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2010 Volkswagen Tiguan S FWD 4dr Man

2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
Trim Info:
Front Wheel Drive, 4 Door, 2WD sport Utility Vehicle
19 mpg city / 26 mpg hwy
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Expert Reviews

August 6, 2010 by Jon Alain Guzik



2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
2010 Volkswagen Tiguan

DriverSide Overview
Labeling your new sporty SUV “the GTI of compact SUVs" is quite bit of a risk for Volkswagen; after all, SUVs in the Tiguan’s price range don’t usually deliver a GTI-like performance level. But the Tiguan and GTI do share the same powerplant, so perhaps it’s an easy statement for the German automaker to stand behind. Surprisingly, it also has some merit to it. The Tiguan possesses a similar blend of practicality, fuel economy, reasonable pricing and engaging dynamics that the iconic GTI has long been known to have, albeit repackaged into a taller, more usable platform, which any Gen Y and X’er can appreciate. 


2010 Volkswagen Tiguan


2010 Volkswagen Tiguan


2010 Volkswagen Tiguan

What's to Like
Good fuel economy is paired with a fun and frugal turbocharged engine. Sporty dynamics and acceleration that seem to defy the Tiguan’s dimensions are always on tap, and a 2,200-pound towing capacity, along with ample interior room, make it a remarkably usable vehicle.

 

What's Not to Like

No TDI diesel engine, which offers dramatically increased fuel economy, will be available at launch or for the foreseeable future due to higher costs associated with diesel technology. The Tiguan carries an average base price above its mass-market Japanese competitors.

 

The Drive:

DriverSide Driving Impressions


With the front-wheel drive model weighing in at just over 3,400 lbs, the Tiguan is slim enough to shame most compact luxury sedans, not to mention SUVs. This low mass – it’s just 300 lbs heavier than a GTI – is easily accelerated down the road by the 2.0-liter TSI direct injection turbocharged four cylinder. The Tiguan has marvelous steering that is stiffly weighted and has outstanding response for an electromechanical system. The command seating position feels like that of a larger SUV and the seats themselves are comfortable for long hauls, though the leather seats don’t seem to be noticeably more comfortable than the cloth. The Tiguan’s ride quality isn’t GTI stiff and exhibits body roll in the turns, though not overly so. A 4-Motion all-wheel drive model is available, but unless you live in a truly trying climate, you’ll probably be fine with the front-wheel drive model, as the electronic stability control allows the front tires to sniff out ample grip, even in light snow.

 

Engine and Drivetrain
The Tiguan is powered by the same 2.0-liter TSI turbocharged four-cylinder engine found in the Volkswagen GTI, Passat and Eos, as well as the Audi A3 and A4 just to name a few. Power is transmitted to the front wheels via either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic with Tiptronic; unlike the GTI, no DSG dual-clutch auto is available. Optional 4-Motion all-wheel drive is available coupled to the six-speed auto, and the system uses a Halidex mechanical differential to split torque between the front and rear. The standard torque split is 90/10 front and rear, providing more compliant and predictable dynamics, though 100 percent of the torque can be sent rearward if needed.

 

Interesting Vehicle Features and Options
Three options packages are available for the Tiguan: S, SE and SEL. The S package, available only on front-wheel drive models, is relatively basic, adding 16-inch alloy wheels and a trailer hitch. The SE and SEL options add more robust, driver-friendly features such as a touch-screen navigation system with integrated hard drive, SD card reader and auxiliary input jack, as well as a backup camera and panoramic sunroof, which provides three times the exposure of a normal sunroof. 

 

Key Technology Evaluation

Hard drive-equipped Tiguans only use ten of their 30GB hard drives for navigation data, giving the driver the option of downloading music to the remaining 20GB via either the SD card reader or optical disc slot. The Tiguan also comes standard with ESP stability control, as do all Volkswagens, making the manufacturer one of the few in the world to offer ESP as standard on all models.

 

Green Evaluation/Gas Mileage
Not only does the Tiguan’s 2.0-liter TSI engine qualify for a ULEV-II emissions rating, but paired with the SUV’s relative light weight, it adds up to quality fuel economy numbers across all available drivetrains. The front-wheel drive manual transmission yields an estimated 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, while the automatic front- and all-wheel drive models drop marginally to 18 mpg city and 24 mpg highway.

 

A Closer Look:  Vehicle Details

Interior

Inside, the build quality of everything from the dash to the door panels is immediately apparent, and nothing feels budgeted or compromised. The controls follow a simple, utilitarian layout that doesn’t clutter up the dash or console. Adding a navigation system changes the dash layout, replacing the single-zone climate control knobs with sturdier dual-zone items and swapping the stereo deck for a nav screen. Rear legroom is ample even with six-foot-plus passengers in the front seats and abundant storage is on hand when needed, thanks to sliding, fold-flat rear seats.

 

Exterior
Mini-Touareg would be one way to describe the Tiguan’s appearance, as it clearly draws various styling cues such as hood and rooflines from its big brother. Overall the Tiguan’s dimensions hide its interior depth, especially towards the back where very small rear side windows give the illusion of a limited storage area; but don’t worry, there’s actually plenty of space.

 

Market Segment and Pricing

The Tiguan enters at the upper range of compact SUVs, with a base MSRP of $23,200 for the S model. SE models, which Volkswagen anticipates will make up the majority of sales, are priced at $27,750. The tricked-out SEL model will start at $31,550. While these prices exceed those of Volkswagen’s key targets, the Honda CR-V and, to a lesser scale the Toyota RAV4, they significantly undercut higher-end competitors such as Land Rover’s LR2 and Acura’s RDX.

 

What We Think
The Tiguan may be somewhat tardy entering the compact SUV fray, but it’s certainly not a case of too little, too late. It’s a competent vehicle that takes all of the segment’s most important traits – fuel economy, versatility and comfort – and pairs them with solid build quality, engineering and character. After spending some time with one, labeling it “the GTI of SUVs" doesn’t sound like too far-fetched of a concept after all.




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