Launched in 2008, the Volkswagen Tiguan has carved out a valuable position for itself in the high-end crossover niche. Its success is no doubt based on the fact that the Tiguan bridges the gap between two types of utility vehicles: those designed for the general public and those described as luxury or premium models.
A range that truly “crosses over”
The price bracket of the three Tiguan variants featured in the 2010 Canadian catalogue illustrates this well. Offered for less than $30,000 the two-wheel-drive base Trendline model is pitted against stripped down versions of popular utes like the RAV4, CR-V and Forester. It’s also less expensive that some of their swankier variants, like the CR-V EX, RAV4 Sport V6 and Forester 2.5XT Limited, among others.
At the other end of the spectrum sits the Tiguan Highline 4Motion, which we tested. This model commands a starting price of around $40,000 that, with its long list of equipment, gives it a distinct advantage over the luxury-minded competition such as the Mazda CX-7 GT, Nissan Murano SL and Ford Edge Limited, as well as prestige-minded ones like the BMW X3 and Acura RDX .
But the best part is, the Tiguan’s attractiveness isn’t just a question of pricing. The Touareg’s “little brother” targets a relatively well-off urban clientele (obviously) with competitive and appealing trappings.
The GTI’s engine
Basically, all Tiguan models are born equal, sharing the same 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged engine. This 200-hp powerplant also motivates other VW products, like the spirited GTI and the Passat.
In the case of the Highline model, the 4-cylinder engine dispatches power to the drive wheels by way of a 6-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission, renowned for the efficiency of its manual mode, activated via the shifter on the centre console. Volkswagen offers a 6-speed manual transmission, but for 2010 it’s only available on the base Trendline model.
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| Launched in 2008, the Volkswagen Tiguan has carved out a valuable position for itself in the high-end crossover niche. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
A range that truly “crosses over”
The price bracket of the three Tiguan variants featured in the 2010 Canadian catalogue illustrates this well. Offered for less than $30,000 the two-wheel-drive base Trendline model is pitted against stripped down versions of popular utes like the RAV4, CR-V and Forester. It’s also less expensive that some of their swankier variants, like the CR-V EX, RAV4 Sport V6 and Forester 2.5XT Limited, among others.
At the other end of the spectrum sits the Tiguan Highline 4Motion, which we tested. This model commands a starting price of around $40,000 that, with its long list of equipment, gives it a distinct advantage over the luxury-minded competition such as the Mazda CX-7 GT, Nissan Murano SL and Ford Edge Limited, as well as prestige-minded ones like the BMW X3 and Acura RDX .
But the best part is, the Tiguan’s attractiveness isn’t just a question of pricing. The Touareg’s “little brother” targets a relatively well-off urban clientele (obviously) with competitive and appealing trappings.
The GTI’s engine
Basically, all Tiguan models are born equal, sharing the same 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged engine. This 200-hp powerplant also motivates other VW products, like the spirited GTI and the Passat.
In the case of the Highline model, the 4-cylinder engine dispatches power to the drive wheels by way of a 6-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission, renowned for the efficiency of its manual mode, activated via the shifter on the centre console. Volkswagen offers a 6-speed manual transmission, but for 2010 it’s only available on the base Trendline model.
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| The Tiguan Highline is the only version whose list of standard equipment includes 4Motion all-wheel drive. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |