All you need to know about the Volkswagen Tiguan
THE compact SUV with that famous badge is likely to be a popular choice among British buyers.
Volkswagen Tiguan 2017 SUV has been unveiled
School-run icon
The Tiguan’s launch has been accompanied by one of the best car ads in recent years – you know, the one with the dad taking his daughter to school, accompanied by a hip hop soundtrack.
It’s certainly struck a chord with parents and that kind of identification will lead a lot of buyers to Volkswagen’s website and showrooms to check out the new Tiguan. Most will like what they see.
Cool new shape
This is the second generation of the Tiguan and it’s adopted a new look. We weren’t huge fans of the original car’s design, but this is a much better effort: slightly boxier, but more defined, with a sporty sleekness created by the crease lines combined with flatter surfaces.It looks the part of the road – and yes, it will the catch the eye on the school run.
More space, more comfort
The new Tiguan’s cabin has grown by 26mm and, although that doesn’t seem a lot, it has lead to a pretty significant increase in interior space. For example, there’s 29mm more kneeroom in the rear, which isn’t to be sniffed at, especially if you’re transporting adults in the back.
The sliding rear bench also adjusts by 180mm, which can lead to a boot capacity of 615 litres, an increase of 145 litres compare to the previous car (total bootspace is 1,655 litres if you drop the rear bench).
The cabin of the car has been given an upgrade, allowing more room for passengers
Neat interior
Volkswagen is very good at interiors, with the Tiguan another fine example of that conservative, but highly accomplished, combination of a clear dashboard layout and high-quality fit and finish. The switchgear is all solid to the touch and logical to use.
Best of all is the Active Info Display, Volkswagen’s interpretation of the virtual cockpit from sister brand Audi. This puts a 12.3-inch display in the place of the traditional analogue instruments, beyond the steering wheel, and enables the driver to see various information – including the map from the satellite navigation system – from the infotainment system, without having to look away from the windscreen.
The interior is refined, accomplished and stlyish
Tiguan Press Drive- Mellowpark Berlin 2016
An engine for everyone…
There are four diesel engine options and three petrol units, which will suit the varying demands of buyers. Want something cheap to run and fuel efficient? Go for the 2.0 TDI 115PS, which returns 60.1mpg and 123g/km. A little more performance? Try the 2.0 BiTDI twin-turbo diesel with 237bhp and a 0-62mph time of 6.5 seconds.
… and a trim level, too
There are also four trim levels to choose from: S, SE, SEL and R-Line.
Even the basic S trim comes with the likes of 17-inch alloy wheels, a choice of driver modes, 8-inch colour touchscreen, DAB digital radio, Bluetooth and electric windows.
The new version's stylings are a marked improvement on the original
Safety a priority
The new Tiguan is a very safe car, with lots of kit to keep you safe on that school run.
So in addition to the expected airbags and alphabet soup of safety features (ABS, ESC, etc), there’s also an active bonnet to help protect pedestrians in the event of a collision, autonomous emergency braking and lane assist – and all are standard on all models, unlike many rivals.
What about four-wheel drive?
It looks like and SUV and it can also perform like an SUV, if you choose a version with 4Motion, which has four modes: On road, Off-road, Off-road Individual and Snow. If you need the extra peace of mind of a 4x4, it's a useful option.