Road Test : Volkswagen Tiguan 132TSI DSG

Review by Tristan Tancredi - 21 March 2012

The Volkswagen Tiguan prides itself on providing a distinguished, refined style with plenty of comfort and space.

It's true, the Tiguans European styled exterior is quite eye-catching and from afar it looks pretty spacious indeed. But hey, it really hasn't changed that much since its inception.

It's evolved to include better technologies and improved engine performance, yet it looks and feels quite similar to its predecessors.

With growing sales rates throughout Australia, VW is creating quite a respectable reputation, with the Tiguan included in such discussions.

The people at VW themselves can be quoted as saying that the Tiguan feels right at home in any conditions, no matter where you take it. Does this stand true? Is the Tiguan reliable on all surfaces and under any condition, let's take a closer look.

Drive: 4.5/5

In the typical Volkswagen way, driving the Tiguan is a pleasure.

Can we support VW's claim that no matter where you take it, the Tiguan feels right at home? In short, Yes.

From rain soaked Victorian city roads, to winding hill climbs and to dusty Country highways, the Tiguan never loses its greatest attribute, comfort.

No matter the terrain, the vehicle is entirely responsive to the driver and is always under extreme control. The suspension handles well, especially through tight cornering.

The seating position is high overlooking the tarmac ahead as you manouvre the SUV with delicate power steering. Comprising well positioned rear vision and side mirrors which cap off a great drive.

One slight hiccup, on the stone and rock ridden roads a far ways outside of Melbourne, the car does get a tad bumpy and shaky. The bumpiness does linger minorly on the smoother Victorian Roads, yet is bearable.

All in all however, the Tiguan drives as good as any SUV we have driven.

Engine: 4/5

The VW Tiguan comes with a host of Engine Variants. We were lucky enough to drive the 7 Speed 132TSI DSG.

The 2.0litre TSI engine provides 132 kW of power at 4300 RPM and 280 Nm of Torque at 1700 RPM. The figures suggest that the 132TSI has plenty of power to shift the SUV.

Behind the wheel and the figures translate to a strong on road performance with a time of 7.9 seconds for 0-100kph. A very respectable time for an SUV.

A fast time is due somewhat to the DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) that changes gears at a much faster rate than any other geared transmission, yet most of the other engine variants still clock in 0-100kph in under 10 seconds.

A combined fuel consumption for the Tiguan hovers around the 9L per 100km range. Not the best fuel conserver on the market.

Exterior: 4/5

The Tiguan is noticeably a Volkswagen. It's European style is classy, modern and solid.

The horizontal front grille design flows perfectly to accenuate the headlights which are positioned ever so neatly.  A front bumper frames the fog lights to round out a remarkable and typical Volkswagen look.

Alloy wheels keep the Tiguan rolling in a choice of 3 sizes. 16, 17 or 18" Alloys. The 16" Alloys come standard with the majority of the range, however 17" and 18" Alloys do bring to life the vehicle that little bit more, at an extra cost of course.

Competing against a myriad of mid sized, smaller SUVs, it is difficult for the VW Tiguan to stand out. It doesn't look as sporty or sexy as the Mitsubishi ASX, yet it holds its own due to its European Class and VW badge.

A few optional extras are available for the range, including a panoramic sunroof.

The Tiguan measures in at 4427mm long, 1809mm wide and 1686mm high.

Safety: 5/5

I shouldn't have to tell you that the VW Tiguan is a safe car considering it has had a 5 star safety rating every year since 2008.

The people at VW know how to make safe cars, and the Tiguan is no exception.

Six Airbags are fitted throughout the cabin including dual front, front side and full length curtain airbags to offer ultimate protection. Combined with the airbags is a well designed frame featuring crumple zones to absorb energy from an impact and limit damage to the cabin.

Standard with vehicles of the modern age, the Tiguan comes with Traction Control, utilising ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Program), EDL (Electronic Differential Lock) and ASR (Anti-Slip Regulation).

Interior: 4/5

"The Tiguan will keep you comfortable no matter where it takes you", this quote from VW stuck with me throughout the week of testing and I was adamant to prove it wrong.

Unfortunately for me, I couldn't, it truly is an extremely comfortable car. The front seats offer terrific lumbar support, you could honestly sit in those seats for days on end.

Earlier Tiguan models struggled to cope with a few booster seats in tow across the back seats, so we hoped the 2012 VW Tiguan would improve on this problem.

Unfortunately, it is still a bit tight for space with a car full of kids and luggage, yet it is bearable.

Foldable back seats and a foldable back centre console allows for that extra bit of space when heading on that once a year camping trip.

A host of options are available with the on screen display, (Multi-Function-Display) to assist the driver; these include, trip calulators and fuel consumption levels. Despite offering great assistance, the display sits between the tacho and the speedo and is quite small and somewhat cluttered.

A multi-functioned leather steering wheel provides neccessary and well positioned buttons for radio, bluetooth and cruise control.

All the common bits and pieces are available in the form of an entertainment system. This comprises of a Navigation system (optional), reversing camera (optional) and a media device interface for radio, ipod, bluetooth and AUX. Touchscreen Navigation systems aren't my cup of tea, perhaps subjective, yet I prefer the use of turning knobs (Audi, Volvo).

Overall: 4/5

Value for money is the key to the VW Tiguan, whilst not as luxurious as the Volvo XC60, it does come at a much cheaper cost.

The VW Tiguan is exceptionally safe, with a strong on road presence and offers supreme comfort. It sure does "keep you comfortable no matter where it takes you".

With a range of VW Tiguans available to suit different driving preferences and styles, test drive and discover for yourself why this enlarged Golf is a brilliant SUV.

* Prices are manufacturer list prices only, for the drive away price please contact your local authorised Volkswagen dealer.