Motor Mouth
Jeffrey Zygmont
December 20, 2008 11:46 pm 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan Vehicle type: Front- and all-wheel-drive, 4-door, 5-passenger, compact crossover utility vehicle Price range: $23,890 to $33,630 Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles basic warranty; 5 years/60,000 miles powertrain warranty; 12 years/unlimited miles corrosion warranty; 3 years/36,000 miles free scheduled maintenance; 4 years/50,000 miles roadside assistance Engine: 2.0-liter I4 Power: 200 horsepower at 5,100 rpm; 207 lb.-ft. torque at 1,700 rpm Base transmission: 6-speed automatic Fuel economy: 19 mpg city; 26 mpg highway Wheelbase: 102 inches Length: 174 inches Width: 71 inches Height: 66 inches Weight: 3,631 pounds Fuel capacity: 16.8 gallons Turning Circle: 39.4 feet If I'm totally honest, I have to begin my assessment of the 2009 Tiguan with the observation that the new little Volkswagen doesn't stand up well against crashing pine limbs. Tiguan is a spritely yet practical wagon that VW introduced in May with a starting price of $23,890. Seating five, accessible through four doors and a back hatch, available with either front drive or VW's 4Motion all-wheel drive, Tiguan presents an appealing package during winters here in the Merrimack Valley — especially the way this one is shaping up. That is, unless the Tiguan is parked too near to towering pines during a mid-December ice storm. To be honest, though, only a battle tank hardened against artillery blasts could have escaped damage in my driveway during the storm 10 days ago. One big knuckle, with multiple, ice-caked limbs attached, broke and fell from about 75 feet. It struck the left front quarter of the defenseless Tiguan. After that encounter, the car actually performed very well. I could still drive it, although the shattered windshield marred my view. Before that incident, the car performed much better. Tiguan is the sort of vehicle that fulfills my particular transportation wishes very well. Pertly and expressively styled without seeming ostentatious, Tiguan is small enough to maneuver with spirited precision. Its interior provides ample space for passengers and gear, without over-indulging you with extra room that remains unused 99.9 percent of the time (and wastes gas, by adding weight and wind resistance). Tiguan's 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine, turbocharged to 200 horsepower, provides ample and spirited propulsion. The car is not a racer, but it doesn't leave you begging for more oomph when you launch into traffic. At the same time, its 4Motion all-wheel-drive option — adding about $2,000 to the price of the SE and SEL trim levels — gives the vehicle the sort of moderate off-road capability that carries you handily to trail heads and creek sides. VW promotes the compact wagon as a crossover: a vehicle styled to be less than a full-blown SUV, but more than a standard passenger car. Crossovers ride higher than typical sedans and station wagons, increasing both ground clearance and occupant head room. They also offer all-wheel drive as an option for some of the foul-weather surety you get from a truck-like SUV. Crossovers are winning converts today because they deliver moderately better fuel economy than beefy sport utilities. Tiguan follows that pattern, returning attractive gas mileage for the service it performs. With a six-speed manual transmission (my preference), a front-drive model earns an EPA rating of 19 miles per gallon in city driving, 26 mpg on the highway. With a six-speed automatic (the only transmission available with 4Motion), fuel economy drops to 18 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, for both front and all-wheel-drive variants. At Commonwealth Motors in Lawrence — a VW dealer since September — about half of the drivers buying Tiguan take a front-drive version. They're typically upgrading from a sedan, opting for the crossover for its airier cabin, said Charles Daher Jr., sales manager. "They're used to front-wheel drive, and they know they get to 90 percent of the places they want to go," he explained. The other half, buying Tiguan equipped with 4Motion, are typically sport-utility owners who are downsizing to the more economical and maneuverable crossover. To them, all-wheel traction is a large part of a wagon's appeal, Daher said. Overall, he noted, people are drawn by the small wagon's deceptively spacious interior. When you sit inside, Tiguan seems larger than its compact body suggests from the outside. Its cabin compares well with the insides of the popular Honda CR-V crossover, Daher said. People also like the sportier, more engaging road manners that Tiguan exhibits. "As with all Volkswagens, it's a tighter, firmer ride. You can't really get that on another small SUV unless you go to a BMW or another model that's more expensive," Daher said. Another alluring feature is the big glass sun roof that runs edge to edge over both the front and back seats. Not every Tiguan has it, and the power sliding skylight costs an extra $1,300. But Daher said that models equipped with the option sell fastest. I can see why. When my 4-year-old grandson John asked me to open the sunroof, at first I thought he was crazy. It was days before the tree-limb incident, but still, it was December. Then I realized that he only wanted me to retract the white shade that nested beneath the glass — a necessary feature on sunnier days. Both John and I laughed spontaneously as the shade rolled out of view, revealing the big expanse of sky above Tiguan's panoramic roof. It's the sort of frivolous feature that makes even everyday driving entertaining and adventuresome. Tiguan can contribute a lot more to on-road enjoyment. Standard equipment on every model includes an MP3-compatible audio system with eight speakers, cruise control, alloy wheels, flat-folding rear seats and front passenger seat, four disc brakes with antilock control, six air bags and electronic stability control. For an additional $1,900, Tiguan's navigation system comes with a 6.5-inch touchscreen that nestles as nicely into the dash as any installation I've seen, including the screens on luxury cars. The high-resolution panel doesn't overpower Tiguan's interior, like so many other screen systems do. Even better, the navigation system is comparatively easy to operate. That's another winning attribute that makes the new Tiguan stand out among compact crossovers. Even tree limbs can't resist it.
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