There's
a gray area between mainstream crossover SUVs and luxury models and that's
where the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan resides -- a niche where economy and utility
collide with upscale appointments and badge recognition. The big question is,
can a vehicle be both mainstream and luxury? The short answer is a waffling,
"maybe."
Tiguan Car |
The
VW Tiguan's interior is a welcome departure from the plastic-trimmed cabin of
the typical compact crossover. The quality of materials in this VW approaches
that of premium brands like Audi, while the solid construction of this VW's
interior eclipses that of its competition in the segment. Even the Tiguan's
road manners achieve a certain level of sophistication. Compared to its rivals,
the Tiguan is, in a single word, European.
The Bass Forever |
The
Tiguan's styling cues place it somewhere between the larger VW Touareg SUV and
smaller VW Golf hatchback. The Tiguan's look has been updated ever so slightly
for 2011, notably with a new grille. Other than this, the only substantive
change for 2011 is the elimination of the Wolfsburg Edition trim level. All
this suits us just fine, as the mix of European charm and engaging driving
dynamics is what sets the Tiguan apart from the rest of the compact crossovers,
not simply its styling.
At
the same time, the 2011 VW Tiguan comes up slightly short in terms of space and
utility. The Tiguan's passenger space is decidedly smaller, and luggage
capacity behind the rear seat is substantially less than that of the Honda CR-V
and Toyota RAV4. Even when the rear seat is folded down, the VW's maximum cargo
space still comes up about 25 percent shy of its bigger Japanese competitors.
Buyers who place a premium on pure utility would probably be better served by
something else.
Buyers
whose priorities are weighted toward quality and refinement, however, will find
the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan a compelling proposition. Of course, even the
Tiguan's mix of style and refinement now has been embraced by some of its
competition, notably the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage. The VW still has an
edge when it comes to interior quality, but we think it best to check out all
of the alternatives before saying "maybe" to the 2011 Volkswagen
Tiguan.
The
Tiguan has the straightforward, versatile, and comfortable interior that
compact crossover shoppers look for. Sporty and supportive seats give good
comfort and an excellent driving position in front, and the flexible interior
package includes second-row split bench seats designed to slide and tilt. Even
larger adults will be very comfortable in the front seats, thanks to generous
headroom, shoulder room, and legroom, and the back seats are ample for adults. The
cargo compartment has a small hidden storage bin underneath the load floor, and
with the 60/40-split back seats folded there's 56 cubic feet of expanded cargo
space. A twin glove box up front adds convenience, and there are numerous other
cubbies.
Overall,
the Tiguan has a very refined, high-quality feel inside. Fit and finish and
build quality in the Tiguan are top-notch, and while there's a little wind
noise on the highway, the Tiguan's cabin is well isolated from road and engine
noise.
The
Tiguan looks like a smaller version of VW's Touareg midsize SUV until you step
around back, where it looks like the rear end of a Golf compact hatchback.
Unlike the Touareg line, which is exceptionally heavy — to the detriment of
performance and gas mileage — the Tiguan's weight is more in line with its
car-based competitors.
Exterior
features include:
Standard 16-inch wheels
Available 17- and 18-inch wheels
Standard wheel locks
Standard rear spoiler
Standard chrome grille and exhaust tip
The
2011 Volkswagen Tiguan is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 that
produces 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. All trim levels come
standard with front-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive is optional on the SE
and SEL. A six-speed manual is standard on the Tiguan S, while a six-speed
automatic is optional on the S and standard on the SE and SEL.
In
Edmunds performance testing, an all-wheel-drive SEL accelerated from a
standstill to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds, which is about average for other
crossovers in this class. Its EPA-estimated fuel economy is again average at 20
mpg city/25 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined for both the front- and
all-wheel-drive models with the automatic, while the S trim's standard manual
is essentially the same at 19/26/22.
With
the Tiguan, Volkswagen keeps to its commitment to safety features and top-notch
occupant protection. Standard features include front side airbags, side-curtain
bags, and stability control, while rear side thorax airbags—not often available
in this class—are an option.
On all-wheel-drive versions, hill descent control
is also included, to help control speed on steep slopes. Safety results have
been excellent.reference:www.cars.com,www.thecarconnection.com,www.edmunds.com