CAR GAZING
VW makes an endearing SUV
New Tiguan is cute, fun, pricey
By Derek Price
Every automaker these days wants to sell a mini-SUV, and Volkswagen is the latest to join the cute-ute club.
But, like so many things related to VW, the story quickly gets more interesting from there. Volkswagen has decided to sell a small sport utility called the Tiguan – a marketing-inspired word that combines "tiger" with "iguana" – that's shockingly endearing, the kind of vehicle that makes your heart flutter.
Let me explain.
Personally, I've never liked the concept of small SUVs. They look like the big, tough sport utilities, but they don't have nearly the off-road prowess or towing ability of their giant brothers. And they have about the same size cabin as a passenger car, while they don't drive nearly as well. That doesn't make sense.
Now, I realize a lot of people like small SUVs. They just don't work for me personally.
But, for some strange reason, this Volkswagen does. It doesn't drive at all like the Touareg, its fatter sibling, and instead feels like a monster Golf. It's sporty, cute, zippy.
Yes, zippy.
You can feel the German roots in the Tiguan, too. When you close the doors, they let out the same Teutonic thud you hear in Mercedes, BMW and Audi luxury cars, like they're filled with concrete. It has a taut suspension that makes you dream of autobahn cruising. It's got the same best-in-class interior treatment that Volkswagen and Audi have perfected.
And best of all, it's adorable. The sweet, baby-face Tiguan looks like it wants to cuddle, pudgy fenders and all. The shape just makes you grin.
It also has plenty to show off under the hood, with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 200 horsepower. That's ample power for a small SUV like this, and it gets 26 mpg on the highway at the same time.
All things combined, I think this is one of the best mini-SUVs on the market. Unfortunately, it's priced like one.
The Tiguan carries a higher starting price than most of its competitors because of the level of standard equipment and, probably, the awful exchange rate between the euro and the dollar.
My test vehicle cost more than $33,000, yet it didn't come with things like leather and power seats. That's hardly a bargain. To be fair, it did have a navigation system and enormous glass sunroof that was like having a patio door over your head, but I don't think the Tiguan will appeal to people who shop on value alone.
Still, it has a lot of appeal to me.
(Derek Price is a newspaper editor and freelance writer living in Texas.)
The above article is provided for the interest and entertainment of our visitors. The views expressed in this article are only those of the author, who is solely responsible for the content. AutoGuide.net does not endorse any of these views, and is not to be held responsible for any of the content provided in the above article.
Click here to read Derek's past articles!
If you have any questions or comments for Derek or the AutoGuide.net, please fill out this form.
