Devon Test Drives a Volkwagen Tiguan (used)

The Volkswagen Tiguan is a classy alternate to the likes of the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. It's a stylish CUV with the same engine as the GTI. While priced on the steep side, and rivals offer a few tricks at a lower price. Can Volkswagen justify the Tiguan or is it a case of too small too expensive?

Performance: The only engine available from the Tiguan is a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine which pumps out 197hp. It offers plenty of punch and large amounts of passing power on the highway. A more powerful engine would be desired with the all-wheel-drive models. The heavier weight means acceleration and fuel economy suffers.

Ride and Handling: The Tiguan is the most fun to drive crossover in its class. The sports suspension in our tester car has a firm ride. It can be a bit jittery over some surfaces. The trade-off is well controlled body roll, and responsive handling with lots of grip.

Refinement: The interior is quiet, something you'd expect from a Volkswagen. At highway speeds the engine is barely heard. There's little road noise, but some wind noise can be heard when picking up speed. You'll barely hear a peep out of the suspension.

Behind the wheel: The Tiguan feels very similar to the Golf. All the controls and dials are in easy reach from the driver's seat. The steering wheel adjusts for reach and height. Anyone can get comfortable behind the wheel. The dashboard layout is neat and logical, but feels a bit dull in the more basic trim.

Space & Practicality: The rear seats fold with ease, as well as slide forwards and backwards for more legroom or more cargo space. You won't be able to have both. The rear seats are roomy for four people, adding a fifth person is pushing it.

Equipment: Every Tiguan comes well equipped, depending upon how much money you're willing to dish out. Top trim levels come with rain sensing windshield wipers, Xenon Headlamps and climate control. All-wheel-drive is offered on all but the base trim level, but it comes at a hefty asking price.

Buying and owning: The base Tiguan is priced aggressively with its rivals. However, the Tiguan loses points for the high asking price of its all-wheel-drive. Fuel economy is average and running costs are low. If you stay away from the options lists, you can get a nicely equipped Tiguan well worth the money. All the extra features just make the Tiguan seem overpriced. You're investments will be secured, as Volkwagen have high resale value.

Quality & Reliability: Volkswagen is known for quality and Germanic build quality. The Tiguan's interior won't win any prizes, but the materials used look and feel long lasting. Most mechanicals have been tried and tested, so there should be no fear of major problems. However, owners have rated the car's reliability as average in JD Power Survey.

Safety & Security: ESP, emergency brake assist and six airbags are standard. The high seating position and all-wheel-drive will be seen as a safety advantage. Although some maybe put off by its high asking price. Deadlocks and an alarm are fitted to guard against theft.

Likes: Logical interior design, smooth turbo engine and transmission, a sophisticated option among small crossover vehicles, more fun to drive than its rivals.

Dislikes: Plain Jane looks, interior on basic models look cheap, price can skyrocket with options, more horsepower please! Trims with sports suspension suffer from a firm ride.

Overall: The Tiguan offers better on-road dynamics and has a turbo engine that makes it more fun to drive than rivals. If you're in the market for something a little upscale in terms of looks and feel. The Volkswagen wont' disappoint. However, there are rivals that offer the same tricks for far less money and should be considered before buying a Tiguan.

Devon M