Tiger Upper-Crust
Volkswagens large, very large compact SUV, the Tiguan, has to fulfil the uphill task of satisfying a market which has been leaning even more toward the “Crossover” buzzword. In-fact, just about any car which does not look like a sedan could almost qualify as a Crossover these days. Slap on some plastic bits, use keywords like “Cross” or just simply place an “X” somewhere, jack the car up and inch, and you would likely attract a healthy number of consumers to your brand. The Tiguan on the other hand had stuck to its traditional formula of making an SUV, and more importantly, it does look the part.
Sitting higher than most traffic, you can immediately appreciate the Tiguan’s ride height, being able to spot traffic build up from a distance, allowing you to make adjustments to your journey.
Ride comfort is good, but a little on the firm side.
The 1.4 turbocharged 4 cylinder engine is a gem, producing a respectable 147bhp, and 250Nm of torque. Mated to a new 6 speed DSG transmission, and driving the front wheels.
Sound insulation is very good with this car, with very little exterior noise penetrating into the cabin. You do get some faint rumble from those 18” tyres though.
Whatever that means, for I am no Nature Boy… Wooo! Lug the cog-swopping stick South, and “Sports” mode kicks in. Revs go higher before gears change. While the century sprint is a relaxed 9.2 seconds, the Tiguan does feel alive in your hands.
As with many VWs which are now utilising the new MQB platform, we loved how rigid the Tiguan is, especially around the bends. There is a little bit of roll, due to the tall ride height, but the SUV is able to hold its line quite well, even when executing a series of directional changes.
The market is saturated with compact class SUVs and Crossovers at the moment. Going upmarket does make the VW stand out, but even with the more ‘affordable’ Comfortline trim, it does come across as more costly, and less well equipped than some of the competition.
The Tiguan is also available in the Highline option, which is equipped with Volkswagen’s impressive Active Cylinder Management (ACT), helping to reduce fuel consumption by letting the car run on just two cylinders when cruising.
But from the angle of how refined the car is, it is the driving pleasure that has won us over. For those who really want a true performer, there is the 2.0 with 4-Motion we tested earlier on. But for those who can appreciate a German engineered car that behaves well on the road, the 1.4 Tiguan is seriously worth consideration.
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