Starting this fall, the most powerful version of the small SUV, the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line Turbo, will be the center of attention. With this setup, the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine makes 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, which is 67 horsepower and 51 pound-feet more than before. The R-Line Turbo comes with many great features as standard, like heated, cooled, massaged, and 12-way-changeable front seats. There are big improvements in the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan, which is the third model of the German automaker’s small SUV. Volkswagen used lighter materials and changed the sheet metal to cut the weight by 170 pounds while increasing the horsepower of the four-cylinder engine by 17. Volkswagen is now elevating the Tiguan to new heights. At the New York Auto Show, they showed off the new, more powerful 2026 Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo, which is a small SUV. A 67-HP boost Beginning in 2026, the R-Line Turbo will become the most powerful SUV and the highest trim level of the Tiguan. For the R-Line Turbo, the 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine, known internally as the EA888 evo5, remains identical to the one used throughout the rest of the Tiguan lineup. It produces 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The Golf GTI hot hatchback’s EA888 engine makes 241 horsepower in the US and 261 horsepower in Europe. This engine is even more powerful. That’s 67 more horsepower and 51 more pound-feet of torque than the regular Tiguan’s inline-4. A bigger turbocharger allows for more boost pressure and a lower 10.5-to-1 compression ratio, which leads to better efficiency. Volkswagen says that the engine’s nitrided crankshaft, stronger pistons, and connecting rods make it last longer and run better. The four-cylinder engine also has a changeable valve lift on both the intake and exhaust sides, and oil cools the pistons. Still, the more powerful Tiguan uses the Miller cycle and normal gasoline to save gas. The 2.0-liter engine in the R-Line Turbo comes paired with standard all-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox with paddle shifters on the steering wheel that let you change gears by hand. Volkswagen also said that the brake discs on the Turbo model are bigger. A lot of high-end tools The Turbo model is hard to tell apart from lower-end Tiguans, but it does have 20-inch aluminum metal wheels, a black roof, and black mirror covers. Along with the full-length taillights and lit-up VW sign on the back, the front has an LED light bar between the headlights and an illuminated VW symbol. The inside of the R-Line Turbo is very nice, with real walnut wood trim and Varenna quilted leather seats. The dashboard is also made of brown leather with beautiful white stitching. The Turbo comes with a bigger touchscreen that’s 15.0 inches. The rest of the cabin is the same as previous Tiguans, with a 10.3-inch digital instrument panel behind the three-spoke steering wheel. The top-of-the-line Tiguan, the SEL R-Line Turbo, comes with many extras. These include a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, automatic climate control with three zones, and a wireless charge pad. The front chairs heat and cool, have 12 power modes, and have a full-back massage with 10 points. The back seats on the sides and the steering wheel are heated. A head-up display and ambient lighting with 30 colors are two more usual technological features. The 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo will go on sale in the fall, but prices won’t be released until closer to the car’s arrival at showrooms. VW will still sell a SEL R-Line model with a 201-horsepower engine in 2025, but in 2026, the SEL R-Line Turbo will take its place. Because the Turbo is the top trim level of the Tiguan, it will cost around $46,000.
