Drive Notes: 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan SE R-Line Black

My driveway was recently graced by a 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan SE R-Line.

This mid-trim Tiguan started at $35,705 and there’s a 2.0-liter turbo four underhood, making 184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque mating to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Available features include dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, USB ports, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, satellite radio, Bluetooth, smartphone mirroring, wireless cell-phone charging, and more.

You know how this works, let’s dive in.

Pros

• The Tiguan feels spritely, at least for a small crossover.
• Headroom and legroom were adequate, front and rear.
• The wireless cell-phone charger is nicely placed.
• I liked the parcel shelf atop the dash.
• The gauges are easy to read.
• There are still volume and tuning knobs.
• As an overall package, the Tiguan works generally well, even if there’s not much that stands out.

Cons

• While the haptic-touch controls have improved, I’d still prefer a more old-fashioned setup.
• For whatever reason, the wireless Apple CarPlay connection dropped in the same spot. I drove through that area multiple times, round trip, and the connection failed each time before restarting a mile or two down the road.
• The price feels about $2K too steep.
• There is a bit too much body roll when cornering.
• The 2.0-liter could use more punch.