Volkswagen Tiguan

1. Exterior

The Volkswagen Tiguan was launched in 2008, but received a comprehensive facelift for 2011. Squarer headlights contribute to a bolder face which sits comfortably alongside the rest of the VW range. The rear lights have an intricate lamp arrangement, giving the Tiguan an identity at night. An off-road-focussed model, the Escape, is also offered with a sharply-angled lower bumper for improved ability to traverse ditches. All models are fitted with alloy wheels, but LED side lights, which are de rigueur for many new models aren’t fitted as standard.

2. Interior

Although the interior has been largely untouched since its 2008 launch, time has been kind to the design. It has an elegant feel and the quality of the assembly is first rate. The materials used in the cabin are generally very good, but the lower half of the dash feels a little low-rent by comparison with hard plastics which feel flimsy. It’s exceptionally easy to get a comfortable seating position, and the steering wheel adjusts up and down as well as for reach.

3. Practicality

The Tiguan is a spacious vehicle, with plenty of leg, head and shoulder room for four adults; the centre rear seat is best treated as an occasional seat, or one for children. The rear seats slide forward and back by up to 16cm, and the seat backs tilt through 23 degrees. The boot measures 470 litres, which is slightly more than the BMW X1 but less than the Range Rover Evoque. The seats fold flat, creating a useful flat floor to load large cargo. SE, Sport and Escape models have pull-out drawers under the front seats.

4. Ride and handling

Few mid-sized 4×4s offer as much fun on a twisty road as the Tiguan. The chassis allows the car to cut, rather than roll, through bends, and there’s a positive feel through the steering wheel that’s rare on a car with off-roading pretentions. The trade-off is a slightly firm ride, but it only becomes uncomfortable on the most rutted roads – the standard set-up is good enough to make the optional adaptive suspension, which offers Comfort and Sport modes, unnecessary. Models with 17-inch wheels have the best blend of looks and comfort, as 18 inch wheels transmit too much vibration into the cabin. Grip is good on two-wheel drive models, and the setup is more fun to drive, but VW’s 4MOTION four-wheel drive system adds confidence on icy, wet or muddy roads.

5. Performance

Volkswagen offers the Tiguan with a choice of three petrol and three diesel engines, although diesels will account for 90 per cent of sales thanks to reduced running costs. All three diesels are 2-litre units offering 110, 140 and 170bhp. The 110bhp version is only available with two-wheel drive and takes 11.9 seconds to reach 62mph and has a top speed of 109mph. The 140bhp unit is the biggest seller, and cuts the 0-62mph time to 10.8 seconds and grows the top speed to 116mph. The 170bhp diesel will hit 62mph in 8.9 seconds and reach 125mph. Both the 140 and 170bhp engines are available with two- and four-wheel drive, and are both smoother to drive than the 110bhp version. Petrol engines are all 1.4 with power ranging from 160 to 210bhp offering 0-62mph times of between 9.2 and 7.8 seconds.