Volkswagen Tiguan 2012

The name 'Tiguan' sounds queer and recalcitrant. One would probably prefer more orthodox names like CR-V or RAV4 and rightly so, because they do sound better and more composed than the crossover vehicle from Volkswagen. More so, the unusual name is not the only reason why one would not choose the Tiguan. As a matter of fact there are at least a couple of reasons not to. But there are also numerous reasons why you should consider the Tiguan, and with the trusted VW badge right in front of the vehicle, it does go without saying. This crossover is certainly one to consider for exquisite comfort, safety and balance in driving. Lets take a look at what it has to offer.

The 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan has very little changed from the original and subsequent models. And thats just fine, for the 2012 version does not disappoint on any of its strong suits. A smooth comfortable drive, well composed disposition in bends and corners, and off course suitable for the wonderful roads we have in these parts... its overall performance keeps up with the Volkswagen tradition of a well rounded vehicle. Its important to note here that there are a number of cons in the 2012 Tiguan's regard. Its trunk space cant hold a candle to the space in quite a number of its fellow crossovers. Its price also isn't exactly competitive when other small SUV's are considered. I suggest checking out Kia Sportage or the Hyundai Tucson. These are far cheaper options.

Interior
Anybody who knows anybody that has been in any Volkswagen, will tell you the interior is made with top end quality materials and the Tiguan is no different. Almost as good as you would get in an Audi, the interior of the Tiguan is simple but nothing close to basic. Will definitely appeal to the meticulous eye.

 

Comfortable seats, spacious legroom, and great craftsmanship making use of real metal trimmings! Great right? Controls on the center stack are rightly spaced with appropriate button sizes. I even prefer the center stack design on the Tiguan to that on the CR-V.  I must mention here that I found it farly difficult to connect my phone to the car's bluetooth system, wasn't straightforward as it should be.
The 60/40-split-folding rear seat has a cargo pass-through in the middle, so the Tiguan is adept at carrying cargo and passengers at the same time. The rear seat also slides forward and backwards to improve either rear legroom or cargo space, and also reclines. This feature is common among larger compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V, but rare among smaller ones like the Tiguan.

With the rear seats positioned as far forward as they'll go, the Tiguan can accommodate 23.8 cubic feet of cargo. With the second-row seat folded down, maximum capacity jumps to 56.1 cubic feet, although this is about 17 cubic feet shy of the space afforded by the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

Exterior
Being a go-between with the Golf and the Touareg, the 2012 Tiguan embodies looks from both of these vehicles from the German auto manufacturer. 'Conservative design' is what i would call the exterior of the Tiguan as is with most Volkswagen products. Compare with Kia Sportage or Hyundai Tucson and im preety sure you'll agree with me.

This in no way translates to not being appealing. As a matter of fact it does catch the eye when you see one on the road. The Contoured bonnet, nice front fascia,chrome lined side, and sturdy looking rear, they all work together to put the Tiguan in the list of CUV's to consider. What's more, you can't go wrong on looks with anything that has that VW badge on it.


Specs & Performance
The 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan is a compact crossover SUV offered in four trim levels: S, LE, SE and SEL.
The entry-level S version comes standard with 16-inch wheels (steel with manual transmission, alloy with automatic), heated mirrors, keyless entry, cruise control, air-conditioning, full power accessories, cloth upholstery, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, 40/20/40-split rear seats with reclining seatbacks, a trip computer, Bluetooth and an eight-speaker sound system with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack. A panoramic sunroof is optional and it brings with it tinted windows.
The LE adds deep tinted windows, premium leatherette vinyl upholstery, heated front seats and a USB port/iPod interface. The SE adds 18-inch alloy wheels, additional chrome exterior trim, roof rails, foglamps, heated washer nozzles, driver seat power recline and manual height adjustment, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and an upgraded sound system with a touchscreen interface and satellite radio. Optional is the panoramic sunroof bundled with a navigation system.
The SEL includes all of the above plus 19-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, LED daytime running lights, automatic wipers, keyless ignition/entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver seat with power lumbar adjustment and memory functions, leather upholstery and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The SEL can be equipped with an upgraded navigation system that includes a larger touchscreen and a rearview camera. To this, an eight-speaker Dynaudio premium sound system can be added.

I really love the performance of this vehicle which is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 200 hp and 207 pound-feet of torque which pulls the 3404 pounds around. The Cruise control is such joy to use and very esay to set up unlike in some vehicles I've been in. Fuel economy comes in at 22 mpg city/27 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined. All-wheel drive models come in at a respectable 21/27/23, while the front-wheel-drive base model with the manual gearbox brings up the rear at 18/26/21. Meanwhile, competitors like the 2013 Ford Escape can offer buyers a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 240 horsepower and up to 30 mpg highway. Nothing more needs to be said on this comparison right?

My Take
The 2012 Tiguan definitely doesn't disappoint as it is indeed from a company with a tradition of great performance. It however has to do better if it is to compete strongly with other CUV's in its class. Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and the domineering Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Ford Escape. These pose very stiff competition to the Tiguan and it will continue to struggle if it doesn't up the ante, and by a wide margin too. Having said this the Tiguan is such a cool and comfortable car to drive. You get the feeling that it won't stall on you through its service life. The turbo engine gives its acceleration a good kick and the 4-wheel drive option is comforting in sticky and bumpy situations (literally!).

 I like this car. I like this car a lot, but i have to say if you're planning on purchasing your first CUV, i advise you consider other options as well. Then again if you're an avid VW follower, snap one up pronto at the above average prices you would normally get any VW badged product!!

Summary
CAR TYPE: CUV
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed Shiftable Automatic
FUEL ECONOMY: (City/Highway) 22/27 mpg (varies widely with different options)
TOTAL SEATING: 5
HORSEPOWER: 200 hp @ 5100 rpm
TORQUE 207 ft-lbs. @ 1700 rpm
CYLINDERS:: Inline 4
FUEL TANK CAPACITY 16.8 gal
PRICE: Starting From N4.99m (4-wheel drive automatic transmission)

Autoakuko Rating: 3.5/5