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By Autotropolis Editors
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Strengths: |
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Sporty handling; cargo space; safety features; |
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Changes: |
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The Tiguan is an all-new compact sport-utility vehicle that slots below the larger
Touareg as the second SUV in Volkswagen's lineup. Unlike the Touareg, which
emphasizes towing and off-road ability, the Tiguan is oriented mainly for passenger
and cargo duty on-road. The four-cylinder Tiguan is about the same length and width
as Volkswagen's compact Jetta sedan and competes in a class with the Honda CR-V
and Subaru Forester. |
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Value: |
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Volkswagen is positioning the Tiguan as a sportier alternative to other vehicles its
size, calling it the "GTI of sport-utility vehicles." Its turbocharged four-cylinder
engine produces more power than the base engines in other compact utility vehicles
while being more fuel-efficient than V-6-powered engines in its class. The Tiguan's
tall body allows a much more spacious interior than a compact car. Volkswagen is
including complimentary scheduled service for three years or 36,000 miles. |
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Overview: |
The Tiguan comes in three different trims-S, SE, and SEL-but they're all powered
by the same engine, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. It makes 200 horsepower
and 207 pound-feet of torque, and delivers its power through either a standard six-
speed manual on S models or a six-speed automatic on the S, SE and SEL.
With a four-wheel independent suspension and stabilizer bars front and back, the
suspension offers enough firmness for crisp handling-also thanks to the precise-
feeling electro-mechanical power steering-while also maintaining ride comfort and a
quiet interior. Front-wheel drive is standard, while 4Motion all-wheel drive is also
available on the SE and SEL.
Like most utility vehicles, the Tiguan has a very flexible, versatile interior design.
The
rear seats can slide fore and aft a total of six inches and they also recline to allow
occupants to fine-tune the amount of legroom and cargo space needed. The rear
seats fold flat to expand the cargo floor for larger items. Several storage bins
throughout provide space for smaller things.
The Tiguan includes front side airbags and side head-curtain bags for front and rear
occupants.
Electronic stability control is standard. Rear side thorax airbags are
available.
Many of the most popular comfort and convenience features-including air
conditioning, cruise control, and keyless entry-are standard across the model line.
Top-of-the-line SEL models add dual-zone Climatronic climate control, power front
seats, and leather upholstery.
The SEL also gets a powerful Dynaudio 300-watt,
eight-channel sound.
Standout options include a panorama sunroof that brings about 13 square feet of
glass, and a touch-screen navigation system with wide-screen display and available
real-time traffic data. Included with the navigation system is a 30-gigabyte hard-
drive system that not only stores map data but also functions as a jukebox for 20
gigabytes of audio files. An SD memory slot and iPod and USB interfaces are also
offered, and the sound system is DVD Audio compatible. |
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Average User Rating |
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Overall |
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9
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Styling |
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9
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Comfort |
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9
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Performance |
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8
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Value |
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9
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