JSWTDI09
Top Post Dawg
Well, for a variety of reasons I recently purchased a new 2018 VW Tiguan SE. This is VW’s first MQB Tiguan and it has a new variant of the venerable (if flawed) EA888 2.0L gasoline engine. It is commonly referred to as the EA888 Generation 3b (the “B” is for Budack, but I will get into that later).
First, the chassis is based on the MQB platform just like the newer Golfs, Passats, and Jettas. The wheelbase has been stretched almost 9 inches and the car is about 10.5 inches longer than the previous (PQ35 chassis) Tiguan. This gives enough room for a vestigial 3rd row of seats. This third row of seats is probably only suitable for children. No full-size adult could possibly be comfortable in these seats for any more than a short trip. However, front and second row seating is quite generous. Second and third row seats also fold flat for a large cargo area. Interestingly, for legal reasons, the Front wheel drive version always has the third row of seats but they are a $500 option in the 4motion version. Of course, it also is equipped with rear view camera, emergency self-braking, blind spot detection, car play, Android Auto, etc.
The power train consists of that new “B-cycle” or “Budack cycle” EA888 engine, I mentioned earlier, coupled with an Aisin 8 speed automatic transmission. Apparently the “Budack cycle” is a modified Miller cycle which (as I understand it) is a modified Atkinson cycle. It was named after a VW engine design engineer named Ralf Budack. It is a method of getting more efficiency (read: economy) out of the same size 2.0L engine. It uses a rather complex camshaft design to create a cylinder expansion volume that is larger than the compression volume. Compared to the 2017 EA888 Tiguan engine – it has a little less horsepower but more torque. What I find very interesting is that the increased torque kicks in at a very diesel like 1600 rpms and the torque curve is quite flat to over 4000 rpm. I have no idea why I keep ending up driving new VW engine designs (I had an ’09 TDI). I hope this one turns out to be reasonably reliable. The one thing that worries me a little is that VW says it should use another special motor oil - VW 508/509 which is a 0W-20 full synthetic. I live in a hot climate and I wonder if that might be too thin. Anyway, time will tell. As for economy, it is rated for better mileage that the 2017 even though it is longer and heavier. I have not yet refilled the tank, so I do not have any hand calculated (accurate) mileage numbers, but If I believe the MFD it is beating the EPA estimates in the city by a good margin and 30mpg is not hard to get on the highway. I am not used to a gasser beating the EPA estimates like the TDIs often do. The other good news is that this car comes with a 6 year, 72,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. If you want more info, Google “EA888 gen (or generation) 3b”.
I believe that this Aisin 8 speed transmission would work perfectly with a diesel engine, as is. For economy, it loves to run the engine at rather low rpms unless you are pushing it. It would probably not even need a tune to change the shift points. It is very smooth shifting. It can sometimes actually be difficult to tell when it shifts unless you are watching the tachometer. It is a real pity that the Tiguan was never sold with a diesel engine on this side of the pond. If there was a new diesel compact SUV that I could fit in and afford, I would be driving it. A Mazda salesman told me that the CX5 diesel should be for sale by February, but I don’t fit well in that car, so I ended up with the Tiguan.
The only “feature” in this car that I have not yet decided whether I like it or not is the auto start-stop. When I come to a stop for more than a few seconds (like at a light) the engine shuts off. It then re-starts as soon as I take my foot off the brake pedal. So far it is working perfectly and it eliminates that one thing I have always hated about slushboxes and that is the tendency to inch forward if you do not put sufficient pressure on the brake pedal. Time will also tell, whether or not this “feature” gets turned off in the future.
Have Fun!
Don
First, the chassis is based on the MQB platform just like the newer Golfs, Passats, and Jettas. The wheelbase has been stretched almost 9 inches and the car is about 10.5 inches longer than the previous (PQ35 chassis) Tiguan. This gives enough room for a vestigial 3rd row of seats. This third row of seats is probably only suitable for children. No full-size adult could possibly be comfortable in these seats for any more than a short trip. However, front and second row seating is quite generous. Second and third row seats also fold flat for a large cargo area. Interestingly, for legal reasons, the Front wheel drive version always has the third row of seats but they are a $500 option in the 4motion version. Of course, it also is equipped with rear view camera, emergency self-braking, blind spot detection, car play, Android Auto, etc.
The power train consists of that new “B-cycle” or “Budack cycle” EA888 engine, I mentioned earlier, coupled with an Aisin 8 speed automatic transmission. Apparently the “Budack cycle” is a modified Miller cycle which (as I understand it) is a modified Atkinson cycle. It was named after a VW engine design engineer named Ralf Budack. It is a method of getting more efficiency (read: economy) out of the same size 2.0L engine. It uses a rather complex camshaft design to create a cylinder expansion volume that is larger than the compression volume. Compared to the 2017 EA888 Tiguan engine – it has a little less horsepower but more torque. What I find very interesting is that the increased torque kicks in at a very diesel like 1600 rpms and the torque curve is quite flat to over 4000 rpm. I have no idea why I keep ending up driving new VW engine designs (I had an ’09 TDI). I hope this one turns out to be reasonably reliable. The one thing that worries me a little is that VW says it should use another special motor oil - VW 508/509 which is a 0W-20 full synthetic. I live in a hot climate and I wonder if that might be too thin. Anyway, time will tell. As for economy, it is rated for better mileage that the 2017 even though it is longer and heavier. I have not yet refilled the tank, so I do not have any hand calculated (accurate) mileage numbers, but If I believe the MFD it is beating the EPA estimates in the city by a good margin and 30mpg is not hard to get on the highway. I am not used to a gasser beating the EPA estimates like the TDIs often do. The other good news is that this car comes with a 6 year, 72,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. If you want more info, Google “EA888 gen (or generation) 3b”.
I believe that this Aisin 8 speed transmission would work perfectly with a diesel engine, as is. For economy, it loves to run the engine at rather low rpms unless you are pushing it. It would probably not even need a tune to change the shift points. It is very smooth shifting. It can sometimes actually be difficult to tell when it shifts unless you are watching the tachometer. It is a real pity that the Tiguan was never sold with a diesel engine on this side of the pond. If there was a new diesel compact SUV that I could fit in and afford, I would be driving it. A Mazda salesman told me that the CX5 diesel should be for sale by February, but I don’t fit well in that car, so I ended up with the Tiguan.
The only “feature” in this car that I have not yet decided whether I like it or not is the auto start-stop. When I come to a stop for more than a few seconds (like at a light) the engine shuts off. It then re-starts as soon as I take my foot off the brake pedal. So far it is working perfectly and it eliminates that one thing I have always hated about slushboxes and that is the tendency to inch forward if you do not put sufficient pressure on the brake pedal. Time will also tell, whether or not this “feature” gets turned off in the future.
Have Fun!
Don