2010 Volkswagen Tiguan Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

by the zzdcar Experts

　　

What’s new

　　For 2010, the VW Tiguan gains standard Bluetooth for the SE and SEL trim levels. A new Wolfsburg Edition also debuts.

　　

zzdcar says

　　The 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan trades some practicality for a top-notch cabin and European driving manners. It's a different flavor in a vanilla class.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$213/mo  for Tiguan S

　　Tiguan S

　　S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $23,200 MSRPS 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $24,300 MSRPS 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $26,250 MSRPSE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $27,405 MSRPSE 4dr SUV w/Leather (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $28,765 MSRPWolfsburg Edition 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $27,750 MSRPSE 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A) (Most Popular) - $29,355 MSRPWolfsburg Edition 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $29,700 MSRPSE 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD w/Leather (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $30,715 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $31,550 MSRPSEL 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $33,500 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　

Vehicle overview

　　The name Tiguan comes from a mash-up of the words "tiger" and "iguana." No, we're not joking, and no, we're not sure if they're pumping something funky into the air supply of VW HQ. Why not the VW Giraffaroo or the VW Turtlephant?

　　So the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan's name is pretty different, but in a way it's rather fitting. While other compact crossovers put an emphasis on family-friendly utility, this VW is known for its impressive build quality, high-end interior and sophisticated road manners. The only small crossover from a European automaker, it's certainly a step up from something like a Honda CR-V, though it's still not as luxurious as a full-bred luxury crossover like the Audi Q5.

　　The Tiguan's appeal starts with its exterior, which draws inspiration from both the bigger Touareg SUV and the compact Golf hatchback. Its curvaceous lines are subdued, but the Tiguan won't be confused for anything else. The same can be said for its high-class interior, which boasts best-in-class materials and simple controls. Unfortunately, this comes at the expense of passenger and cargo space. Indeed, the Tiguan is one of the most compact of compact crossovers. Its sliding rear seats help expand space for the cargo area or the backseat, but in general, if you're planning on lots of long-distance family vacations or frequent trips to Ikea, the Tiguan is probably not the best choice.

　　In the end, the 2010 VW Tiguan's appeal will depend on what your requirements are for a compact crossover and whether you think its higher quality is worth the higher MSRP. Those in need of more space will find the Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4 better choices. If the Tiguan's size is just fine, you may find that the Nissan Rogue or VW's own Jetta SportWagen can meet your needs at a lower price. But then, none of those rivals are weirdly named after a pair of unrelated animals, are they?

　　

Performance & mpg

　　Every VW Tiguan is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 that produces 200 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque. All trims come standard with front-wheel drive, while 4Motion all-wheel drive is optional on the SE and SEL. The S and Wolfsburg Edition get a standard six-speed manual transmission, while a six-speed automatic is optional on them and standard on the SE and SEL.

　　In performance testing, an all-wheel-drive SEL went from zero to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds -- midpack performance. Its EPA-estimated fuel economy is again midpack at 18 mpg city/24 highway and 21 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and the automatic, while the S trim's standard manual raises those numbers to 19/26/21. With all-wheel drive, the Tiguan returns 18/24/20.

　　

Safety

　　Standard equipment on the Tiguan includes antilock disc brakes, traction and stability control, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags. Rear-seat side airbags are optional.

　　In zzdcar brake testing, the Tiguan 4Motion came to a stop from 60 mph in 126 feet -- an average performance. In government crash testing, the 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan was awarded a perfect five stars in all front and side crash categories. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Tiguan its best rating of "Good" in its frontal-offset, side and roof-strength tests.

　　

Driving

　　Its 0-60 acceleration time many not be that impressive, but with a torquey power delivery, the Tiguan's turbo inline-4 feels spirited around town and when passing on the freeway. In corners, the Tiguan's body remains poised. Most compact SUVs tend to skate over rough surfaces, but the Tiguan remains firmly planted while tracking steadily. To add an extra measure of durability for rough road use, there's high-strength steel in the frame plus heavy-duty dampers.

　　The 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan's electromechanically assisted steering does a decent job of imitating a traditional hydraulic setup. The steering effort starts light and builds to a moderate amount that won't tax even the skinniest of arms as speed increases. There's not much effort needed for the brake pedal either, as it delivers plenty of stopping power with a modest push.

　　

Interior

　　In keeping with Volkswagen's reputation for upscale cabins, the interior of the Tiguan boasts high-quality materials and tight-as-a-drum build quality. Real aluminum -- not silver-colored plastic -- enhances the premium feel. Most controls are large and well placed, and the available navigation system boasts a large screen and a simple interface.

　　Firm, well-shaped seats offer proper support, whether logging miles on the interstate or slicing through a twisty two-laner. The reclining rear seat offers a 60/40-split design as well as a pass-through in the middle, which allows the Tiguan to carry long items and four passengers at the same time. The rear seat also slides fore and aft to improve either rear legroom or cargo space.

　　With all the seats in use, the Tiguan offers a maximum of 16.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity, about the same as a large family sedan's trunk. With the second row folded down, maximum capacity measures 56.1 cubic feet, about 17 cubes shy of class leaders such as the CR-V and RAV4.

　　

2010 Volkswagen Tiguan models

　　The 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan is a compact crossover SUV available in S, SE, Wolfsburg Edition and SEL trim levels. Standard equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels, full power accessories, air-conditioning, cruise control, keyless entry, eight-way manually adjustable front seats, and an eight-speaker stereo with a CD player.

　　The SE adds 17-inch wheels, foglights, heated washer nozzles, a power driver seat, heated front seats, upgraded cloth upholstery, a multifunction steering wheel, a trip computer, Bluetooth and an upgraded stereo with a six-CD/MP3 changer and auxiliary audio jack. Leather upholstery, an upgraded power driver seat and driver memory functions can be packaged together on the SE. The Wolfsburg Edition adds unique 17-inch alloy wheels, special badges and leatherette vinyl upholstery.

　　The SEL starts as an SE with the Leather package and adds 18-inch wheels, automatic bi-xenon headlights, automatic wipers, an auto-dimming mirror, dual-zone automatic climate control and a premium Dynaudio stereo.

　　Options include a panoramic sunroof, rear-seat side airbags and a hard-drive-based navigation system that includes a rearview camera and digital music storage.

　　

2010 Tiguan Highlights

Trim: SS 4MotionSEWolfsburg EditionSE 4MotionWolfsburg Edition 4MotionSE 4MOTIONSELSEL 4MotionS

　　

Base MSRP	$23,200
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	21 MPG
Cost to Drive	$213/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	23.8 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles