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What is it?
When it was introduced the Tiguan was probably considered a compact SUV, but it’d now be called a crossover, as really it has no place going off-road. In typically Volkswagen fashion it’s well executed, sharp - if rather conservative - in its looks, while the economy and emissions are among the best in the class. Forget any other engines you might have heard about elsewhere; here it’s 2.0-litre TDIs only, in 110hp or 150hp guises, the latter available with four-wheel drive.
What is it like?
A neat, spacious cabin and solid Volkswagen build appeal, as does that VW badge on the bonnet. The engine is Volkswagen’s proven 2.0-litre TDI unit, which offers plenty of low-rev urgency even in 110hp guise. Opting for the more powerful 150hp unit does nothing to change the €270 Band B1 tax category, unless you add four-wheel drive, but, really, you don’t need to. It’s a decent, if unremarkable drive, the steering light and visibility good, though the suspension can be a bit jiggly over poor road surfaces.
Carzone verdict: 3.5/5
If you really need four-wheel drive it’ll not cost you too much, just €10 more on tax annually, and a jump from 5.0 litres/100km to 5.3 litres/100km. Not as spacious as its newest rivals, nor as fun to drive as Ford’s Kuga, you pay for the Volkswagen badge, but for many it’s well worth it. Certainly it still feels a cut above rivals in build quality, but there are better value, and newer offerings elsewhere that are well worth considering before buying.