Volkswagen Tiguan SE 2.0 TDI 4Motion Tiptronic

“Impeccably urbanised — that’s
Volkswagen’s new compact SUV,
the Tiguan. The way things are
going, one day all family hatchbacks
could be like this...”

NO LONGER THAN A REGULAR-SIZED five-door hatchback, the Tiguan — VW's first compact SUV — went on sale in the UK in February 2008. Despite a passing visual nod to the Touareg (its off-roader 'big brother') in the styling department, the compact and non-intimidating Tiguan is primarily intended for on-road work and uses VW's tried-and-tested 4Motion four-wheel drive system.

And, with almost all car-makers seemingly on a mission to build small 4x4s, the Tiguan has beaten potential rivals from Ford (Kuga: June, 2008) and Renault (Koleos: July, 2008) to market. As you would expect, the all-new Tiguan's key selling points are its compact exterior dimensions with high levels of interior space, comfort and value-for-money specification. The Golf-style grille is a strong hint of its Golf Plus DNA.

Our test car — a 2.0-litre TDI in SE trim with VW's six-speed automatic Tiptronic trans-mission — retails at Ł23,050. There are four trim levels — S, SE and Sport, as well as an Escape version offering additional off-road capability thanks to hill descent assist and a nose designed to permit a 28 degree angle of approach — and two engine options: VW's new 2.0-litre 138bhp common rail diesel as tested here and a 1.4 TSI petrol unit with 148bhp. Later in 2008 a 168bhp TDI unit and a pair of TSI petrol engines will join the line-up. Transmissions are six-speed manual or Tiptronic automatics, and all models come fitted as standard with 4Motion four-wheel drive.

True to VW's word on specification levels, the tally of standard equipment on our SE model was pretty comprehensive, including, as it did, remote central locking, driver and front passenger airbags with passenger's deactivations switch, front seat side impact airbags, a curtain airbag system, Isofix child seat preparation for two rear child seats, 17-inch alloy wheels shod with 235/55 tyres, electronic parking brake with an auto-hold function, flat tyre indicator, Climatic semi-automatic AirCon, heat-insulating tinted glass, speed-sensitive power steering, height and reach adjustable leather-trimmed steering wheel, front and rear electric windows (all with one-shot auto up/down operation), electrically-heated and adjustable door mirrors with integrated indicators, multi-function computer, touch-screen radio/dash-mounted MP3 compatible six-disc CD autochanger with AUX in socket for connection to external multimedia sources, front comfort seats with lumbar and height adjustment and folding 'picnic' tables on the backs of the front seats. And, naturally, there's also ABS with Brake Assist System, Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution, an Electronic Stabilisation Programme, Electronic Differential Lock and Traction Control. All in all, that's 'value' by anybody's book.

A popular option will no doubt be VW's new touch-screen SatNav system — not least because the add-on package includes a rear-view camera to help when reversing. And, at Ł795, there's even a Park Assist system that takes over steering inputs from the driver whilst undertaking reverse parking manoeuvres!

Sit in any of the Tiguan's comfortable 'chairs' and you'll experience a cabin that is exactly what buyers have come to expect from Volkswagen: high-grade materials, clear controls, first rate build quality and attention to detail. The logically laid-out and well-presented fascia features four vertically stacked pairs of smart, circular air vents for the very best kind of 'cool'. The other appealing feature on SE and above models is the touch-screen technology for the secondary controls — the screen is sited top dead centre of the facia, with the switches for the heating and ventilation laid out below, all easily within reach of both the driver and front passenger. The A/C, incidentally, incorporates a pollen filter that operates in both fresh-air and recalculating-air modes, and there's also a coolable glovebox and a good number of well-sited storage cubbies.

The driving position is both comfortable and commanding and, with a wide range of easy adjustment from the seat and three-spoke steering wheel, there's absolutely no reason for not finding a first class driving position. And the optional 5-stage heated front seats are superb! All-round visibility is excellent and, combined with its neat physical proportions, make the refined Tiguan both an easy car to drive and an easy car to live with day-in, day-out. Other commendable features worth a mention include the good lights (both main and dipped beam) and the so-easy-to-use touch-screen that operates the pretty comprehensive on-board computer.

The traditional handbrake will soon be a thing of the past. Even if you learnt to drive in a car with a pull-up handbrake, it won't take you long to adjust. But once you do, you'll wonder why the electronic handbrakes are not mandatory. Obviously space is freed up by them and, like the Start buttons that are filtering down to bread-and-butter cars from the likes of Astons and Bentleys, they feel Star Trek-ishly satisfying to use. Another benefit of this high-tech handbrake is that in the Tiguan it comes with a handy 'auto-hold' function. This function is activated by a button near the selector lever and is useful when the car is regularly stopping for short periods — for example, when driving in heavy traffic. Under these circumstances, the parking brake is applied automatically whenever the car is brought to rest on the footbrake, preventing it rolling backwards or forwards. The brake will then be released automatically as soon as the accelerator is pressed.

Versatility is other strong point. Given that today's compact SUV market is all about catering for families, it's no surprise to find that there's ample space for a family along with a 395-litre boot. The 60:40 split/fold rear bench slides (fore and aft by 16cms) and reclines (each backrest individually by as much as 23 degrees) to optimise either luggage space or legroom — whichever suits at the time. Folded completely flat, you'll have a very accommodating 1,510 litres of load space. There are five load lashing points plus a luggage net to prevent objects shifting once loaded.

Other standard features on the SE include under-seat drawers on front seats, a load-through provision and a foldable front passenger seat backrest for those occasional, but usually awkward, extra-long items. And the passenger compartment, too, is well served
for storage with three cubbies in the dash as well as deep door pockets that can accommodate a sizeable drinks bottle.

Worth noting is that the rear bench is fitted noticeably higher than the front seats — and it's a boon for customers with children as not only can young passengers see more through the windows, but fitting their seat belts is also easier. An adult or child will find sitting in the back of the Tiguan is a comfortable and very relaxing place to travel. Other rear compartment plus points are windows that retract fully into the doors, four cup holders, sturdy picnic trays mounted on the backs of the front seats that stay fixed in place even when leant on hard, deep door pockets and slim oddments pockets at the side of the seats, air vents for the A/C, a large and particularly comfy centre armrest and masses of room in every direction. And don't forget that the rear seats can be slid fore and aft by up to seven inches. To give you a better idea of the spaciousness: with a 5' 11" driver, there will be a good seven inches of space between the knees of a person of average build sitting in the back and the rear of the driver's seat.

On the road the Tiguan is reassuringly driver-friendly. Shifts from the excellent six-speed Tiptronic auto 'box are fluid, and the speed-sensitive power steering precise. Combine this with good body control and consistent all-wheel grip and you have a recipe for agile and composed handling. Going off-road is simplicity itself: push the 'off-road' button and that's it. From here on in a computer oversees every aspect of maximising the Tiguan's four-wheel drive system for the driver, ensuring the best possible off-road performance in terms of traction, hill-descent, climb control and effective braking for tricky off-road conditions.

As VW intended when it fitted its 4Motion system across the range, the Tiguan is more than capable on twisty country roads but — and here's where it trumps many other SUVs — it doesn't ever feel unwieldy on city streets. Traction is likewise always as good as it can be because the 4Motion constantly varies torque between the axles to deliver the maximum grip — although in normal driving conditions 90 per cent of the power is directed to the front wheels and just ten per cent to the rear wheels. However, in extreme cases, nearly 100 per cent can be transferred to the rear wheels.

Another plus point is the comfortable ride, which benefits from nicely absorbent damping. The result is that the Tiguan is composed and refined at speed on motorways; and even on the less well-maintained secondary roads UK drivers love to hate, it still serves up a consistently able ride.

There's no doubt that, despite diesel fuel now costing more at the pumps than petrol, the 138bhp oil-burner will steal the majority of sales. In addition to an official combined fuel consumption of 37.7mpg (we recorded 33.9mpg) it should also return 29.1 and 44.8mpg respectively in the urban and extra-urban modes. Its 236lb ft of torque ensures punchy, linear performance — 0-62mph acceleration takes 10.7 seconds and the top speed is 113mph. It cruises deceptively quickly at fast motorway speeds, and will storm up steep hills without, seemingly, trying very hard. However, CO2 emissions of 199g/km put the diesel auto in road tax Band F that will cost owners Ł205 per annum. If you think these figures are good for a 4x4 you'd be right. In the Tiguan's case it's all down to the clever 4Motion four-wheel drive which only engages the rear wheels when necessary. To recap: this is definitely an urbanised SUV.

Competing in the fast-growing compact 4x4 sector (in the UK, this market segment now accounts for around one in every 20 cars purchased) against the likes of the Toyota RAV4, Land Rover Freelander and Honda CRV — as well as the aforementioned forthcoming Ford Kuga and Renault Koleos — the Tiguan is most certainly not at a disadvantage. Not only does it tick all the right boxes for road holding, ride comfort, standard equipment and pricing, but it's pleasing to the eye and scores especially well in the most important area
of all: on-road driveability.

In addition, it rides fluently and handles on tarmac as efficiently and effortlessly as a
large family hatchback and, while it feels massive inside (especially width-wise), it fits easily into a standard Sainsbury's parking space — with room to spare. Add the kudos
of the respected VW name and the recognized quality that backs it up and you have
a very sound case for choosing the Tiguan. — LOFS

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