2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
Consumer Guide spent over 1,700 miles in two versions of the new-for-2009 Volkswagen Tiguan.

Model #1: 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan S; 200-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder and 6-speed manual transmission

Base Price: $23,200

Options: Rear side airbags

Price as Tested: $24,240

Total Miles Tested: 674 miles

Fuel Economy: 24.5 mpg

Model #2: 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan SE; 200-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder and 6-speed automatic transmission

Base Price: $28,875

Options: DVD navigation with rearview camera, Power panoramic sunroof, Rear side airbags

Price as Tested: $33,165

Total Miles Tested: 1,068 miles

Fuel Economy: 24.9 mpg

Editors' Comments
Tom Appel: Talk about your right place at the right time product launches. Tiguan's trim dimensions hide a practical cabin that fits four adults in reasonable comfort. And it's a nice cabin, with high-grade materials and an open feel thanks to lots of glass. Volkswagen's miracle 2.0T engine gets the job done just fine, hustling this little SUV around with enough verve to be fun, all while sipping gas with some restraint. Forget your shopping list, this vehicle is actually on mine.
Damon Bell: The Tiguan is an impressive entry into the compact SUV market, delivering ample passenger space, clever cargo versatility, competent road manners, and a pleasantly upscale feel. Even the base S model has a legitimate high-class vibe, despite being significantly down on standard features versus its pricier SE and SEL siblings.
Rick Cotta: Tiguan quickly became my favorite compact SUV--of any price-- and among my favorite vehicles of any kind. But questions about VW's unenviable repair record are only compounded by the fact that the company SHORTENED its warranty for 2009, leaving the Tiguan--like many other VWs--the best car I hesitate to recommend.
Jennifer Geiger: Tiguan is a comfortable, composed, and polished compact SUV. All that combined with its peppy, yet fuel-frugal, 2.0 turbo makes this cute 'ute a long-haul all star. It can get a little pricey, but competes well with more costly premium compact SUVs.  
Ed Piotrowski: Despite being late to the compact crossover game, Volkswagen has brought a very impressive entry into this increasingly crowded segment. Tiguan is long on refinement and interior comfort while delivering solid fuel economy, at least with the manual transmission. Prices are steep, but this little SUV is good; better than some models we classify as premium compacts--e.g. the Acura RDX and BMW X3. The biggest question is if Volkswagen has finally gotten past the quality and reliability issues that have plagued recent products. We won't know the answer to that for a while yet, but give the company credit for offering free scheduled service during the warranty period. At least consumers can feel better about VW standing behind its products.
Don Sikora: Tiguan continues to impress. The base S model with the 6-speed manual is easily my favorite Tiguan, because it is one of those few vehicles that can turn just about any errand into a delightful outing. With the automatic transmission and 4Motion AWD, this midlevel SE tester came off a little more laid back and dignified, rather than outright fun. Overall performance and refinement remain excellent, the interior is handsome and comfortable, and the decent highway fuel economy is a pleasant surprise for an AWD SUV. Tiguan deserves serious consideration for compact SUV shoppers, including those looking at luxury nameplates.
 

09.02.2008