Automotive Trends

For 2018 Volkswagen attempts to draw the compact Tiguan crossover more in line with American tastes. Volkswagen claims that roughly 25% of its sales volume was represented by diesel powered vehicles and it hopes to retain buyers who recognized the strong design and precision engineering offered in its other products.  As part of its efforts to mend relationships with disgruntled consumers after last year’s diesel-gate scandal, the redesigned compact Tiguan gains a third row seats. This long wheelbase Tiguan is 10.6 inches longer between the wheels. Referred to as 5+2 seating, it is obvious that the third row is intended for occasional use or for children. The exterior is freshened with LED headlights and tail lights and features VW’s modern chiseled sheet metal. Without any diesels available, the Tiguan forges ahead with a turbocharged direct injection TSI 2.0L 4-cylinder engine mated to an 8 speed automatic. Active all wheel drive available under the guise of 4motion with four selectable drive modes. A digital cockpit allows the instrument panel to be reconfigured. The new Tiguan may not be a revolutionary crossover, but it does seem to be a sign that VW is committed to paying attention to Americans want in a small crossover.

It Lacks The Go Anywhere Ability Of Its Big Brother, But It’s Much More Fun To Drive

    If you are planning on picking up a new Tiguan to serve as a smaller, more fuel-efficient alternative to your go-anywhere Touareg be prepared for a new experience: getting stuck. That’s because Volkswagen’s second SUV is far more Honda than Hummer. Yes, it can be equipped with all-wheel drive, but you’ll only have 6.9 inches of ground clearance to work with, same as our front-wheel drive tester. Exactly none of the more capable Touareg’s hardware (air suspension, three locking differentials, low-range transfer case) is passed down to the Tiguan. But that detail only irked us when the Tiguan got itself stuck—twice—during our late December test. That’s because the rest of the time we were driving the thing like it was a GTI in maternity clothes. A fact that took us by surprise even though Volkswagen’s own press materials refer to the Tiguan as the “GTI of compact sport utility vehicles”. Read more…