2009 is the introductory year for Volkswagen’s tidy Tiguan crossover. I first drove this compact rig late last year at AJAC’s (Automobile Journalists Association of Canada) Test Fest in Niagara-on-the-Lake in Southern Ontario and came away impressed. This week’s road test enabled a closer examination of VW’s entry into the hotly contested market of economical crossovers.
VW placid design language pleases
You could be forgiven for mistaking the Tiguan for its larger Touareg sibling. Both these vehicles ascribe to a similar design theme that’s not intended to over-stimulate an audience, but that’s not a bad thing.
I find the clean, conventional lines of VW’s smaller crossover to be attractive from all angles yet sufficiently distinctive to stand on its own while exhibiting familial VW characteristics of late.
Moreover than what pleases outside is what’s pleases inside
My tester was graced with leather seating and all the bells and whistles that accompany its Highline nomenclature, giving its cabin a near premium level of class, sophistication and build quality.
Brushed metal inlays added to the upscale environment while smooth functioning switchgear and soft-touch materials imparted a sense of substance synonymous with more prestigious German manufacturers. Worthy of particular praise were the tremendously supportive, and ergo, comfortable front seats. Many-a-mile can be easily tolerated in these fine perches.
Rear seat legroom is impressive for a vehicle of this size. The 60/40-split rear seat can move fore-and-aft 4-inches to maximize legroom or cargo space depending on needs. My tester was fitted with Volkswagen’s optional panoramic sunroof, which added an open, airy feel to the cabin.
Potent 4-banger is polished
What struck me during my Test Fest experience with the Tiguan struck me again the moment I powered my way onto the main street outside VW’s Western Headquarters, and that is the polished performance of its lively 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.
This refined DOHC performer is capable of dispensing 200 horsepower @ 5,100 rpm but more importantly, as much as 207 pound-feet of torque can be instantly exploited at only 1,700 rpm. A six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission backs-up the transversely-mounted powerplant.
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| I find the clean, conventional lines of VW’s smaller crossover to be attractive from all angles. |
VW placid design language pleases
You could be forgiven for mistaking the Tiguan for its larger Touareg sibling. Both these vehicles ascribe to a similar design theme that’s not intended to over-stimulate an audience, but that’s not a bad thing.
I find the clean, conventional lines of VW’s smaller crossover to be attractive from all angles yet sufficiently distinctive to stand on its own while exhibiting familial VW characteristics of late.
Moreover than what pleases outside is what’s pleases inside
My tester was graced with leather seating and all the bells and whistles that accompany its Highline nomenclature, giving its cabin a near premium level of class, sophistication and build quality.
Brushed metal inlays added to the upscale environment while smooth functioning switchgear and soft-touch materials imparted a sense of substance synonymous with more prestigious German manufacturers. Worthy of particular praise were the tremendously supportive, and ergo, comfortable front seats. Many-a-mile can be easily tolerated in these fine perches.
Rear seat legroom is impressive for a vehicle of this size. The 60/40-split rear seat can move fore-and-aft 4-inches to maximize legroom or cargo space depending on needs. My tester was fitted with Volkswagen’s optional panoramic sunroof, which added an open, airy feel to the cabin.
Potent 4-banger is polished
What struck me during my Test Fest experience with the Tiguan struck me again the moment I powered my way onto the main street outside VW’s Western Headquarters, and that is the polished performance of its lively 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.
This refined DOHC performer is capable of dispensing 200 horsepower @ 5,100 rpm but more importantly, as much as 207 pound-feet of torque can be instantly exploited at only 1,700 rpm. A six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission backs-up the transversely-mounted powerplant.
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| This DOHC performer is capable of dispensing 200 horsepower @ 5,100 rpm and 207 pound-feet of torque. |