Volkswagen Tiguan Review

Performance4/5

The VW Tiguan comes with a choice of three petrol and three diesel engines; the latter are likely to be the most in demand. The smallest petrol is the 1.4 litre (158 bhp), which has a top speed of 126 mph and can do the standard 0-62 mph sprint in 8.9 seconds. Its big brothers, the 2.0 litre (178 bhp or 207 bhp) versions have a top speed of 126 or 134 mph respectively and can make it from 0-62 mph in 8.3 or 7.8 seconds.

The diesels are all 2.0 litre, with a bhp of 108, 138 or 168. Their top speeds range from 109 to 125 mph, and the 0-62 sprint can be completed in 8.9 – 11.9 seconds.

Handling4.5/5

With the exception, perhaps, of the Escape model, the VW Tiguan is not heavily suited to off-road travel. It is undoubtedly a comfortable car, not prone to body roll or suspension-related unpleasantness. There is very little noise of any sort, and that, together with the light and airy nature of the cabin (particularly those with the panoramic sun roof) is likely to result in a happy passenger experience. The driver’s seat is adjustable as is the steering wheel, so there is every chance that the driver will also be happy – all of which must be a good thing.

Exterior4/5

Smart, with good- looking chrome trims on all models except the entry level S, the Tiguan fits well within the VW range. It has clean, almost minimalist lines; overall the Tiguan is a modest looking car with nothing to offend the eye.

Interior4.5/5

The interior of the Tiguan is of the high quality as we have come to expect from VW. It’s solid and well-finished, with a user-friendly dash and a good supply of equipment in the SE model upwards. Chunky rear pillars compromise the Tiguan’s rear visibility though, so the rear-view parking camera is an option you may wish to consider.

The Volkswagen Tiguan has ample leg and head room for five adults to travel in comfort.  The rear seats slide forwards and backwards to more comfortably accommodate longer legs or a larger volume of luggage, although at 470 litres luggage space is already quite generous. It does expand to 1510 litres when the rear seats are folded flat – and they do fold completely flat easily and quickly. Loading more bulky items is simplified by the fact that the load lip is flat and the floor is high.

Equipment4.5/5

The VW Tiguan comes in five trim levels, starting with the comparatively basic entry level S model and working up through SE, Sport, Escape to top of the range R-Line. The Tiguan S equipment list includes air conditioning, alloys, front and rear electric windows, DAB digital radio and CD stereo, electronic parking brake; and outside it has black painted roof rails and 16 inch alloys. Promote yourself to the SE model (go on – you deserve it) and you will also purchase chrome window surrounds, 17 inch alloys, climate control, comfort front seats with lumbar support, Bluetooth, tyre pressure monitoring system, automatic headlights, driver alert system, front and rear parking sensors and a multi-device interface to connect MP3 players. The Sport adds to the mix 18 inch alloys and front sports seats; the Escape has customised bumpers and extra under body protection to allow for more exciting off-road wandering. There is a plethora of extra options available with the Tiguan, including a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, sat-nav and cruise control.

Safety4.5/5

As might be expected from a member of the VW family, the Tiguan scored a maximum five stars in the EuroNCAP ratings. The Tiguan’s safety features include six (front and curtain) airbags, electronic brake assist, electronic stability programme, ABS and traction control; and one look into the solidly built interior confirms that the car is built to last! An alarm and deadlocks are fitted to keep unwelcome visitors out.

Buying & Owning4/5

The Volkswagen Tiguan is not particularly easy on the wallet, either to buy or own – but as cars in this group go it is certainly competitive. The most eco friendly version in the line-up – the 108 bhp 2.0 TDi BlueMotion Tech diesel – offers 53.3 mpg and has CO2 emissions of 139g/km. Unsurprisingly though, other versions across the range are not so economical to run although, again, they do compare well with rivals. VW do fixed price servicing, a warranty of three years (or 60,000 miles) and road tax will set you back between £120 and £460.

Reviewed by cars2buy