2026 VW Tiguan Gains 268-HP Version of the GTI Hot Hatch's Engine (2025)

• The 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line Turbo is the most powerful version of the compact SUV and will be the range-topping model starting this fall.
• The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder produces 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque in this guise, up by 67 hp and 51 pound-feet.
• The R-Line Turbo gets loads of standard equipment that includes heated, ventilated, massaging, and 12-way power-adjustable front seats.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan, the third generation of the German automaker's compact SUV, represents a substantial upgrade. Not only is the sheetmetal fresh, but VW extracted an extra 17 horsepower from the four-cylinder engine and shed 170 pounds by using lightweight materials. Now Volkswagen is upping the Tiguan's game even further, revealing a new version of the compact SUV at the New York auto show: the more powerful 2026 Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo.

A 67-HP Bump

The R-Line Turbo will become the top trim for the Tiguan starting with the 2026 model year, and it will also be the SUV's most potent model. The R-Line Turbo uses the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine—code-named EA888 evo5—found in the rest of the Tiguan lineup but turns up the wick to produce 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. That represents a 67-hp and 51-pound-foot increase over the standard Tiguan's inline-four and makes it even more powerful than the version of the EA888 found in the Golf GTI hot hatchback, which makes 241 hp in the U.S. and 261 hp in Europe.

The increased performance comes courtesy of a larger turbocharger, which allows for higher boost pressure as well as a lower 10.5-to-1 compression ratio. Volkswagen says the pistons and connecting rods are stronger and the engine has a nitrided crankshaft, better for both performance and durability. The four-cylinder also gains oil cooling for the pistons and variable valve lift on both the intake and exhaust sides.

Still, the more powerful Tiguan takes regular gasoline and runs on the Miller cycle for the sake of fuel economy. The R-Line Turbo pairs the 2.0-liter engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission—which can be manually controlled via steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifts—and standard all-wheel drive. Volkswagen also said the Turbo model gains larger brake discs.

Luxury Features Abound

The Turbo model isn't easily distinguishable from lesser Tiguans but wears a standard black roof, black mirror caps, and 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. An LED front light bar between the headlights and an illuminated VW badge are echoed at the rear with a full-length taillight and light-up logo.

Inside, the R-Line Turbo is decked out with high-end materials like real walnut wood trim and Varenna quilted leather seats, with the brown cowhide extending to the dashboard with classy-looking white stitching. The Turbo comes standard with the larger 15.0-inch touchscreen, and the rest of the cabin is identical to other Tiguans, with a 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster behind the three-spoke steering wheel.

Since the SEL R-Line Turbo represents the top of the Tiguan lineup, there is plenty of standard equipment, including a wireless charging pad, a three-zone automatic climate control system, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. The front seats are 12-way power-adjustable, heated and ventilated, and feature a 10-point full-back massage function. The steering wheel is heated too, as are the outboard rear seats. Other standard tech goodies include a head-up display and 30-color ambient lighting.

The 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo will go on sale this fall, with pricing set to be revealed closer to its arrival at dealerships. While VW offers an SEL R-Line model for 2025 with the 201-hp engine, this variant will be dropped for 2026 and replaced by the SEL R-Line Turbo. Since the Turbo model will serve as the Tiguan's top trim, we expect it to cost around $46,000.