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Spinning up quickly on boost, the Tiguan 2.0 TSI suffers only little turbo lag, and by as early as 1,700rpm has available its full complement of torque to muscularly under-write a build up to maximum power, which occurs just 100rpm after the peak torque band. Versatile and responsive in its broad mid-range, the Tiguan is a comfortable and confident driving car, and carries its self well on inclines and when overtaking. To make smooth and swift progress on winding roads, one is better off setting the smooth-shifting 6-speed automatic gearbox to its more sensitive sport setting or manually shift gear to keep revs up in the sweet spot.

Agile handling

Driving much more like a car than SUV, the Tiguan is smooth, comfortable and with good stability on the highway, while in town is compact and manoeuvrable. With a somewhat short wheel base and higher ride height, strong crosswinds at high speed can be slightly felt, while through corners the Tiguan's body is composed but leans more than its lower riding VW car siblings. High riding, the Tiguan can also handle provincial roads' many cracks and bumps with ease, but on highly choppy roads one will get jostled up and down slightly. A pleasant drive all things considered, the Tiguan also benefits from a quick ratio and light steering, which while precise could do with more road texture feedback.

Driving like a smaller car through corners, the Tiguan feels agile and willing through tight corners. With its front-biased weighing the Tiguan does under-steer if pushed a bit hard, to which its four-wheel-drive system sends more power rearwards while the stability controls then cut power. Through a tight corner taken slightly briskly, or on gravelly tracks -- as demonstrated during the initial 2008 launch event when it was driven on a grueling Jordan Rally stage -- this change between slight under-steer to a slight rear flick out can be fun to utilise to get around tight corners briskly.

Technical Specifications

Engine: 2-litre, transverse mounted, cast iron / aluminium turbocharged 4-cylinders

Bore x stroke: 82.5 x 92.8mm

Valve-train: 16-Valve, DOHC, variable intake timing

Gearbox: 6-speed auto, four-wheel-drive

Gear ratios: 1st 3.95:; 2nd 2.3:1; 3rd 1.55:1; 4th 1.16:1; 5th 0.86:1; 6th 0.69:1

Reverse / final drive ratios: 3.42:1 / 3.45:1

Power, BHP (kW): 200 (147) @ 5100rpm

Specific power: 100.8BHP/litre

Power-to-weight: 122.7BHP/ton

Torque lb/ft (Nm): 207 (280) @ 1700-5000rpm

Specific torque: 141.1Nm/litre

Torque-to-weight: 171.8Nm/ton

0-100 km/h: 8.5 seconds

Maximum speed: 207 km/h

Fuel consumption, combined: 9.9 litres / 100 km

Fuel capacity: 63.5-litres

Length: 4433mm

Width: 1809mm

Height: 1665mm

Wheelbase: 2604mm

Track, F/R: 1569 / 1571mm

Minimum ground clearance: 175mm

Kerb weight: 1629kg

Aerodynamic drag co-efficient: 0.37

Headroom, F/R: 992 / 991mm

Shoulder room, F/R: 1428 / 1397mm

Legroom, F/R: 1018 / 910mm

Luggage capacity, min / max: 470 / 1510-litres

Steering: Electric assistance, rack & pinion

Lock-to-lock: 2.7-turns

Turning circle: 12-meters

Suspension, F: MacPherson struts, anti-roll bar

Suspension, R: Multi-link, coil springs, dampers, anti-roll bar

Brakes, F/R: 312 x 25mm ventilated discs / 282 x 12.7mm discs

Tyres: 235/50R18