When it’s the
second-generation 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan.
Well, that’s
my take on it anyway.
My 2018 VW
Tiguan 2.0T SE w/4Motion tester handled like a compact but looked like it had
the passenger- and cargo-carrying capabilities of a midsize model.
At 185.1
inches long (almost a foot longer than the previous-generation Tiguan) and
nearly 75 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats folded, the Tiguan stacked
up to me as darn near the perfect suburban chore wagon/commuter.
The tester was
a generously equipped daily driver with an easy-on-the-eyes bottom line of
$30,280.
Yes, I was
surprised by the charms of this Tiguan, which surpassed my expectations as just
another crossover sport-ute.
Checkmarks in
the plus column included 17-inch all-season tires, a lengthy list of
state-of-the-art safety features, a heated driver’s seat with 10-way power and
lumbar support, an excellent rearview camera system and super-generous
warranties.
On the fly,
the tester’s 2-liter turbo 4 engine rated at a max 184 horsepower handled all
situations with ease and authority.
Response off the line was good.
The Tiguan made quick, agile maneuvers on city streets and in dicey
freeway traffic.
For steering
comfort, it had perfect pitch. Simply
put, it was fun to drive.
The center
stack of controls was nicely arranged and easy to use.
Fuel mileage
was fair at 21 miles per gallon in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.
The
latest-generation Tiguan appears to have been assembled with California
The one thing
I didn’t like was the balky automatic shut-off feature, which I routinely
disabled upon starting the vehicle.
Given the
considerable competition in the compact crossover SUV segment, it’s easy to
lose track of what’s out there. Don’t
make that mistake with this new Tiguan.
It’s a player
in the segment and should be test-driven if you’re pondering the purchase of a
practical-size SUV.
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