Volkswagen Tiguan SE 2.0 TDI 4MOTION

Volkswagen recently unveiled a more powerful 2.0-litre TDI engine for the Tiguan. Can the baby off-roader cut it with the big boys? Daniel Powell reports

The compact SUV market is a crowded one and it seems that every manufacturer out there has a compact off-roader in its ranks. With the credit crunch biting hard, downsizing the family transport is becoming a temptation and it is here that the compact SUV market is looking to shine. Volkswagen launched its mini Touareg, the Tiguan, last year and the range has now been extended to include a 2.0-litre TDI engine capable of developing a maximum of 258 lb ft of torque. Putting a powerful engine into a compact 4×4 might sound like a silly thing to do when high running costs are hitting the larger SUV sales hard, but the new Volkswagen powerplant is smart. The engine may have 168bhp at its disposal but it will also produce 42.8mpg on the combined cycle. Couple this fuel economy with a CO² rating of 172g/km and the Volkswagen starts to become a genuine alternative to its bigger and more expensive rivals. What’s more, with its added horsepower, the Tiguan can accelerate from a standstill to 62mph in 8.9seconds and this is more than enough to worry Range Rover Sport TDV8 drivers. Inside the cabin, the Tiguan is spacious and well thought out. There is plenty of room for passengers both front and back, and the driving position is good, offering fine visibility. The interior feels well made and robust enough to survive life on or off the beaten track. Road noise is well hushed, and the cabin is comfortable with plenty of cubby holes and cup holders. Boot space is sufficient and the rear seats can be folded down to provide a load volume of up to 1,510 litres. However, it is on the road that the Tiguan shines, with the punchy 2.0-litre TDI engine fitted up front. Volkswagen’s 4MOTION system is included as standard and this directs 90 per cent of the power to the front wheels in normal everyday driving conditions, but can send nearly 100 per cent to the rear wheels when needed.

As a package the Tiguan doesn’t quite top the Freelander 2, and for many the baby Land Rover is the leader in this market. However, Volkswagen has got extremely close and produced a very good vehicle in the process. Its strong engine and robust interior would appeal to both SUV and MPV owners alike.

Drive Time

Fully Equipped

Honda CR-V 2.2 i-CTDi ES,

Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 GS,

Toyota RAV4 SR180 2.2 D-4D

Pros

Great fun to drive, punchy 2.0-litre engine and robust interior

Cons

Isn’t the cheapest on the market, bland looks