Caught On Test: 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan And Passat

The German car maker had confirmed the launch of the Passat and Tiguan nearly two years ago, and after several delays has finally affirmed that both models, which will catapult Volkswagen right back into the premium space, will be launching in the coming months. And interestingly, no sooner than the confirmation was in, we've spotted the Tiguan and Passat being tested close to VW's plant on the outskirts of Pune!

Update: Volkswagen Tiguan SUV Launched At Rs 27.98 Lakh!

Anything new?

The test mules were caught on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway driving in a neat convoy. Both cars wore the familiar '2.0 TDI' badge, but we were pleasantly surprised to spot the '4Motion' moniker on the Tiguan. '4Motion' is Volkswagen-talk for a permanent four-wheel drive system that distributes torque to the wheel with the most traction. The spotting practically confirms that a 4WD version will be in the offing. 

How did they look? 

Quite handsome, actually. The clean lines and the LED lighting make for quite a sight. The Tiguan has a nice upright stance, making it look butch, and the low-slung Passat looks the business too. While we are on the subject, that particular shade of dark blue on the Tiguan grabs quite a lot of attention. Maybe, not the best choice of colour for a test car, eh Volkswagen? 

What about prices, and when do I get to buy one? 

The Tiguan will go on sale before the Passat, and prices are likely to start around the Rs 25 lakh mark. At that point, it will lock horns with the likes of the recently launched Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V and the Skoda Yeti.If reports are to be believed, the Tiguan could be launched in the next couple of months. 

The Passat marks VW's return to the executive sedan space, and is expected to be launched a few months after the launch of the Tiguan, which means we can safely assume the car will be launched in the second half of the year. Interestingly, the test car spotted wore only a 2.0 TDI badge on its rump, which means that for now, Volkswagen is not bringing in the hybrid Passat GTE to India. This should enable Volkswagen to price the car around the 30 lakh rupee mark, which is certainly lower than its hybrid competitors like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, and also closer to Skoda's Superb. That said, we have reason to believe Volkswagen will launch the Passat GTE in India at a later date, to take its Japanese rivals head on. 

Check out: Volkswagen Passat GTE Gallery