The life of a Volkswagen designer must be a curious existence. While other brands parade a plethora of exotic styles, VW dishes up cars that differ little from generation to generation, or from model to model. The new 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan, for example, is a near facsimile of the larger Touareg and has evolved only slightly from the 2007 original. Right now, the VW design studio is not exactly a hotbed of creativity.
Nor, if we're honest, is the engineering division. It's all as cozily familiar as the 10th season of Friends, which is just the way VW's customers like it. More than 700,000 Tiguans have been built and VW reckons the current car has enjoyed the most successful run-out in the company's history. Volkswagen's customers know what they like and like what they know, so why fix what isn't broken?
The Outside
The nose of the Tiguan has been brought in line with VW's new design language. Pinched from the Touareg, the new grille boasts two horizontal chrome louvers and is framed by the headlights. Choose the optional bi-xenon lamps and the nose is further distinguished by 14 LEDs that serve as daytime running lights. At the rear, the taillights contain an L-shaped illuminated portion common to all new Volkswagens. There are new alloy wheels, too, but that's about it. Viewed in isolation, the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan could easily be mistaken for a Touareg, which may not please those who've spent upward of $44K on the larger SUV.
In Europe, VW offers both on- and off-road versions. The latter has a different chin, which gives it an improved approach angle. The off-road car has a 28-degree angle of approach versus 18 degrees for its on-road-focused sister. For the U.S. market, though, Volkswagen will continue to offer only the "on-road" version.
The Inside
The cabin is classic Volkswagen. It's nicely built using high-quality materials, and everything is sensibly arranged, but it's a bit dull. This is a car designed for a utilitarian purpose that imparts a quiet sense of satisfaction. A brace of 6-footers can sit in tandem without difficulty and the rear seat can be reclined by up to 23 degrees, which is a nice touch. The cargo area is a good size, too, ranging from 16.6 cubic feet to 53.3, and, by folding the passenger seat flat, you can accommodate loads up to 8 feet 2 inches long.
For a family-oriented SUV, the Tiguan offers a good compromise of comfort and control.
The Tiguan has always had a fine reputation for safety. It earned five-star ratings in both front and side crash tests and received four stars in rollover testing, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Drive
Henry Ford would have been proud of the Tiguan's engine philosophy. You can have any engine you like as long as it's the 2.0-liter turbo. The excellent turbodiesels that dominate the European market are unlikely to be offered in the U.S., at least until the all-new Tiguan, which is due around 2015.
The familiar direct-injection 1,984cc turbo offers a modest power hike over the outgoing model. It now produces 207 horsepower (up from 200) between 5,300 and 6,200 rpm. Peak torque of 206 pound-feet is available from 1,700-5,200 rpm. VW claims zero to 62 mph in 7.8 seconds for the six-speed manual, or 7.3 seconds for the seven-speed DSG double-clutch automatic. The latter replaces the torque-converter auto found in the original Tiguan.
In Europe, this model is only available with 4Motion permanent four-wheel drive, but in the U.S. VW is likely to persist with offering both two- and four-wheel-drive options. The latter normally apportions 90 percent of the propulsive force to the front axle in the interests of fuel economy, but it can send almost 100 percent to the rear. All our test vehicles were equipped with this system.
The independent front suspension combines wishbone-type control arms with MacPherson struts mounted on an aluminum subframe, while the independent rear suspension features a four-link setup on a steel subframe. Like so much of this car, the handling should best be described as competent. Anyone expecting a jacked-up GTI will be disappointed, but body roll is well contained and as you'd expect with four-wheel drive, there's no shortage of grip. Likewise, the electromechanical steering is not full of feedback, but it's well-weighted and reassuringly precise for an SUV.
The ride, at least on our well-surfaced German test roads, was both supple and free of float. For a family-oriented SUV, the Tiguan offers a good compromise of comfort and control.
Final Thoughts
The prices are likely to continue unchanged from the old model, so expect an entry sticker of around $24,000. Those parting with this sum will receive a thoroughly capable machine, and anyone wishing to downsize from a larger SUV will be able to do so without feeling the pinch. There is nothing about the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan that's truly exceptional, but it is also hard to criticize and goes about its business with minimal fuss.
It is, in other words, a classic Volkswagen.
Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.
Price and Build Your Own 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan at Edmunds.com
Add A Comment »
venus537 says:
08:03 PM, 07/12/2011
The biggest change to the new Tiguan is the improved gas mileage thanks to the new DSG transmission. Expect an EPA rating of 29 MPG on the highway for the 2012 models with 4WD. Funny how Alistair overlooks what Volkswagen will be marketing the most for the 2012 models.
venus537 says:
07:51 PM, 07/12/2011
Um, even the base model with 4WD comes nicely equipped for well under $30k. So much for the comment that it's $5k more than a CRV or the comment that air in the tire puts it at $30k.
The Tiguan rides/handles better than any better of its competitors. Its interior quality is much better than its competitors. The turbo engine either matches or bests its competitors' V6 engines with the excellent DSG transmission.
If you don't put a high priority on these attributes then get an Equinox or CRV.
The dynamics of the Tiguan compares more closely with a premium SUV and admittedly a well equipped one has the price to prove it but if you settle for the base model it's a great value.
I'm not sure why the reviewer even bothering attending this sponsored event as the review could have been written by copying and pasting from Volkswagen's press release. This is something we can all probably agree on. Just pathetic journalism.
contheon says:
03:33 PM, 07/12/2011
So, 4 people going on vacation are better off in a sedan with a truck and a gas tank with range, like the Sonata.
The cargo space with the rear seat in use and minimal gas tank make these small SUVs nothing more than a commuter car with all wheel drive. The larger SUVs are now designed to attract the mini van crowd. The marketing geniuses have ruined the segment.
bricknord says:
02:34 PM, 07/12/2011
18/26 with manual and 2wd? Weak.
offset_98 says:
07:53 PM, 07/05/2011
Bring me the 2.0 TDI and I'll trade my wife's ride in for one.
noobnox says:
06:33 AM, 07/04/2011
When I was shopping for a small SUV a while back, I wanted to make sure I experienced a wide selection of the competition so the Tiguan was on my test drive list along with the CRV, Rav4, Nissan Murano, Hyundai Tucson and Chevy Equinox/Terrain. The Tiguan felt like it handled slightly better than some of the others and the fit/finish compared well...but I just didn't feel that it was the best overall for the price. I ended up getting a Chevy Equinox LTZ (my first domestic in a long long time) and still to this day feel like I made the right choice. Bottom line is that the Tiguan felt like a slightly larger, higher riding Golf...which it basically is.
threxx says:
09:44 PM, 07/03/2011
Funny that you guys are talking about lack-luster dealer networks and service on the VW. I got a new Audi A4 around 5 years ago and was amazed at how run down the dealership seemed and how bare bones the service was. They tried to keep the Audi (and Porsche/Bentley... yes, this dealership sold them too!) customers separate from the VW customers to give people the feeling that they were getting some sort of preferred service, but really all it was, was a desk 20 feet away from the VW desk sitting out off to the side of the same run down show room.
Loaner cars were given out by enterprise rental car and were always base model VW Jettas. And the service adviser seemed pretty eager to call anything wrong with the car 'normal' including a driver's seat that sounded like nails on a chalkboard every time I accelerated or stopped. I was told "It's normal for cars to make some weird noises"
The local Hyundai dealer was twice as nice overall and let's not even talk about BMW, Acura or Lexus. It'd be like comparing a 5 star world class resort to the Super 8 Motel.
wjtinatl says:
07:29 PM, 07/03/2011
beermagazine hit the nail; my VW's have been fine on their own, not perfect, but worth the niggling issues for the better drive. However... their dealer network leaves much to be desired. Perhaps it's the lack of competition, or poor corporate support; I don't know. But in Atlanta, compared with my Ford, GM, even Chrysler dealer experiences, VW's was the worst. Pull in for an oil change... "do you have an appointment"? The issue I see with VW in America is they want the volume of a "mainstream" brand; but don't want to make the commitment yo the customer that got the others to the scale they are at. I love the CC (except the no sliding sunroof) but no way I'll spend 35k on one given what I've experienced with their dealer network.
b_boy_007 says:
08:13 AM, 07/03/2011
Would be just about perfect if it had more cargo space. The rear is too truncated.
vovak says:
10:38 PM, 07/02/2011
It is a beautiful car, but it is about 5K more than CR-V or RAV4 or Forester. Personally, I can't justify spending this kind of extra on something that I like a bit more. I have a family to think about now.