“Volkswagen’s
new
Tiguan compact SUV
makes good use of
VW’s proven 4Motion
all-wheel drive system,
seats five and is the
right size for today’s
roads. What’s more,
it can take over
steering inputs from
the driver whilst
undertaking reverse
parking manoeuvres!”
THE TIGUAN IS VOLKSWAGEN'S FIRST COMPACT SUV. Taking
visual cues from its 'big brother' off-roader, the Touareg,
Volkswagen says it offers buyers high levels of interior space, comfort and
specification,
as well as value for money.
UK prices range from £19,370 to £23,750 with the projected best selling model
— the SE 2.0-litre TDI 138bhp — costing £21,800 in manual gearbox
specification or £23,050 with the six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission.
Competing in the compact 4x4 sector, the Tiguan is a direct rival to cars
such as the Toyota RAV4, Land Rover Freelander and Honda CRV. In the UK, this
growing sector now accounts for around one in every 20 cars purchased, with
total annual sales of 108,000. Volkswagen anticipates first year UK sales
of 10,500 units — around the same as their compact MPV, the Touran. Tiguan
UK sales should increase to 11,300 units in 2009, when the range is complete
with a full engine line-up. A two-wheel drive version will be added by the
end of 2008. On the very first day it officially went on sale in the UK (1
February 2008), VW already had 3,200 orders for the new Tiguan.
This is Volkswagen's first foray into the compact SUV segment, so there is
no sales history with which to predict the customer base. However, they expect
60 per cent of Tiguan customers to be retail buyers; with 40 per cent going
to business and fleet users. They also predict that 35 per cent of customers
will choose an automatic trans-mission.
At launch, the best-selling engine will be the 2.0-litre diesel unit com-bined
with SE trim; this is expected to account for 30 per cent of sales. Over 85
per cent of Tiguans sold will have a diesel engine. Just five per cent of
buyers are forecast to choose the Escape trim, which is biased towards off-road
applications. All Tiguan models have five seats and five doors.
From launch all Tiguan models will be offered with standard 4Motion four-wheel
drive — in normal use, 90 per cent of the drive is directed to the front
wheels, but when extra grip is needed variable amounts
of power can be directed to the rear wheels: up to 100 per cent in extreme
conditions.
The front axle adopts a strut type system linked to a lightweight alu-minium
subframe with electro-mechanical power steering. A four-link rear axle is
used to provide optimum on-road handling while still being suited to off-road
driving.
The range will be split into four trim levels: S, SE and Sport, all of which
have a front-end treatment biased towards on-road applications along with
an 18-degree approach angle; an Escape trim level will be offered for those
customers looking for additional off-road capability. The Escape models feature
a unique front-end design featuring a shorter overhang, a protective element
over the front radiator grille, a sump guard, hill descent assist and a compass
as well as a 28-degree approach angle.
Two engines will be available at launch: a new 2.0-litre TDI 138bhp common
rail diesel and a 1.4-litre TSI 148bhp petrol unit. Later in 2008, a 168bhp
TDI engine and a further pair of TSI petrol engines with 168 and 197bhp power
outputs will be added to the line-up. All diesel engines already comply with
the Euro 5 emissions standard that comes into effect in 2009. Both six-speed
manual and tiptronic automatic transmissions will be offered on all engines,
with the exception of the 1.4-litre TSI petrol unit.
Volkswagen also says that the Tiguan's insurance group ratings are class leading,
with a rating of group 9 for both launch models.
Slightly larger externally than the Touran MPV, the Tiguan boasts a class-leading
towing capacity of up to 2,500kg. The rear bench seat, which can be moved
fore and aft to liberate extra leg or luggage
room, provides seating for three passengers. The rear seats can also be folded
away, expanding the load volume from 395 to a maximum of 1,510 litres.
Standard equipment levels are high: all Tiguan models feature alloy wheels,
air conditioning, MP3 compatible CD player, ABS with Hydraulic Brake Assist,
Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP), a curtain airbag system plus twin
front and side airbags, along with a host of other items.
A number of innovative options are also available, including Volks-wagen's
new RNS 510 touch-screen satellite navigation and audio sys-tem incorporating
special navigation software to allow route guidance while off-road. The very
useful Park Assist system — pioneered on the Touran — which takes
over steering inputs from the driver whilst undertaking reverse parking manoeuvres,
is also offered on the Tiguan for an extra £450.
Like it or not, the SUV (or 4x4) market in the UK just keeps on growing —
in particular the middle or compact sector. So Volkswagen's UK dealers are
going to be pretty happy they now have the Tiguan to offer their customers,
rather than lose them to Honda, Land Rover, Toyota, Vauxhall, Suzuki or the
emerging brands such as Kia, Hyundai and Chevrolet. Last year Volkswagen sold
over 194,000 new vehicles, making them the third-largest selling brand in
the UK behind Ford and Vauxhall. So to now have a compact SUV in their line-up
is vitally important. And good news for customers, too.
The Tiguan is based on the Volkswagen Golf Plus, a high-roofed five-door hatchback,
and the mid-sized Touran MPV, so its on-road driving credentials are assured.
Combine that with VW's proven 4Motion all-wheel drive system, which in normal
mode drives the front wheels but, as and when needed, automatically transfers
power to the rear axle as well, and the Tiguan looks to be a very creditable
SUV.
With an overall length of 4,427mm (Escape versions 4,457mm), a width of 1,809
and a height of 1,686mm with seating space for four adults, five at a squeeze,
the Tiguan easily passes itself off as a compact vehicle. It is no longer
than a regular-sized five-door hatchback and its conservative exterior styling
doesn't shout '4x4 off-roader' so you are unlikely to attract adverse attention
from the anti-4x4 lobby. Unlike the Freelander, Honda CR-V and RAV4, the Tiguan
looks understated — even if its styling resembles a scaled-down version
of VW's big Touareg off-roader.
The newcomer definitely does what it 'says on the packet'. It is the right
size for most people — be they young couples, young families or older
couples. The styling is clean and pleasant; it has the usual rising waistline
giving a wedge effect to the side profile. The rear row of seats is mounted
slightly higher in the vehicle than the front ones, so visibility for rear
passengers is good. The rear seats have a 60:40 fold-down split, and they
slide backwards into the load space to increase rear seat legroom.
Under the rear load floor is a segmented tray for out-of-sight storage, which
means the load floor is a little high and care is needed loading heavy items
into the back of the vehicle. Of its three main competit-ors, the Tiguan is
the narrowest in this area. However, it does score with most front legroom
and the longest load area with the rear seats folded down.
The interior is also conservatively styled and while some may see it
as lacking in character, there's no disputing that it is well made, well equipped
and all the controls are logically placed and easy to use. The Tiguan is certainly
user-friendly and well up to coping with family life and wear-and-tear. The
level of standard-fit safety features is also first class.
The Tiguan scores well everywhere it matters; and one of those areas is on-road
driveability. It is certainly the most capable of its type on tarmac, handling
more or less the same as a large family hatchback or MPV. The suspension is
compliant and absorbs potholes and bumps with ease — no harsh jolts as
with some SUVs, although I would stay away from Sport versions which have
a firmer suspension and bigger alloy road wheels so the ride comfort will
likely be compromised.
The road holding is first class and the Tiguan proved to be pretty agile,
both on- and off-road. The 4Motion system supplies enough grip to cope with
some pretty tricky, pretty muddy off-road driving — the Escape variants
have added underbody protection and a shorter front overhang to assist with
such conditions. All the driver has to do is push the off-road button and
a computer takes over the traction distribution to all four wheels —
it adjusts the throttle settings, applies hill-descent and climb control when
needed and adjusts the anti-lock braking.
All clever stuff, but I'm not sure why VW feel there is the need for a Tiguan
Escape version with added off-road kit. It adds complexity to the range, and
you can bet a customer will want the model the dealer doesn't have readily
available in stock. However, the off-road mode function can be ordered as
an extra-cost option for just £100. Never-theless, full marks to VW for trying
to keep all of their customers happy all of the time.
With regard to the two initial engine options, the award-winning 1.4-litre
TSI direct injection petrol engine with its supercharger/turbo-charger dual
system is a real gem. It is free-revving and responsive and provides 148bhp
of power. But, more importantly for a small petrol engine, lots of torque
— 177lb ft from just 1,750rpm. Top speed is 119 mph, 0-62mph takes 9.3
seconds, CO2 emissions are 199g/km and the official combined fuel economy
is 33.6mpg. Whilst this engine impresses for responsiveness and performance,
the fuel consumption during testing in typical commuter traffic this week
returned only 24.9mpg.
The common-sense option is the new 2.0-litre TDI common rail turbo-diesel
unit, as used in the new Audi A4. This has 138bhp of power and 236lb ft of
torque from 1,750rpm. It is strong performer and copes
with driving all four wheels without being fuel-thirsty. With a six-
speed manual gearbox, top speed is 115mph with 0-62mph taking 10.5 seconds.
With the same engine, the excellent automatic transmission model has a 113mph
top speed with a 0-62mph time of 10.7 seconds. The official average fuel economy
is 39.2mpg (37.7mpg auto) with CO2 emissions of 189g/km (199g/km auto). On
test in exactly the same traffic conditions as the petrol engine, the 2.0-diesel
model returned 35.9mpg with its slick-to-use six-speed gearbox and 33.8mpg
with the automatic transmission. All current models fall into the vehicle
excise duty Band F — that's an annual road tax bill of £205.
It's hard to find anything to complain about — the worst thing you could
say about the Tiguan is that its cabin is rather conservatively styled and
that some people will find the load floor a tad high. On the other hand, there
is much to praise: it's the right size; and the ex-terior styling is both
pleasing to the eye and nicely under-stated. In addition, you get excellent
ride comfort and road holding, good equip-ment levels and reasonable pricing
even if the 'must-have' options will load up the price. Two minor gripes and
many attractons. Can't be bad... — David Miles
 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 2.0 TDI 4Motion | £21,800 Maximum speed: 115mph | 0-62mph: 10.5 seconds Overall test MPG: 35.9mpg | Power: 138bhp | Torque: 236lb ft CO2 189g/km | VED Band F £205 | Insurance group 9 Visit Volkswagen's website  |
