All-new Volkswagen Tiguan
May 27, 2008 by David Twomey
Volkswagen Tiguan takes on Japanese
German importer Volkswagen is setting itself up for a head on battle with Japanese brands Toyota, Nissan and Honda with the launch of its all-new Tiguan softroader.
- David Twomey
Volkswagen says it recognizes that these three brands have nearly 60 per cent of the 90,000 plus sales in the compact SUV market. And Managing Director , Jutta Dierks, says the VW Tiguan can take at least 5000 sales a year away from the Japanese brands.
VW cited the Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V as direct competitors for the Tiguan.
Ms Dierks, speaking at the Australian launch of the Tiguan in the Blue Mountains outside Sydney said that VW would struggle to satisfy customer demand this year as the company only had an initial 750 diesel Tiguans available for sale.
She said that sales in 2009 would not be a problem as production for Australia had been “locked in”, but a decision to launch the car early as a result of diesel only models being available meant that supply would be short during the rest of 2008.
“We believe we have a very good car on our hands and it will take away from Japanese petrol sales by turning them to a European diesel.”
The Tiguan has been a huge sales success in Europe since its launch late last year and there is currently 60,000 order backlog for the vehicle.
CarAdvice is at the launch of the Tiguan but driving impressions will have to wait another day as we have only had the marketing and technical briefings so far.
However, we can say that the vehicle is impressive, starting at $33,990 for the six-speed manual petrol version with the 125kw TSi engine and rising to a range topping $42,90 for the 147kW with a six-speed automatic.
In between is the two models being initially launched the all-new 103kW common-rail TDi with either six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, priced at $35,990 and $38,290 respectively.
The vehicle comes with a range of class leading features including front, side and curtain airbags, stability control and a five star ANCAP safety rating.
Both the yet to be released petrol and the now available diesel engines are all-new and feature turbocharging across the range.
The common-rail TDi engines, like the petrol variants, are Euro 4 compliant and the diesel engines are also yet to be introduced Euro 5 compliant.
Ms Dierks said that she expected the Tiguan to become Volkswagen Group Australia’s second top selling model behind the Golf, which currently accounts for 11,000 sales a year.
“We see this vehicle as becoming a substantial player in our volume,” she said.
“if you really want to become a significant volume player in the Australian market then you need to go into this SUV segment, as it is enormously popular in Australia.”
Commenting on the fact that VW had significantly built its volume on diesel engine sales and the escalating price of this fuel, she said that it was a growing concern.
“We are watching the price of diesel very closely and I have to say if it goes much higher then it may hurt our sales.”
Ms Dierks added that to date VW had not detected any buyer resistance as a result of the very high price of diesel fuel.
Curently this year VW is selling about 56 per cent of its vehicles with diesel engines.
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The pricing looks very good. I have a Freelander 2 and I would have looked at this VW very closely had it been on the market 8 months ago. But then I actually take mine off road and the FL2 is great in this respect. I actually like the look of the FL2 better but this is subjective. It will be interesting to see how the Tiguan performs.
It would be great to see a review of the Tiguan, FL2 and the X3. Quite similar cars but the price varies greatly between them.
Game on. THIS is what I’d buy in this sector, no question.
Very nice. Should cleanup.
Yep nice but I still want a Tourag over this. Diesel the way to go for now TP.
Starts at $45500.00 plus on the road cost in the UK. We’re getting ripped you lucky lot. Does that $35990 include taxes, delivery?
well for that price why bother with a toyota or a x-trail and forsds “new” escape is gonna get crapped al over.I like this and would definetly buy over the compettition.
well for that price why bother with a toyota or a x-trail and forsds \”new\” escape is gonna get crapped al over.I like this and would definetly buy over the compettition.
but also i reckon the next golf will take a price drop as 33k for the 4 wheel drive tsi engine whereas its 37k in the smaller golf
There’s no doubt this car will be a winner.
Does anyone know where the Aus spec is being built?
Anyone who thinks Toyota is not being hounded by VW group as number one seller worldwide is living in a dream.
This car is ahead of others and game on bigtime!
And now the games begin. The Japanese have been trying for years to break into the European car market and found that the lack of a decent diesel option by them has left them behind the 8 ball. Now the Europeans, especially VW/Audi are starting to knock on the Australian car market door and I do believe, considering the cars that are currently being purchased and leased in Australia, that the Japanese brands are the ones who will suffer.
This looks like a great soft 4X4.
Please Mrs VW lady with ugly frizzy hair, can I have one….If you give me one, I promise to put you in touch with a decent hairdresser
If you have got kids still in a pram…forget this car.
We saw it at the Adelaide Motor Show..tried to put the pram in…wouldn’t fit.
I saw it in Melbourne Motor show it looked great (I think ti’s was the best Suv softroader in Melbourne motor show)
VW sold 56% of diesel engines and now the price of diesel is increasing sharply….. It gonna be big effect for VW later on or Not? Hopefully not.
What is with the squared off wheel arches?
Diesel will be a great car for economy, compared to the other soft roaders. I hope it goes as good as it looks.
That certainly has very sharp pricing, particularly for a Volkswagen which are usually overpriced compared to the segment they are competing in.
I’ve been waiting for this car for about a year to come to Oz. I however want the 2.0l (147kw) turbo in manual with leather and a panoramic sunroof. I expect it to be around the $45K mark (I hope). It looks like I’ll have to wait to early 2009 anyway to get one. Keep saving then.
It should cleanup well, its well priced. Under the Captiva and just above the Dualis price (but probaly a way better vehicle i bet :), but VW with great engines, reliabilty and quality should do well.
Yep! Toyota needs a diesel in the Rav4! Very soon too! :D
JW, only recently did someone suck air through their teeth when I responded that I paid about 30 for my Golf.
What many people don’t realise is that they are highly specified for the price. I don’t mean just the goodies that get ticked with an S in the brochure equipment column, either. Many of those things never found their way into a Corolla brochure. I also mean the less tangible stuff like the fully galvanised body, 6 speed transmissions everywhere, multilink rear suspension and choice of diesel or direct injection engines above the 1.6, for starters.
This machine looks the part from some of the segment’s hideously awkward designs (new Forester rear for example), it would look appropriate arriving to either a prestigious dinner party or casual camp site. I think though it should have a slightly longer/larger luggage compartment, to at least fit in a pram, relating to Theo’s comment. If the track and field performs almost as well as the new Freelander off-road then i think it will prevail as capable off-road small SUV. But as most people who own small SUVs, let along large SUVs, don’t drive/use them off-road then i think this doesn’t really matter. Would i purchase one, give me a track and field manual TDI model and i will want to go exploring for ever with my girlfriend, until i get the urge to return for the fancy food at prestigious dinner party in the city.
Looks like a winner.
Baby Torak!!!!! Pity that it is only a soft roader and not a little more off road orientated, perhaps like the Jeep Wrangler ( go anywhere attitutde n’ adventure).
Anyone heard about the release of a VW ute???
had a look at this car in the showroom yesterday. It looks great and the quality is high. I want to get a 147kw TSI with leather and sunroof (only comes in auto). It`s not in Oz till the end of 2008, but they have prices for it. Over $53K on the road. My heart started to race. I really would like this car but it is a very expensive. I could see that I could spec up a 125kw TSI with comfort pack (climate control/rain sensing washers etc for $1K)and get a manual with leather and sunroof for a bit cheaper. I would then have to live with the 16` alloys with no chrome enhancements. The boot is a bit small for a family of 4 and this would not be a good car to take on a holiday because of luggage restrictions. This is a big downside to this car IHMO. But for 95% of the time running around the city etc it would be great. I could get an XT premium Forester for well less than this and I would be able to get a manual and save more. The Forester is not as high in quality but is bigger in luggage capacity. I`ll have to think about this…… but I`d really like a Tiguan. Keep saving I guess??????
Responding to (Foggy)
All Tiguan’s are built in Wolfsburg, Germany :)
Yes! Finally a softroader with Diesel auto-gearing option, this will be fun to drive. Although Freelander 2 is a slightly more capable off-roader but for the price difference more reliability on VW badge and GPS Nav, reversing camera, 18″ alloys wheels, sun roof options, full leathers, electric seats, who would want a Freelander 2 against a Tiguan which still works out to have more value for money.
Freelander 2 has half leather seats in TDiesel-SE option and that is $52,990 + delivery charges with no options. For that price Tiguan has the works… FANTASTIC. I WANT ONE NOW!
See you later insipid, lazy conformist Japanese crap. Hopefully this ‘cat amongst the pigeons’ will force the Japanese car market to sit up an listen and put some spirit into their car design.