2009 VW Tiguan a Top Choice

Toggling down two gears in the six-speed Tiptronic transmission sets us up perfectly for the coming series of twists and turns as we navigate the winding road. It's hard not to grin - precise steering feel and agile road manners make this car a blast to point down a 'driver's road.' But on this occasion, we weren't behind the wheel of a car, but rather Volkswagen's new compact Tiguan SUV. There aren't too many sport utility vehicles that allow you to forget you're driving an SUV. The Volkswagen Tiguan is one of these, doing so with a European tuned chassis that feels more sport compact than sport utility.

As the new little brother to the burly Touareg 2, the Tiguan is a right-sized five passenger SUV that doesn't give up much in the way of utility. It does offer less interior cargo space than its bigger brother since it's a downsized package, plus its 2,200 pound towing capability is much less than the Touareg 2's rating of 7,716 pounds. But those requiring heavy towing and cargo hauling would by necessity be looking at a larger and less efficient package than the Tiguan. This vehicle is right-sized for the job it seeks to accomplish.

The Tiguan is powered by Volkswagen's direct injection 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder gasoline engine and is available with either front-wheel-drive or a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system Volkswagen calls 4Motion. Though small in displacement, the turbocharged 'downsized' four is big on power. Peak output is 200 horsepower at 5,100 rpm with an impressive 207 lbs-ft of torque available between 1,700 and 5,000 rpm. The Tiguan feels like it has a much larger V-6 under the hood, but it sips fuel like a paltry four. One downside is that VW recommends premium fuel for this engine for best performance.

That said, it won't use as much of that fuel as most other SUVs. EPA rates the front wheel drive Tiguan at 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. Our experience, even with some spirited driving, yielded much better fuel economy. Around town, the Tiguan consistently delivered 22 to 23 mpg and a steady conservative 65 mph cruise mode on the highway resulted in an impressive 28.7 mpg. With the standard 16.8 gallon fuel tank, the Tiguan can travel well over 400 miles on the highway before it's time to refuel. Volkswagen would like to bring a clean diesel TDI version of the Tiguan to the North American market, but that may still be a few years off.

The Tiguan is quick, too, with 0-60 mph happening in 7.8 seconds. Top speed is said to be 131 mph. Two transmissions are available - a smooth shifting six-speed manual or a six-speed Tiptronic automatic that offers a manual shift mode. We were disappointed at first that our test unit wasn't a manual, but that thought faded as we began to enjoy the responsiveness of the automatic. Shifts are direct and programmed for a balance of economy and performance. Manual shifting is handled by pulling the shift lever to the bottom gate and then simply bumping the shifter up or down as desired.

We found the Tiguan easy to handle around town and simple to park and maneuver in tight spots. Though it looks quite substantial, the Tiguan is actually smaller outside than a Honda CRV with a length 3.6-inches shorter and a slightly narrower stature. Its trim size doesn't translate to a rough or choppy ride on the highway, however. Overall ride feel is firm, as we've come to expect from German engineered vehicles, but not at all harsh, with a compliant suspension that does a credible job of soaking up the bumps and irregularities.

On the inside, Volkswagen's downsized SUV feels anything but little. Generous leg, head, and elbow room in both the front and back seats is complemented by great visibility and a large optional panoramic sunroof. We did hear a number of complaints about the contour of the seats, particularly in the rear for shorter passengers. This seems to be a height related issue, though, since the 6'2" driver didn't notice any discomfort.

Volkswagen is offering the Tiguan in three trim levels. The base model is the Tiguan S, mid-line is the SE, and the most luxurious is the SEL. Base price for the front-drive S manual is $23,200 with a Tiptronic 4Motion SEL coming in at nearly $10-grand more at $32,940. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the Tiguan its highest rating of 'Top Safety Pick.' And if you are wondering about the name, it's said to be a combination of 'Tiger' and 'Iguana.' Once behind the wheel you won't care what they call it, because if you're an auto enthusiast this road-friendly machine is your kind of animal.

The Good: Precise handling, balanced power and economy
The Bad: Seat contour uncomfortable for some
The Rating: 9 (out of 10)