Review: Volkswagen’s Tiguan is a dependable leader of the pack
If it’s true that good things come in small packages, one has to consider the VW Tiguan R-line 4Motion a nice surprise.
Perhaps because it’s a compact SUV, the segment that has shown the most growth, some buyers have overlooked this peppy VW entry. In fact, the Tiguan’s silhouette is often mistaken for a Subaru Forester, a Toyota RAV4, or the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport GT. Like Rodney Dangerfield, this car hasn’t gotten enough respect since its debut in 2007.
Standing five-and-a-half-feet tall, with a square roofline, good economy, curb appeal, and easy entry, the Tiguan maximizes space within its footprint. The rear hatch adds a sporty flair with a spoiler atop the roofline. A curved hatch door, instead of a flat back panel, adds particular class.
The Tiguan’s 39-foot turning radius allows it to fit easily into snug spaces. All-wheel-drive, called 4Motion, ensures sure footing in the country or along New England’s snowy roads.
What differentiates this as-tested Tiguan are fog lights in the front fascia and 19-inch wheels, the latter housed under flared fender wells. Under the hood, there is the power of a 2.0-liter, 16-valve, turbocharged, 4-cylinder engine.
Controls are intuitive with knobs, switches, and easy-to-access controls that don’t require the neighborhood teen who programmed your smartphone to tune the radio. It’s hard to beat a single knob that allows the driver to either tune the radio or change the volume. For anyone who’s spent time behind any VW or Audi, the red gauge lights, switches, and positions are in almost identical locations, which makes this driver immediately comfortable.
Inside, front bucket seats are supportive and offer lots of leg and headroom. Sliding into the rear bench seat doesn’t require your back to bend like linguini. The rear seat is serviceable for three adults, and the 40-20-40 split bench configuration is versatile. There’s even a forward-folding front passenger seat that ensures longer items can be toted home comfortably.
Takeoff is swift, albeit with a slight amount of turbo lag, but this Tiguan will scoot down the road in a hurry. This makes the Tiguan a great highway car, as it is powerful when you have to pass or merge into traffic.
Power comes from a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that puts out 200 horsepower and 207 lb.-ft. of torque mated to a 6-speed automatic. Paddle shifters behind the steering wheel allow for more spirited interaction.
EASY TO USE: How nice that we don’t have to use the touch screen to raise or lower volume or change radio stations.
A sport suspension with front struts and a rear multilink setup absorb undulating pavement, giving the car a sporty, interactive feel. Electric power steering adds to the direct input that augments the R-Line’s inherent appeal.
Power did not sap economy at the pump; the car’s trip computer showed 26.6 mpg during my week at the wheel. VW claims 23 mpgs overall with 20/26 listed on the sticker. However, premium unleaded gas is recommended.
Volkswagen uses its all-new Car-Net App-Connect with Bluetooth, AM/FM/HD Radio, and a 6.3-inch touch screen for on-the-go connectivity. Kudos for VW since the automaker didn’t go crazy with only a touch screen setup like so many others. A rearview camera comes standard, as does USB charging and a SiriusXM radio trial subscription.
Tiguan is a combination of the word tiger and iguana. This mix-and-match affinity is also found in the assemblage of the Tiguan: Its engine comes from Hungary, accounting for 16 percent of its parts content, and the transmission is made in Japan. Only 43 percent of the Tiguan’s innards comes from Germany (and 1 percent from the US or Canada) before it’s assembled in Wolfsburg, Germany. That’s not unusual when you consider the global trend in automobile manufacturing today.
In the world of plenty, there are those that simply get passed over like so many cans of soup on the shelf. With just 10 fewer horses than the GTI and a $1,400 price drop, the R-Line Tiguan could be the SUV antidote to what everyone else is driving.
[You can find local deals on Volkswagens here].
2016 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line 4Motion
THE BASICS
Price: $31,540, as tested. Fuel economy, EPA estimated: 20/26. Drivetrain: 2.0, 16V, DOHC, 4-cylinder turbocharged, all-wheel-drive. Body: Two-row SUV.
THE SPECIFICS
Horsepower: 200@5,100 rpm. Torque: 207 lb.-ft. @1,700 rpm. Overall length: 174.5 in. Wheelbase: 102.5 in. Height: 67.1 in. Width: 71.2 in. Curb weight: 3,404 lbs. Ground clearance: 6.9 in.
THE GOOD
Peppy, tight turning radius, versatile interior, economy. THE BAD Turbo lag, premium unleaded fuel.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Dark horse compact SUV that’s repositioned itself to possibly be the GTI of the segment.
ALSO CONSIDER
Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Nissan Rogue, Jeep Cherokee, Chevy Equinox, Subaru Forester, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage.
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