.0 TDI SCR BMT 4MOTION with Seven-speed DSG. First customer deliveries are expected this summer.