Car Reviews > Volkswagen > Tiguan 2.0 TDI 2WD > VW Tiguan 2.0 TDI 2WD Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Prices: £21,730
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel
Gearbox: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power/torque: 109 bhp/ 280 Nm
0-62 mph: 11.9 seconds
Top Speed: 109 miles per hour
Economy: 53.3 miles per gallon
Emissions: 139g per kilometre
Equipment: 16-inch alloy wheels, MP3, air conditioning, 60:40 split folding seats, electric windows, low-rolling resistance tyres, ESP
On Sale: Now

The SUV cleans up its act with this new front-wheel drive model – but will it be enough to be able to match the all round appeal of the 4x4?

The brand new 2-wheel drive Volkswagen Tiguan is both the cheapest and the greenest diesel engine version yet. Does this mean that, providing you do not need all-wheel drive, this is therefore the pick of the range?

The fuel-saving kit under the skin of the vehicle is hinted at by the presence of the BlueMotion badges that are situated on the boot lid, and that kit includes the likes of VW’s regenerative brakes and stunningly smooth stop-start system, plus a detuned version of the traditional 2.0-litre diesel engine, which produces a bhp rating of 109.

This all basically means that this is by far the most efficient Tiguan on the market, giving a fuel economy rating of as much as 53.3 miles per gallon and CO2 emissions of just 139g per kilometre. While those figures look great on the surface however, the fact is they are still a long way behind those offered by the Skoda Yeti Greenline, which is able to give a fuel economy rating of as much as 61.4 miles per gallon and CO2 emissions of as little as 119g per kilometre.

The performance is reasonably adequate, but at low revs, the car does have a tendency to feel rather unresponsive. However, for a further £550, you can purchase a version that has a bhp rating of 138, which is every bit as economical and even two seconds quicker when it comes to accelerating from 0-62 miles per hour. Refinement is undeniably impressive though, and the spacious cabin and supple ride does make this crossover stand apart from some of its rivals.

The 470-litre boot is easy to adjust by just sliding the rear seat backwards or forwards, and it also falls flat very easily as well, which frees up some extra luggage space. With the seat in position, there is easily enough for as many as five adults to travel quite comfortably. On normal roads, doing so without 4-wheel drive is no problem, but the Tiguan could leave you feeling somewhat embarrassed if winter brings a lot of snow this year.

A set of chunky tyres, high ground clearance, and very durable plastic cladding around the arches and the sills mean that it remains able to navigate country lanes or cross soggy fields, although the lack of a low-range gearbox and any locking differentials means that it is probably best to stay on the road.

The Tiguan certainly scores when it comes to doing just that, as it continues to be one of the most satisfying small SUVs around. The high driving position and precise handling are both very impressive indeed, even if it fails to match the fun of less expensive rivals such as the Ford Kuga.

On the downside, the equipment and features are minimal, particularly with the basic S trim, so while this car is a reasonably acceptable all-rounder, the line-up still offers better choices, including the much more capable and powerful 4x4 diesel. This remains one of the most likeable crossover vehicles around however.

by Autoweb