VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN 4x4 2008 on

Living out 'in the sticks' I decided that after I skidded on ice in my VW Passatt that I needed a car that could cope with the terrain, ie untreated roads, and yet give comfort and quality that I had become accustomed to with previous VW products.

The penalty to be paid is in the showroom ,by the time you get the car 'specked up' , it becomes quite expensive. On the road price with Pana roof and other goodies for a SE spec cost over 24k in 2009.

However, you can then rest assured that this SUV won't depreciate as much as many of its rivals- and that fact is apparent when driving. The quality of design gives a sense of 'wellbeing' if a tad conservative. Ok, it does feel ‘Golf-ish’ inside, but it also retains all the VW groups design virtues of making it feel like knobs and materials are honed to perfection.

This is a car you can sail down the outside lane of the motorway sitting in a (slighty) raised driving position looking down on the reps in their Mondeos and Isignia’s (with its effortless diesel 2.0 engine giving 40+mpg.)

At the weekend you can go down the DIY store and collect long planks of wood (the front seat folds flat), load heavy bags of sand - the car can cope laden with ease.

Then (after you’ve cleaned it), that evening, take 5 people out through some twisting country lanes and arrive comfortable and relaxed as you proudly glance back at the Tiguan parked outside a swanky restaurant!

It’s also capable in the mud and snow- last winter I made it to work every day thru the ice and snow driving a 40 mile round trip.

So I can report positively about the Tiguan, but its not quite perfect, here are the niggles.

Panoramic roof option, only useful when tootling along country lanes, wind noise becomes excessive with speed.

Tyre wear, -mine needed replacing on the front at 11000.

Gearbox is very slighty iffy (and there’s 6 to choose).

Ride is good but not excellent. -the Passatt had the edge here.

Electronic handbrake - works well but I have nightmares that I have forgotten to apply it when leaving the vehicle on my drive which is on a slight incline.

So there we have it, would I buy another? Well I would like to , but for the whole upfront expense thing again, …soon I approach that dilemma.

Great 4x4 that drives like a normal car

Gives you a great view of the road as you sit higher up, which is great for safety

Loads of room in the back and in the boot to get everything in

MPG is pretty good for a 4x4 - I was getting between 35 and 40mpg

I have the SE with extra bits on it and the multifunction steering wheel was great, and the panoramic roof was just divine!

Exceeded my expectations of economy, build quality and driving experience. The high driving position is excellent, giving good visibility ahead when in heavy traffic. I have not felt so at ease with a vehicle for a long time. The parking aid and front and rear sensors are excellent. I opted for the opening and tilting glass sunroof, which I have been very pleased with. I did think it was a bit meen of VW not to fit front foglights as standard, and I would have liked electically adjustable front seats.

The vehicle has returned 44mpg overall, which is not bad for a four wheel drive of this size. Superb DSG 7 speed gearbox. Hard to detect the changes!

I don't normally write reviews, especially for cars as i am no expert, but after buying this car to be a family car and now finding out that it has some issues that i find mean that it is no good for this purpose i have felt compelled to write a review to warn others of the problems i have found.

I brought this car as it claims that you can have Iso fix car seats fitted which is a great selling point for safety, the only problem i have now found out is that you cannot use the Iso fix in this due to the fact that Volkswagen have made the rear seats moveable!. Now i need the next stage car seat for my child and the problems just keep increasing, i cannot get any of the belted seats to fit adequately, and after exhaustive searching i have at last found ONE car seat to fit, hardly ideal as i now can't get the best rated car seat for safety but i have to make do with one that fits the car i have brought as a good family car!?.

Apart from these major flaws in my opinion this is a nice car to drive and if volkswagen would consider making family cars in which you can actually fit car seats into my review would be very different.

I bought this car in 2008 when I was still working, doing about 20k miles pa on everything from muddy roads and lanes to motorways. I have now retired, the car is 3 years old and has done 50k miles. It is very sensitive to driving conditions, when I was working i averaged 47mpg, but with a lot of urban driving it drops into the low 30s. Nice to drive other than the very sudden clutch and low first gear. Don't like the small wing mirrors, and i can't understand why these can't be bigger.

Copes well in the snow and ice in a hilly rural village, and with standing water, gets me in & out of muddy tracks when I go out into the wilds, but scrubs up well for the urban life. Some say Tiguan's look bland, but I think that (in the right colour) they are smart and unfussy.

It has never let me down, but I have had bogus engine warning lights. I was flabbergasted when it needed 2 rear coil springs at first MOT (done under warranty). Also had hassle with my local dealer when I tried & failed to take up the 2 year servicing package, I am very annoyed with them over this.

Previously did 160k miles in an Audi A6 and A4, and I suspect that only a Q3 will tempt me away when I next change, although the Yeti is tempting at the price.

I always wanted a 4x4 car and was delighted when the Tiguan came on the market as it was more economical than other 4x4'sI but also very stylish and VW!

The car is so smooth, having driven BMW's and Mercedes I have to say I would rank it on par with a Merc.

I have two children and it is such a fab family car with plenty of boot space and very comfortable.

I would defo go for a Tiguan again.

Since first driving this car on a test drive I was captivated by its excellent handling and comfort. The driving position is absolutely the best - high up but not too high as to make entrance and exit difficult. It takes corners holding the road like a limpet and without the awful sway that you get on some 4x4s. Performance is also excellent.

The thing I like best (which was the thing I was most worried about at first) is the electronic handbrake and auto hold. Once set in auto hold you don't have to worry about the handbrake at all. The auto hold is superb and effective on all types of roads and steep slopes. In stop-start traffic it is so relaxing not having to keep pulling up a handbrake or keeping my foot on the brake pedal.

I have the DSG model and find the auto experience together with auto hold (and you don't have to keep putting the gear into neutral) is simply the most relaxing driving fun of any previous car I've owned.

The only disappointment has been the diesel consumption of around 33mpg combined. I am a fairly steady driver and think it should be doing better than that especially as some other drivers seem to be getting around 40mpg combined, although reading postings on the VW Tiguan Owners' site many are getting similar to mine.

If you are looking for a class-built, practical, comfortable car which is so satisfying to drive and also has 4x4 for when the snow/ice arrives then look no further than the Tiguan.

I have had the VW Tiguan now for 2 years, and have really enoyed having the car. The only reason we need to change is the family are getting bigger....!

It is great to drive, and the 4WD 4MOTION means its not in permanent 4WD therefore not to heavy on the diesel.

I use the car on a day-2-day basis to get to and from work - only a 20 mile journey. I have family in the north of England & Scotland, and the car has served us really well on the long journeys too.

Engine is by far the best i have experienced and the handling is superb. Had a bmw x3 neither the engine of the control was nearly this good. Would recommend to any1 thanks.

An excellent proposition and surprisingly good value stacking up against the thirstier BMW X3. Far cheaper to buy second hand that the Audi equivalent too. It really does average 40mpg. The park assist is reliable and the engine is quiet and quite refined low down for a diesel. 4WD makes it the ideal mummy wagon too for those not willing to shell out more for a bigger 4x4. I would buy one again when I return to the UK!