Revised Tiguan is as talented an all-rounder as you’re likely to find in the compact 4x4 market

What is it?

Volkswagen’s facelifted Tiguan compact SUV, deliveries of which will begin in the UK in September, and which we’re testing in the UK for the first time. And it stands out as one of the more talented all-round road cars available of its type.

Although they’re cracked up to be seriously multi-talented, you often have to compromise on quite a lot when buying a £25,000 SUV. You can have a voluminous seven-seater, but it’ll probably come from a budget brand and with a slightly agricultural driving experience. You can have one from a premium brand, but it might be quite small and only have two driven wheels. You can have one from a more blue-blooded 4x4 brand, but you’ll have to settle for relatively low spec.

And within that rather confusing market, the Volkswagen Tiguan has become a bit of touchstone: the go-to-option for all-round breadth of ability. Oft-criticised for its ‘lightweight’ Golf-derived underpinnings, it’s actually the Tiguan’s civilized and efficient Golf-family engines and relatively modest dimensions that make it so uncompromised. Few others in the class combine the Tiguan’s car-like performance, handling, ride, refinement and efficiency, after all. And even fewer come with such a flexible, well-equipped and well-appointed cabin, with decent capability as a tow car or occasional offroad tool, or with a badge as desirable as VW’s.

What’s it like?

The new Tiguan gets a Touareg-inspired face and a new array of petrol engines. Economy and CO2 gains have been made across the whole range, and there’s a new more offroad-oriented Escape model too with more outright mud-plugging capacity.

We tested the volume-selling 138bhp 2.0-litre TDi version, with 4Motion four-wheel drive and in SE trim. Even with four driven wheels, the car squeezes into VED road tax band F for a £130 tax disc, and returns better than 40mpg on the motorway, thanks to VW’s Bluemotion Technology package, which includes automatic engine stop-start.

Performance is well up to class standards, making the Tiguan easy to drive and feel quite fleet of foot on the road. The car’s ride is a little firm, and more reactive than some SUVs. It’s certainly easy to understand why many owners christen their cars ‘Tigger’ – the VW certainly feels springier than most of its type. But the Tiguan steers and handles very tidily indeed, with strong grip, quick responses, well-contained body roll and little understeer. That being the case, it’s easy to accept the modest amount of choppiness in the car’s dynamic demeanor over undulating surfaces.

Although the Tiguan still isn’t as accommodating as some for the money, it’s as practical as a Toyota RAV4 in most meaningful measurements, and a good deal more so than a Ford Kuga or BMW X1 thanks to rear seats that slide and recline as well as folding flat. Headroom up front is as good as almost any SUV. Material quality and fit-and-finish inside the cabin are both consistently good, and standard equipment on our SE spec test car included dual zone climate control, a DAB radio, tyre pressure monitors and self-steering park assist.

Should I buy one?

It may seem a little middle-of-the-road compared to some compact SUVs, but VW’s Tiguan would make a growing family’s perfect first time 4x4.

It’s got 80 per cent of the capabilities of any SUV, but doesn’t come with drawbacks like poor fuel economy, cumbersome handling or average refinement.

Back to top

Put simply, it’s a car that still drives like a car - and yet it’s also all the 4x4 you’re ever likely to need.

Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDi 4Motion SE

Price: £25,645; Top speed: 116mph; 0-62mph: 10.2sec; Economy: 48.7mpg; Co2: 150g/km; Kerbweight: 1655kg; Engine type, cc: 4 cyls in line, 1968cc, turbodiesel; Power: 138bhp at 4200rpm; Torque: 236lb ft at 1750-2500rpm; Gearbox: 6-spd manual

Matt Saunders

Matt Saunders Autocar
Title: Road test editor

As Autocar’s chief car tester and reviewer, it’s Matt’s job to ensure the quality, objectivity, relevance and rigour of the entirety of Autocar’s reviews output, as well contributing a great many detailed road tests, group tests and drive reviews himself.

Matt has been an Autocar staffer since the autumn of 2003, and has been lucky enough to work alongside some of the magazine’s best-known writers and contributors over that time. He served as staff writer, features editor, assistant editor and digital editor, before joining the road test desk in 2011.

Since then he’s driven, measured, lap-timed, figured, and reported on cars as varied as the Bugatti Veyron, Rolls-Royce PhantomTesla RoadsterAriel Hipercar, Tata Nano, McLaren SennaRenault Twizy and Toyota Mirai. Among his wider personal highlights of the job have been covering Sebastien Loeb’s record-breaking run at Pikes Peak in 2013; doing 190mph on derestricted German autobahn in a Brabus Rocket; and driving McLaren’s legendary ‘XP5’ F1 prototype. His own car is a trusty Mazda CX-5.

Join the debate

Comments
26
Add a comment…
Rich_uk 24 August 2011

Re: VW Tiguan 2.0 TDI

ronmcdonald wrote:

The Yeti has to be one the dullest looking cars on the road. In my eyes it looked like a £10k cheapo Fiat, Suzuki van-type conversion. How much are these things? over £20k and you can kiss goodbye to any sort of discount due to demand !! I just don't get the Yeti. (the name alone is enough to put you off).

I guess I'm alone in thinking the Tiguan is quite classy looking then, in higher trim levels at least.
Nope, there is another one (me if that's not clear!). I cannot think of one Skoda which is better looking than its VW equivalent. Better value maybe but not looks. My VW has done 120k without a single squeak or rattle. No plastics wearing away and has started everytime for me. If mine is anything to go by, I'd recommend VW for reliability and class. Not fun though, dull as dishwater to drive.

ronmcdonald 24 August 2011

Re: VW Tiguan 2.0 TDI

minesaseat wrote:

or buy a cheaper and prettier Skoda Yeti with the same mechanicals?

or be patriotic and buy a Nissan Qashqai...

Plenty of people giving the Yeti a thumbs up. Have to admit it's a car I've hardly seen on our roads but I parked next to one yesterday. Err... it may well be a great car but as for style - what style? It looks like a Roomster... it looks like the Talbot Rancho I remember from my youth... it looks like a box.

The Yeti has to be one the dullest looking cars on the road. In my eyes it looked like a £10k cheapo Fiat, Suzuki van-type conversion. How much are these things? over £20k and you can kiss goodbye to any sort of discount due to demand !! I just don't get the Yeti. (the name alone is enough to put you off).

I guess I'm alone in thinking the Tiguan is quite classy looking then, in higher trim levels at least.

ronmcdonald 24 August 2011

Re: VW Tiguan 2.0 TDI

Lee23404 wrote:

jonfortwo wrote:
personal choice as always but i was thinking what a classy looking car the revised Passat has become in estate form, the best application of the new VW look so far with a nicely chiselled nose

I agree, Jon. When I saw the first photos of the new Passat I thought wow, what a dull car but seeing it in the metal I actually think it is a well proportioned, handsome car. It certainly looks more upmarket than some so called premium cars.

+1. Rear styling of old model better IMO, but in the flesh I reckon the new Passat is way better looking. The photo's didn't do it any favours though.