Volkswagen Tiguan Review (2007-2015)
Volkswagen Tiguan cars for sale
4.0
Expert review
Pros
Classy image
Drives well
Clever sliding rear seats
Cons
Some rivals are roomier
Even 4x4 versions aren't especially rugged off road
Firm ride at low speeds
The CarGurus verdict
When considered alongside compact SUVs of the same vintage, the Volkswagen Tiguan is a very appealing choice. Importantly for any SUV, it has the combination of style and practicality that buyers crave, with smart looks, room for five people and a very decent boot. Rear seats that slide, recline and fold help boost the car’s versatility, too. Perhaps even more appealing, though, is the desirable badge, strong image and impressive quality that you get from a Volkswagen, all virtues that are present-and-correct in the Tiguan.
Like other Volkswagens, it’s also a pleasant car to drive. Other SUVs are comfier at low urban speeds than the slightly firm Tiguan. But the ride flattens out as you go faster and impressive refinement makes it a quiet, relaxing way to get around. The engines are good on that score, too, and they also deliver an impressive blend of performance and economy, while the handling is sharp, tidy, and totally predictable. A great all-rounder, there’s not a single area in which the Tiguan struggles. It's not the cheapest choice, but it is one of the best.
What is the Volkswagen Tiguan?
When Volkswagen first released the Tiguan back in 2007, the firm probably didn’t realise quite how successful it’d turn out to be. The Nissan Qashqai had been released the year before and had been flying out of showrooms, but even so, this was before the SUV boom really took hold and nobody truly knew quite how popular cars like these would become.
Such popularity means that there are absolutely shedloads of these things on the used car market, but the question is, should you buy one? Well, if you want a family SUV that’s high in desirability and quality, then you should certainly consider it.
The sought-after badge and slick styling ensure the desirability, while plush materials, solid build quality and slick switches see to the quality. Sure, the VW Tiguan isn’t the cheapest choice in the class, but it does feel worth the money you pay, and the original is a better value used car than the pricier second-generation model that arrived in 2016.
How practical is it?
The Tiguan is not the biggest car in its class, so it’s not the most practical either, but it still does a very decent job on that score. There’s enough space for five adults to sit in comfort, and the rear seats slide backwards and forwards allowing you to maximise either rear legroom or boot space (which can be between 470 litres and 505 litres, depending on the exact location of the seats) as the current situation requires.
Some rivals have bigger boots, too, but the Tiguan’s is still very good for size. It’s well-shaped and there’s no load lip that you’ll have to muscle heavy items over.
It’s true that most SUV drivers like a lofty driving position from the front seat, but the Tiguan’s is relatively low-slung, making it feel more like a hatchback than a jacked-up off-roader when you're behind the steering wheel. That said, the simple dashboard is an ergonomic masterclass, and there’s a very decent amount of luxury – not to mention safety – equipment provided as standard.
What's it like to drive?
You can usually rely on Volkswagen to build cars with sophisticated on-the-road manners, and the Tiguan doesn’t disappoint. Yes, the suspension is a little firm, and you can feel quite a lot of lumps and bumps at low speeds (particularly on earlier, pre-facelift cars), but things smooth out more when you go a bit quicker, making it a comfortable and settled motorway cruiser.
Wind and road noise are well-contained and the engines also do well on refinement, making for a quiet, relaxed life. They also provide a pretty impressive balance of performance and economy.
The handling is tidy and tight, with good body control, strong grip and traction (especially on versions fitted with four-wheel drive) and alert, responsive, well-weighted steering. Again, this makes it feel more like a hatchback that an SUV, but for some drivers that’ll be no bad thing.
Technology, equipment & infotainment
When the Tiguan first came out, four trim levels were available: S, SE, Sport and Escape. The entry-level car came with standard kit including alloy wheels, air-con, electric windows, remote locking, electric door mirrors and a CD player, while the SE added a touchscreen infotainment system, chrome exhausts and folding picnic tables in the back. Sport models added sports suspension and sports seats, along with automatic lights and wipers, while the Escape got a rugged 4x4 makeover, with a bespoke front bumper and skid plates.
In 2009, R-Line trim came along. This was like an even sportier version of the Sport, with racier styling inside and out. Otherwise, the level of equipment was roughly the same, although opting for R-Line over Sport did also earn you two-zone climate control. Then in 2010, SE trim was replaced by Match, which added parking sensors, DAB radio and a Bluetooth phone connection for barely any cash. Then confusingly, when the Tiguan was facelifted in 2011, the range returned to S, SE, Sport and Escape trims, and R-Line and Match models would again make an appearance later on.
Volkswagen Tiguan running costs
Envisaged as a slightly more premium product, the Tiguan was a bit more expensive to buy as a new car than its rivals of the day, and because it had stronger resale values than most of them, a used Volkswagen Tiguan will also be that much more expensive. However, the quality on show means that it does feel worth the extra money you pay, and the car’s age means that prices have still had time to fall a long, long way, so there are bargains to be had.
Nailing down precise fuel economy figures is a little complicated due to a number of factors. These included an engine range that chopped and changed pretty much constantly throughout the car’s life, with engines being added or deleted, and existing ones being fettled to improve efficiency and power. There was also the fact that most of them could be had with front- or four-wheel drive, or manual or automatic gearboxes, all of which had an effect on the mpg. In general, expect about 40mpg from the 1.4 petrol and 30mpg from the punchier 2.0-litre petrol, while the diesels should all get closer to 50mpg.
Insurance groupings for this version of the Tiguan range between 15 and 25, and throughout the range there’s a fairly even spread between those two extremes. Bearing in mind that cars in group one are the cheapest to insure and group 50 cars are the most expensive, it means that premiums should be reasonably palatable on most versions. Road tax, or Vehicle Excise Duty to give it its proper name, is based purely on the car’s CO2 emissions for this generation of Tiguan, and annual bills won’t be particularly cheap on any version. Even the cleanest diesel versions command a fee of £125, while the grubbiest diesels are subject to a £305 annual payment. Annual tax on the petrols can range anywhere between £205 per year and an eye-watering £565.
Volkswagen Tiguan reliability
Volkswagen’s reliability record may not be as brilliant as many people think, but it is fairly decent. In most reliability surveys the brand sits mid-table, that being the case in both the JD Power Vehicle Dependability Study and the Warranty Direct Reliability Index. The latter study suggests that the Tiguan is far from being VW’s standout performer, with a fairly weak score as an individual model.
Some common faults have been reported. The electronic parking brake can refuse to release automatically if the driver’s seatbelt isn’t fastened or if the clutch isn’t fully depressed, and this can cause damage or excessive wear to brake components as the engine tries to drag the car forward. These parts can be expensive, so make sure the system works properly.
Air-conditioning failures have also been reported, so check that the air is sufficiently chilled, but this is usually down to a failure with the switches that control the system rather than the compressor, meaning problems are usually much cheaper to fix.
A range of recalls occurred over the years, to fix faults with the starter motor, the seven-speed twin-clutch DSG gearbox, the fuel injectors and a handful of electrical fuses. As always, check that this work has been carried out.
- In 2011, the Tiguan was on the receiving end of a comprehensive facelift. Beneath the surface, things didn’t change all that much, but cosmetically the changes were pretty extensive. Gone was the more rounded front end, replaced with squarer, tinted headlamps and a more angular grille and bumper arrangement, tying the Tiguan in with the forthcoming Golf and Passat. Inside, the interior design remained largely the same, but the facelifted car benefited from higher-quality plastics and slicker switchgear.
- Almost every Tiguan built before 2015 was four-wheel drive. In fact, front-wheel drive was only available on the entry-level 2.0-litre diesel, and as a result, most front-wheel-drive cars are fairly low spec, especially early examples thereof.
- Despite this, most versions of the Tiguan were more about off-road style than off-roading substance. However, the Escape version was a bit more rugged than the rest, meaning it could handle at least some of the rough stuff. Its revised front bumper gave it a better approach angle for tackling tough terrain, and it also had more underbody protection. Some of the electronic assistance systems were fettled to suit use on loose ground, while hill descent control was also provided.
- If you’re on a tight budget: The entry-level TSI petrol engine is your best bet. It’s a 1.4-litre unit, which may sound small in a car the size of the Tiguan, but it has both a turbocharger and a supercharger to endow it with an impressive 148bhp. Sure, it isn’t what you’d call quick, but it’s up to the job of hauling the Tiguan’s bulk around fairly easily, and with a reasonable amount of purpose.
- If you’re after ultimate fuel economy: You might want to hunt down a Bluemotion Technology model. This had a 108bhp version of the 2.0-litre diesel engine, but with an official fuel figure of up to 57mpg, it eked out a few more miles-per-gallon than the more popular 138bhp version.
- If you want the the best all-rounder: For most folk, it’s the more popular 2.0 TDI 140 version that we recommend. It’s only marginally less economical than its weaker counterpart, but it's also quite a bit faster and considerably more flexible. It’s also much easier to find on the used market, and it offers buyers more choice, because it can be had with either front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, and either a manual or automatic gearbox.
- If you’d like to have an element of raciness: The Tiguan can also be had with the same 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine found in the Golf GTI. This had 197bhp (upgraded to 207bhp during the 2011 facelift), and although the performance wasn’t quite up to GTI levels, it was quick enough to show a clean pair of heels to most other SUVs.
