Category: Small Family 
Price Range: £19,295 to £26,225
VW image; compact size; manageable running costs; car-like driveability; reasonably practical.
Dull styling; expensive for what it is.
Pleasant, smart and accomplished, but not terribly exciting.
As with many Volkswagen models, the engines aren't the quietest, though the diesel has been improved, and the ride is firm. The cabin's well laid out, however, with supportive seats, well positioned controls and plenty of scope for adjustment of the steering wheel and driver's seat.
It's also roomy and spacious: rear legroom is good for a vehicle this size and there's up to 1,510 litres of load space with the rear seats folded flat. The rear seats split, slide and recline.
All models come with an electronic parking brake, electric windows, climate control, CD player and electrically adjustable heated door mirrors. The road-biased models are badged S, SE and Sport in the UK, and the more versatile model called Escape. There's the option to spec up the Tiguan to a high level - though this could take it beyond £30,000.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Volkswagen Tiguan
wrote on 31 01 2008