Volkswagen Tiguan Review
VW Tiguan Review
The Tiguan is one of Volkswagen’s most popular models. Spacious and well made, it’s a car which fits the bill for all different types of drivers while its raised seating position makes it a go-to model for those motorists who gain a little extra confidence from sitting a little higher up.
It’s been a core part of Volkswagen’s line-up for a long time now but its rivals have become even more accomplished as time has moved on. Let’s see if the Tiguan is still up to the challenge.
What’s new?
Volkswagen has always taken a more evolutionary approach with the Tiguan - after all, why mess with something that’s already so popular - and this latest edition brings some choice revisions to help push it a little more upmarket while retaining those all-important practical features.
So, it’s why the interior feels a bit more premium, while the exterior has been sharpened to give it a more distinctive look.
What’s under the bonnet?
The Tiguan can be specified with a number of engine choices, including a plug-in hybrid and a powerful 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol in the range-topping ‘R’ model. The car we’re looking at today, however, uses a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine with 148bhp and 250Nm of torque, which will equate to a 0-60mph time of just under nine seconds and a top speed of 126mph.
Volkswagen claims up to 38.8mpg and CO2 emissions of 165g/km. You’ll get slightly better efficiency out of the plug-in hybrid, but you will need to keep it charged - and it’ll cost more to buy, too.
What’s the Volkswagen Tiguan like to drive?
Most people who are considering a Tiguan want something that is fuss-free to drive, and this Volkswagen delivers in that respect. The steering isn’t overly heavy while the main control weights are all nice and level - this is a very easy car to get along with. The 1.5-litre engine in this model does a good job of getting the car up to speed in a swift enough fashion, too.
Those models fitted with larger alloys - our car included - do have a slightly sharper ride, with the Tiguan often struggling to deal with larger potholes and rough surfaces. If you want the best possible ride, opt for smaller wheels and a non-R-Line car.
How does it look?
Volkswagen has tweaked the look of the Tiguan without ripping up the rulebook entirely. It’s still very recognisable as the firm’s core SUV, but the changes which have been made do well to make things a bit sharper and more distinguished. We’ve got sharper headlights, for instance, which seem to extend further up the bonnet and integrate LED technology as well.
There’s quite a prominent shoulder line which makes the Tiguan look more muscular, too, and it all ties together to make the car look slightly larger than it actually is.
What’s it like inside?
The Tiguan has always offered a good blend of good materials and robust build quality. This latest model is no different; it feels very well put together while still being good quality throughout. The fit-and-finish is great, which will likely come as good news to family car drivers who really put their cars to the test each day. Remember, too, that if you need some extra versatility the Tiguan is available as a seven-seater ‘Allspace’ version.
But on this ‘standard’ model there’s still plenty of space, while the 520-litre boot can be expanded up to 615 litres by sliding the rear seats forwards. Fold the seats down and that boot becomes a very impressive 1,655-litre load area.
What’s the spec like?
The Tiguan has always offered plenty of bells and whistles and ‘our’ R-Line car was absolutely packed with features. Highlights include three-zone climate control and a vast array of driver assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control, pedestrian monitoring and lane keep assist with road edge detection.
You can, of course, go pretty wild with options such as a panoramic sunroof and a rear-view camera, but the Tiguan is more than well-equipped enough as standard without the need to go for extras.
Verdict
The new Volkswagen Tiguan might look more noticeable than before, but it hasn’t lost sight of why it has been so popular, namely its practicality and ease of use. For families, it’ll make daily driving a whole lot easier but even if you’re driving on your own it’ll still provide a comfortable and effortless way of getting around.
