Volkswagen Tiguan S 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Technology 5dr Car Review - March 2012

This Volkswagen Tiguan’s ride is a little on the firm side and can lose its grip over uneven surfaces, but body roll is kept in check through corners with plenty of front end grip, so overall the Tiguan is an enjoyable car to drive. There’s very little in the way of road noise and wind noise is minimal which makes for refined cruising on motorways.

The driver’s seat and the steering can be adjusted so most drivers should be able to find a decent position. The dashboard is laid out intuitively and has easy to read instruments with the feel of being made from high quality materials. Forward visibility is good, but the small rear window and chunky pillars hamper the view rearwards making reversing difficult.

The 2.0 litre four cylinder turbocharged diesel engine produces maximum figures of 137 bhp at 4200 rpm and 236 lb-ft at 1750-2500 rpm, which is just about enough in a car of this size but because maximum torque is available so low in the rev range it pulls surprisingly well. A 0-62 mph time of 10.2 seconds and a top speed of 120 mph are good for a model which is more about economy than speed.

The Volkswagen Tiguan S 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Technology 5dr is a handsome and well-proportioned baby 4x4. Inside, you get air-conditioning, electric windows front and rear, electric door mirrors, MP3 connectivity, and a CD as standard. It also comes with alloy wheels, remote central locking and immobiliser and alarm.

Among the available options are metallic paint at £495, Satnav at £795, Bluetooth at £535, climate control for £510, cruise control at £235, rear parking sensors at £505 and leather seats for £2,310.

This Volkswagen Tiguan comes with many safety features including six airbags, ABS, Isofix child seat mountings and stability control.

Volkswagens have above average reliability and this car comes with a three year 60,000 mile warranty.

There is enough space in the cabin for four adults to travel comfortably, but a third person could occupy the middle rear seat as long as they didn’t mind rubbing shoulders with those either side of them. Boot space is reasonable at 470 litres with the rear seats in use and with them folded flat it opens up a generous 1510 litres of load space. The seats also slide backwards and forwards to offer flexibility.

Competitively priced at £22,280, the Volkswagen Tiguan S 2.0 TDI BlueMotion Technology 5dr comes with all the basic kit, has a spacious and comfortable cabin and with the rear seats folded down it has a generous luggage space. It feels solid and well put together too.

It is fun to drive, but still frugal so buyers will enjoy fairly low running costs. A combined cycle of 53.3 mpg helped in part by a Stop/Start feature is a good figure for a car of this size and with a CO2 emissions rate of 139 g/km, the taxes and running costs will also be very reasonable.