2010 Volkswagen Tiguan

Review

The 2010 Volkswagen auto reviews indicate that this compact SUV is, in road test after road test, comparable to the Honda CRV when it comes to fuel economy and functionality, while having specs that are more upscale and sporty.

Photos in the various car reviews of the Tiguan are sure to highlight some of the features that this SUV has that its competition does not, like the full, panoramic power-sliding sunroof or the optional manual transmission. What they may leave out is that the car pricing for this sporty SUV is significantly higher than the competition as well, but do you get what you pay for? Perhaps.

The name Tiguan is a mix of the words "tiger" and "iguana and the 200hp turbo-charged Tiguan certainly acts like a tiger in many places where power is needed. Volkswagen has added many nice exterior refinements to their SUV in order to give it pep, while not neglecting the looks or interior features that would keep you from taking a second look at it in overview.

Road tests of the Tiguan conducted by such automotive giants as Kelly Blue Book and J.D. Power agree that the Tiguan has much to offer in a smooth ride without giving up much of anything in terms of performance or car safety.

Performance Features

The Volkswagen Tiguan does not disappoint when it comes to being able to perform both on and off the road. Equipped with Volkswagen's "4Motion" technology, which provides stable handling that reacts quickly and effectively to changing situations the Tiguan is a capable SUV for any kind of SUV enthusiast. The 2.0 TSI Engine has 207 lbs-ft of torque – the highest in its class, so when you tell the Tiguan to go, it does not hesitate. The gearbox for those who opt for the manual transmission in the S model is considered sloppy so it is probably best to avoid it. Independent Suspension allows for a smoother ride and if you get the optional 4-wheel drive system the power is automatically increased to those wheels that need it.

Gas mileage on the Tiguan is only slightly impressive for an SUV, depending on options ranging from the mid teens for city driving to the mid or upper twenties for the highways. If you're looking to go "green", there are other SUVs that will outperform this one quite handily.

Exterior Features

All-season tires in standard 16, optional 17 or 18 inches and bi-Zenon headlights with AFS headlights, the Tiguan looks impressive from the outside. As you are driving, the built-in leveling feature of the optional headlights they turn as you turn. The SUV has dual exhaust tips, heated side-view mirrors that prevent fogging up, and laser seam welding which is seamless and helps create a more rigid body with less flex that allows for a safer ride. The panoramic power-sliding sunroof lets in four times the sunlight of the average sunroof and is an impressive upgrade over its competitions which only offer the standard, smaller sunroofs if they offer one at all.

The Tiguan boasts 7 inches of ground clearance, which is plenty for those on-road or off-road excursions while not being so high that moms will need a step-ladder to get into and out of the vehicle. Sleek, modern lines with the 2010 model keep this car contemporary and beautiful looking to passerby.

Interior Features

Volkswagen never skimps when it comes to the interior finish of their vehicles and the Tiguan is no exception. The premium VIII Radio touch screen sound system with eight speakers, MP3 connectivity, six-CD changer, SD-Memory card reader and AUX input including RNS-510 Navigation System is all controlled by a single touch screen delight. With a 30 gigabyte hard drive for storing your music files, you aren't likely to have to listen to the same song twice on any trip.

The Tiguan comes with an onboard trip computer that lets you control lots of things about your ride from time setting to interior lighting, tire pressure monitoring, mirror synchronization, exterior headlights and fuel consumption. All of these features for the interior add to an impressive length of options for customizing your Tiguan ride. Heated front seats are also standard on the SE and SEL models. The Tiguan is a little short on cargo space at 56.10 cubic feet after you fold down the rear row of seats. The rear row is adjustable so you can move them back for legroom or down for headroom.

Safety & Specifications

All Tiguans come equipped with front, side and side curtain airbags an anti-lock braking system, and the cars are crash-optimized front end designed to absorb the energy from a collision. The steering column will telescope in during an accident to reduce impact. The NHTSA Crash-test results give the Tiguan 5 out of 5 stars in every category. Rear side thorax airbags are optional.

Smaller safety features like "pinch protection" on the power windows are an added touch to the Tiguan's impressive safety measures. This SUV also boasts a tire pressure monitoring system, and Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) which helps drivers to avoid crashes by applying pressure to brakes based on the situation.

Tiguan Upgrade Options

The Tiguan comes in three trims: S, SE and SEL. The S comes with either six speed manual or automatic transmission, the manual being standard for the base price. S options include rear passenger side thorax airbag and 17" Los Angeles alloy wheels. The SE & SEL options include the airbags, 18" New York alloy wheels the navigation system and the power sliding panoramic sunroof, heated front seats and adaptive halogen headlights.

How the New Tiguan Compares to Other Compact SUVs

The base model front-wheel drive Tiguan has an MSRP of around $24,000 to start and you can expect the invoice stickers to reflect this. The SE trim of the Tiguan starts in the mid $26,000 price range, and the top of the line, SEL Tiguan has an MSRP of around $38,000 if it is fully loaded. This price range, even for the base S model Tiguan, far and away obliterates the pricing on other, comparable compact SUVs like the Honda CRV, Toyota RAV4 or the Hyundai Tucson. The Intellichoice 5 year cost of ownership is not flattering for the Tiguan either, placing its resale value below that of the CRV or RAV4 as well, though it is higher than the resale of the Saturn Vue of the Hyundai Tucson.

Conclusion

The Tiguan comes with three years of no-cost scheduled maintenance as part of its warranty, which helps to offset its higher price point, but overall it is still a somewhat specialized vehicle when it comes to cost and affordability. Its impressive list of safety features also help to keep down the price of car insurance as well. Make no mistake, the higher performance and upscale feel of the Tiguan compared to its competition gives it some guns to fight with and it is certainly an option that should be considered if you have a little extra room in your budget for increased power and style.