Volkswagen Tiguan

Smartly styled, with plenty of space and a wide range of refined engines, the VW Tiguan is a popular small SUV that won't break the bank

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Rating:
Latest deal price: from £18,537 to £25,415
For : Strong engines, comfortable ride, classy interior
Against : Rivals are better equipped, bland styling, limited off-road ability

The VW Tiguan is one of the best all-round crossovers on the market. With a wide variety of engines, plenty of interior space and a polished chassis, it's hard to fault. The design is smart rather than stylish, and the VW doesn't come as well-equipped as cheaper rivals like the Kia Sportage and Skoda Yeti, but it oozes quality inside and out. Two and four-wheel-drive versions are available, and its tall ride height, protective plastic bumpers and grippy off-road tyres mean it's capable of dealing with the worst the countryside can throw at it. BlueMotion technology versions use start-stop and regenerative braking to save fuel too.

Our pick: Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDI 140 SE BlueMotion Tech 4MOTION

Video: watch CarBuyer's video review of the VW Tiguan

Styling

The Volkswagen Tiguan is a smart, understated choice that will sit smartly on any drive – although it doesn't stand out as much as rivals like the Range Rover Evoque or Skoda Yeti. All versions come with alloy wheels and plastic scuff guards as standard. Base-spec S models do without the attractive chrome trim on the windows and roof rails. Inside, the cabin is very well built, the trademark twinned air-vents add a unique touch and the materials used are all reassuringly solid. SE models upwards are well equipped, but entry-level cars can feel a little spartan inside, with features like Bluetooth and cruise control expensive cost options.

Driving and Performance

The Tiguan feels more comfortable on-road than off it, but Escape models do come with a higher front bumper and hill descent control to offer better traction in challenging terrain. The wide range of petrol and diesel engines are all refined and pull smoothly, and the diesels are particularly hushed. Despite its size, all the major controls are light, making it easy to drive, and the high driving position gives excellent all round visibility. Sport models have quite a firm ride - a trade off for the excellent handling - but variants on smaller wheels are more comfortable, making them excellent cruisers.

MPG and running costs

Both petrol and diesel versions can be specified in BlueMotion technology trim, which adds automatic start-stop, regenerative braking and longer gearing to improve fuel economy and emissions. The greenest car in the line-up is the 109bhp 2.0-litre diesel, which returns 53.3mpg and emits 139g/km of CO2. As you'd expect, four-wheel-drive and automatic versions are heavier polluters, with the 210bhp 2.0-litre TSI 4Motion petrol returning just 32.8mpg and emitting 199g/km. Most of the engine options strike a good balance between performance and economy, although rivals like the Skoda Yeti are cleaner.

Practicality

The Tiguan is very spacious considering its size, with a 470-litre boot capacity which can be increased by using the sliding rear seats to adjust the luggage area or passenger space as needed. This increases to 1510-litres with the rear seats folded flat - an operation that can be done with just one hand. The high loading lip does make lifting heavier items tricky, but the Tiguan is very flexible, and can easily carry five adult passengers in comfort, with generous amounts of head and legroom and space for three on the rear bench.

Safety and reliability

The Tiguan was awarded a maximum five stars in crash tests by Euro NCAP, scoring highly in all areas including adult and child protection. It comes with six airbags, electronic brake assist and traction control as standard across the range. Reliability should be good and the interior feels extremely well put together. All the mechanicals are tried and tested on other VW models, and no major issues have been reported either.

For an alternative review of the latest Volkswagen Tiguan visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk