Volkswagen Tiguan SUV

Drive

Both two and four-wheel-drive versions of the Tiguan are available, and both are enjoyable to drive. Cars are comfortable, yet aren’t prone to the body roll in corners that some off-roaders suffer. The driver's seat and steering wheel are widely adjustable to suit nearly all shapes and sizes, and all the controls are light and user friendly. VW's 4MOTION four-wheel-drive system is a useful option, but unless you plan on going off-road, it's unnecessary and eats into fuel economy. There's even an Escape trim level, which has a more robust exterior for all-terrain driving. Of the five engines - two diesels and three petrols - the diesels offer the best balance of strong performance and good fuel economy. 

Comfort

Sport and R-Line versions have stiffer suspension, so they’re a little harsher over potholes, but all versions are comfortable on all types of road. The combination of a good driving position and an airy cabin make the Tiguan a great companion for long or short journeys. Wind, road, engine and tyre noise are kept mostly out of the cabin too, so it's quiet and relaxing. 

Reliability

The Tiguan is built on the tried and tested VW Golf chassis, and uses switchgear and electronic components from other Volkswagen models - including the Phaeton luxury car. Reliability shouldn’t prove an issue - and largely hasn’t so far, although some diesel versions were recalled in 2008 with a wiring problem. 

Practicality

The width of the Tiguan means it can accommodate a third rear passenger for shorter journeys, but it's really a four-seat car for longer distances. There's plenty of head and legroom front and back, and the rear bench slides back and forth to increase boot or passenger space where needed. A total load area of 1,510 litres with the rear seats folded puts the Tiguan into medium-sized estate territory, while the high boot floor and flat load lip make loading bulky items easy

Value for money

The Tiguan is priced on par with the Ford Kuga and is more expensive than mainstream crossovers like the Nissan Qashqai and Peugeot 3008. Yet there's a definite feeling that you’re getting what you pay for. Across the range, alloy wheels, air-conditioning, electric windows and lots of safety equipment are standard. A great image and frugal diesel engines mean the Tiguan will hold its value well - although the TSI petrol versions won’t be so good. 

Running costs

VW offers fixed-price servicing and all of the diesel engines should return more than 40mpg in day-to-day driving. In BlueMotion Technology guise, the most popular 138bhp 2.0 TDI choice offers 53.3mpg combined and only 139g/km of CO2. That commands just £110 in annual Road Tax.