Volkswagen Tiguan S 1.4 TSI BlueMotion Technology 5dr Car Review - March 2012

Inside the cabin the layout is typically Volkswagen; logically laid-out and easy to use. There’s plenty of adjustment on the driver’s seat and steering wheel to make finding the perfect driving position easy. Forward visibility is good; however rear visibility is hampered by the thick rear pillars and small rear screen. You may want to consider the rear parking camera option.

The 1.4-litre TSI BlueMotion Technology petrol engine fitted in this 2WD model is surprisingly good – although it does lack some punch at times. It produces maximum power of 157bhp mid-range and 177lb-ft of torque. Top speed is 126mph and it will go from 0-62mph in a very respectable 8.9 seconds. Average fuel economy is a decent 42.2mpg and emissions aren’t too high at 156g/km for a car in this class.

The Tiguan is not really designed for off-road work, although there is a 4WD Escape version kitted out with under-body protection and shorter overhangs to make it easier to climb steep gradients. This 2WD Tiguan is very good to drive on the road though, with its firm suspension controlling body-roll well when cornering, and it has lots of grip too, so it feels sure-footed, making it a fun car to drive.

All the engines in the range are smooth and quiet, and road and suspension noise are barely audible inside the cabin which makes long distance travelling relaxing. There’s some wind noise at cruising speeds, but it’s not intrusive.

The Tiguan looks smart and stylish from the outside, and with its well designed, upmarket interior it’s an attractive car all round.

The S trim is the entry-level and comes with all the basic equipment such as power steering, central locking, alloy wheels, air conditioning, electric door mirrors, electric windows, alarm, immobiliser and CD+MP3 connectivity.

Also available from VW as options are climate control £510, metallic paint £495, cruise control £235, rear parking sensor £505, leather seats £2,310, Bluetooth £535 and satellite navigation £795.

The Tiguan is roomy and comfortable for four adults, and five on occasions. Sliding rear seats add flexibility for seating positions; however, sliding them right back restricts the available boot space. The boot provides a good 470-litres of useable space with the rear seats in their normal position and this can be boosted to 1,510-litres for larger loads by folding the rear seats down.

EuroNCAP awarded the Tiguan its maximum rating of five-stars for safety in its crash-tests. The Tiguan rated five-stars for adult occupant safety, four-stars for child occupant safety and two-stars for pedestrian safety. Standard safety equipment fitted in the Tiguan S 1.4 TSI includes six airbags, emergency brake assist and stability control.

Anti-theft measures include deadlocks, an alarm and immobiliser.

The Tiguan is superbly built throughout. Quality materials are used for the interior, and cabin trim and finish are of a very high standard. Most of the mechanicals are well tried and tested so there should be no surprises in terms of reliability.

VW covers the Tiguan with its three-year 60,000 mile warranty.

The Tiguan S 1.4 TSI BlueMotion is competitively priced at £21,085 compared to the Nissan X-Trail and Honda CR-V and you should be able to get a good discount from main dealers. Excellent build quality, a quality interior and a good equipment level mean it’s good value for money.

Running costs are lower than average for its class – being a 2WD version. Insurance is in group 18 and Road Tax is in VED band G thanks to its low emissions.

Residual values are among the best in its class and much better than a lot of its Japanese rivals, although some may be cheaper to buy new.