2008 Volkswagen Tiguan 103TDI Review

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By Matt Brogan | June 18th, 2008

2008 Volkswagen Tiguan 103TDI Review & Road Test

Ready to tackle the concrete jungle

Model Tested:

Volkswagen Tiguan 103TDI 4MOTION Wagon 6 Speed Manual – $35,990 (RRP)

Performance, Economy, European Styling, Build Quality
Waiting List, Tall First Gear, Bluetooth Availability

CarAdvice Rating:

- by Matt Brogan

Until now there was one glaring omission from Volkswagen’s model lineup, the compact SUV. But rather than rush in to things and give us some half baked botch job, Wolfsburg has gone to considerable lengths in producing an attractive, well packaged and highly capable vehicle at a price to shame many lesser spec’ed Japanese rivals.

The oddly named Tiguan gains origins not blowing in the wind like most other Volkswagens (Polo, Golf, Jetta, Passat), but rather from combining the two German animal names for Tiger (Tiger) and Leguan (Iguana) through a public vote of 350,000 people held by Auto Blid magazine.

First seen in concept form at the Los Angeles Motor Show in 2006, Tiguan made its sales debut in Europe earlier this year and was released to the Australian market last month amid keen interest from family and recreational buyers alike, pushing demand (and therefore waiting lists) well beyond preliminary expectations.

In a market spoilt for choice (Ford Escape, Mitsubishi Outlander, KIA Sportage, Subaru Forester, Honda CR-V, Holden Captiva, Toyota RAV4, BMW X3, Land Rover Freelander, Mazda CX7, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Compass, Dodge Nitro, Nissan X Trail, Suzuki Vitara – need I go on), the Tiguan stands out for not only representing extraordinary value for money, but for delivering surprising fuel economy without losing valuable, sensible power.

Our test vehicle is the base model 103TDI (103 kilowatt turbo diesel injection) manual variant, which by early indications is proving the more popular seller (albeit in automatic guise) in what is essentially a two horse race. The 103TDI shares trim specifications with a similarly priced petrol variant, the 125TSI, before being topped by the high-end, high-powered 147TSI model.

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Under the bonnet an adroit 2.0 litre turbo diesel four cylinder makes 103kW @ 4,000rpm and offers a very generous 320Nm from just 1,750 revs. Power delivery is effortless when pandering around town but by the same token isn’t afraid to snap in to the higher reaches of the tacho for spirited overtaking or runs from the lights.

In all rev ranges, with perhaps the briefest of lag from standstill, the engine performs dexterously, is brilliantly capable, and offers a flexibility in delivery seemingly oblivious to the laden weight carried, boasting an obvious advantage over its similarly priced petrol sibling.

Fuel consumption around town runs consistently between 8.4 and 8.6 litres per hundred k, which is only one litre above the combined ADR result of 7.4 litres. Out on the open road Tiguan merely sips fuel in the mid 4 litre range making anyone doing a lot of highway miles mad to consider anything but the diesel option.

With sure footed road holding from the highly acclaimed 4MOTION all wheel drive system and a slick shifting six speed manual making cog swapping a breeze, Tiguan feels seamless and tactile with terrific grip and marked competence displayed in all weather conditions, and despite Tiguan’s considerable mass, the vehicle performs fervently and feels both agile and settled, even through some more zealously driven country corners.

The AutoHold feature, part of Tiguan’s automated park brake, is a welcomed addition to the category and is used as the name suggests to automatically hold the brakes whilst at rest until you’ve released the clutch (or in auto applied throttle pressure) to move off again. It stops any unwanted rolling back (or forward) from standstill and makes tight parking on an incline or any weekend off road jaunts a brilliantly easy task – just think how easy slipping the boat in would be.

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Perhaps my only qualm with Tiguan’s drive (if any), is that first gear does seem quite tall in many normal situations and unless the vehicle is fully loaded or you’re faced with a precipitous incline, second will do just nicely.

Inside it’s quiet, refined, comfortable and has a contemporary European ambiance which I feel rates more highly than that of similarly priced rivals. Although material composition is no doubt similar to that of Tiguan’s competitors, the way in which the décor is drawn together as a whole presents a more rewarding aesthetic feel, reflecting Volkswagen’s overall feel of durability.

The amount of space available is well utilised and easily as flexible as the next SUV boasting some 395 litres with seats up (to window height) or 1,510 litres with the 60/40 split fold rear seat down. This area can also be further increased by removing the spare wheel cradle to include the under floor space – very nifty for nursery runs or a trip to Bunnings.

Tiguan’s standard kit includes an MP3 compatible CD tuner, power windows, heated power mirrors, dual zone climate control, power steering, remote central locking, cruise control, leather steering wheel with remote audio and cruise controls, trip computer, cloth trim, 16” alloy wheels, roof rails, and a cargo area cover which makes many rivals seem underdone.

A slake list of optional extras is also available, including the brilliant RNS510 satellite navigation and reverse camera package as shown in our test vehicle. You can also tick a six speed automatic transmission, heated leather trim, dynaudio 300W stereo upgrade package, sunroof, 18” alloys and xenon headlamps, though sadly a Bluetooth integration package is not yet available in Australia.

Tiguan is a great all rounder and hits the competition for six, and although it may seem a little dearer than some rivals, the power, economy, and overall package represent a fine example of the old ‘get what you pay for’ adage. I’d happily have one any day.

CarAdvice Overall Rating:
How does it Drive:
How does it Look:
How does it Go:

Specifications:

Engine: 1968cc turbo diesel four cylinder
Power: 103kW @ 4,000rpm
Torque: 320Nm @ 1,750rpm
Transmission: Six Speed Manual
Driven Wheels: All Wheel Drive
Brakes: Disc with ABS, EBA & EBD
0-100km: 10.5 seconds
Fuel Type: Diesel
Fuel Tank Capacity: 64 litres
Fuel Consumption: 7.4 litres / 100km (Combined)
Safety: ESP; TCS; Front, Side & Curtain Airbags
NCAP Rating: Five Star
Spare Wheel: Space Saver
Towing Capacity: 2,500kg (Braked)
Turning Circle: 12.0 metres
Warranty: 3 Year / 100,000km
Weight: 1,676kg (Tare)
Wheels: Alloy 16 x 6.5”

Vehicle Pricing:

Tiguan 125TSI Manual $33,990
Tiguan 125TSI Automatic $36,290
Tiguan 103TDI Manual $35,990
Tiguan 103TDI Automatic $38,290
Tiguan 147TSI Automatic $42,990

Option Pricing:

Metallic Paint $790
Sunroof $1,990
RNS510 & RVC $3,490 (125TSI & 103TDI)
RNS510 & RVC $2,990 (147TSI)
RNS510, RVC & Dynaudio $4,780 (125TSI & 103TDI)
RNS510, RVC & Dynaudio $4,280 (147TSI)
Six CD Player $790
Dynaudio $1,790 (125TSI & 103TDI)
Dynaudio $1,290 (147TSI)
Park Assist $1,390 (125TSI & 103TDI)
Park Assist $890 (147TSI)
Bi-Xenon Headlamps $1,990
Alarm System $590
Leather Trim $3,990 (125TSI & 103TDI)
Leather Trim $3,690 (147TSI)
Front Fog Lamps $390 (125TSI & 103TDI)
18″ Alloy Wheels $2,290 (125TSI & 103TDI)
18″ Alloy Wheels $1,490 (147TSI)
Comfort Package $990 (125TSI & 103TDI)
Off Road Package $290

Jimbo

Well done VW, another winner.
Why would you buy anything else. The cheaper brands need to be optioned up to meet the same standard, and then cost the same. Therefore buy the VW diesel and save the buyers remorse and envy of the Tiguan owner that comes later.
A strong contender for my next family car (as the if I still living in the country option).
Marketmaker

Bummer they don’t do a luxury spec. By the time I add leather, sunroof, 6 stack, sat nav = 11-12k extra!! youch.

Very tempted none the less, but I think the base model will be the pick with a (slightly) derated golf GTI engine!

Quality feel of the interior on these is way above class competitors.

BTW – note to editor – Tiguan does not introduce auto/hillhold feature to the class. Sub Forester has had this feature for nearly a decade!
http://www.caradvice.com.au Anthony

Any point in Volkswagen importing anything but Autos into Australia, given the mostly suburban duties this vehicle will undertake?
B///M3

Volkswagen use to make good looking cars…….what the hell is this??
http://www.caradvice.com.au Anthony

Hill hold on the WRX STi is brilliant. It’s what makes the car a breeze in peak hour traffic, at least in the daily Sydney gridlock.
No Name

Amazing they are cheaper in Australia than the UK. Starting price £20 ($41K AUD).
Rip off Britain.
Is it me or is the bootspace tiny at 395litres?
Golfschwein

Howdy No Name. Bootspace is bigger than a Golf, less than people might expect from a wagon. I reckon the RAV4 would have heaps more (no, I’m not bovvered to check) but then it’s put on size and weight as well. Not bovvered to check that either. It’s late.
http://evo Frugal One

Rather a Japper one

Cheers

f-0
Craig

This is a really good vehicle. I have checked it out in the showroom and it is all 100% VW brilliant quality. I agree with Marketmaker though, I want a 147kw with leather and sunroof and “wamo” its $53K on road. The boot size for the Tiguan is its Achilles heal. I have a family of 4 and to take the place of the primary family vehicle would be a big ask. This car would be great around the city for my family (95% of my use) but if you wanted to go away on holidays you would fill the boot up fairly quick. However I really like this car? But now I think I might be tempted in a Golf GTI VI (with leather) which would be cheaper. This is due to be shown at the Paris Motor show in Sep/Oct. More to ponder I guess?
Luke

Quality engineering, and competenat handling I’m sure, but for God’s sake VW has lost their way with style and interior design/quality. Quite the opposite of this ‘review’ here, the Tiguan is utterly dull to look at, and already looks slightly aged. The dashboard is massively unimaginative, and the quality is on a par with the current Golf, which has dropped the eight ball in quality.
Mitch

R version anyone?
f1worldchamp

Mr Brogan might want to re-check, but I’m pretty sure Bluetooth is available for the Tiguan.
Dlr1

Typical German qualities, economical, conservitive styling, good starting price and an options list so expensive that you will be ringing the bank to refinance the mortgage!

The big downside is the realive lack of boot space compared to the Toyota & Nissan competitiors.

I’m also a little confused with the following quote: “Perhaps my only qualm with Tiguan’s drive (if any), is that first gear does seem quite tall in many normal situations and unless the vehicle is fully loaded or you’re faced with a precipitous incline, second will do just nicely.”
Does this mean that first is too tall or too short? I would have thought that it would have been too short(or low) if you’re tempted to start off in 2nd gear. If this is the case first may be short to give the vehicle better low speed control and power when in an offroad situation(given that it has no low range). Toyota did a similar thing with the first generation Rav4.
Reckless1

I agree, 1st is short not tall. This is deliberate to compensate for lack of low range when “off road”.

It’s a bit pricey if you go mad on the options list.

I was keenly awaiting the arrival of this, as a replacement for the ageing Jackaroo, but it hasn’t lit my fire. When sitting in the Jack, you get a commanding view of all parts of the vehicle, as well as the surroundings. When sitting in the Tiguan, yo get the feeling that the centre of the dash and bonnet rise too high, and-or you sit too low, so you feel that you need to crane your neck to see where you are going. And the boot is way too small.

So I’ve decided to keep the Jack for its off-road duties, and to save fuel around town I’m going for the Golf GT Sport TDI Just in the process of bashing the price down in the leadup to June 30. Saving $10,000 off the top spec Tiguan pays for keeping the Jack, and 6.0l/100 from the TDI easily saves enough on fuel to pay the Reg and Insurance on BOTH cars
doc

Did you mean SHORT first gear (not long?) – if you think second is adequate, then first would be too short, not too long.

Saying first is too long would imply it struggles away and needs a SHORTER first.
Greenroom

A fat Golf, and it looks dated. I’ll keep the Golf, but good try VW I reckon it’ll sell well, but not to me. I’m sure you won’t be too sad about that.
http://web.mac.com/lbrinsmead/Neo_Utopia/Welcome.html Neo Utopia

I think the production version is a bit soft looking compared to the concept version, somewhat disappointing. I also think Volkswagen did not attach a larger luggage compartment to this car because it is not the 2.5 children families who will consider purchasing the Tiguan, it will be the younger buyers aged between 28 and 35 with no or maybe only one child with less stuff to put in the boot. The front looks much better than the rear, however personally i think its easier to design a pretty face than to make a rear look attractive. I think the interior could easily better quality than the new RAV4′s paint peeling on gear knob quality! Just ask my mate about that! Yeah the RAV4 is probably more reliable, but who cares about that if one doesn’t appreciate surface quality, but one just doesn’t include me and i assume many others who have similar purchasing values.
http://web.mac.com/lbrinsmead/Neo_Utopia/Welcome.html Neo Utopia

What meant was i’d purchase a Tiguan over a rattly RAV4, and that people who purchase vehicles that have a good reliability track record don’t usually put a high value on surface quality/appearance/design in their a purchasing criteria. I bought my Golf over a Corolla because i thought the surface quality/appearance and design is of much higher standard and just damn more logical, and i’m quite a critical purchaser. That is why i purchased a tasty Apple MacBook Pro notebook over a generic laptop, and with the ability to run windows at full speed just to fit in with the dominant Microsoft PC world i am letting Microsoft gain more monopoly. Sorry to digress from the Vehicle topic, the last bit links with the middle bit though.
weirluo

well priced.

although it looks okay the picture, it is an ugly car when we saw the real one at a dealer.
JCS

If you like Tiguan.., just wait for the Skoda Octavia Scout later this year. Same 103kw engine, same Haldex 4 motion drive train. Very well spec’d I would suggest and probably under $40k.

The biggest plus is the luggage capacity.., 580 litres with the cargo blind on and still room for a full size spare wheel. Impressive.
AD

Meh…saw it and drove it at the dealer last week, nothing great. Everyone keeps on crapping on about VW quality, it didn’t look that great inside and outside. I’ll pass thanks.
fred

Thiank I will wait for the Ford Kuga to arrive. It looks much better and the European motor websites rate its diesel motor smoother, more refined and better fuel economy than the Tiguan.
John of Perth

Ford’s quality control is not a patch on VAG products.

The Tiguan will do it for me but there are some small items missing for a vehicle I will take down a bush track to the beach – electrically folding mirrors and decent underbody protection. Prefer a full size spare and the passenger’s seat with electric assist if I am to option the full package (driver’s seat only is powered).

And speaking of Hill Hold for all of you who might believe Subaru introduced this, my 1963 Mk2 Jaguar has it with the original DG(read Detroit Gearbox not DSG!)auto.
Carl

Ford Europe are building some very nice and well built cars and the Kuga does look better than this……but this is a very well built car and it’s not ugly just not gorgeous!
philh

Looks a good alternative in the small SUV class. RAV4 and Outlander have grown so much it’s left room for something to come in underneath. Pricing is competitive, not sure about the dealer delivery charges though – heard rumours they’re outrageous. Interior space compares favourably with the Suzuki SX4 which for now looks like the most similar vehicle.

Hill Hold came from the late 20′s and early 30′s, btw – Stutz and Studebaker definitely had this, but iirc Wills Sainte Claire may have also offered it even earlier.
Nashville

Hillholders were on Subarus in the 80′s, but I dislike them, and I had mine slackened off.
Why don’t people just say ‘high’ or ‘low’ for gearing to avoid the confusion.
I deplore the fact that first gear is too high in most vehicles (for people like me who want to manoeuver a trailer or negotiate up a narrow driveway or rough track without slipping the clutch).
Why not a six speed box where gears 2 to 5 cover normal town running, sixth is for 80+ cruising, and first is for the tight, steep
manoeuvers only.
I’ll be interested to see the Tiguan.
RALLYX

Does anyone know what country the (Aus) Tiguan is Built in? Hopefully its not South Africa. If the Golf’s build quality and reliability is anything to go by then the Jap rivals come out far better, even if you are paying a slightly higher premium. If it is built in SA, then this explains the lower than expect price.
Golfschwein

Do you have a SA-built Golf, RALLYX?
RALLYX

Golfschwein, I DID have one.
Neo Utopia

Hey People,

I test drove the Tiguan the other day so I thought I’d share with you my first impressions:

* Great height to step into.
* Very light, minimal feedback steering at low speeds (
FamilyCarFan

Picking mine up next week. 103TDI manual, by choice. Auto a bit twitchy. Will be good to be back in a VW, had enough Falcodore for a while
Neo Utopia

Sorry about that, the post did not complete for some unknown reason, so I will start again:

I test drove the Tiguan a few weeks ago so I thought I’d share with you my first impressions of the car:

* great ride height to step into
* very light, minimal feedback steering at low speeds (increases feel at speeds above about 70 kmh though)
* relatively quiet diesel engine
* ergonomic easy to use controls (especially the touch screen, should be able to be seamlessly be linked to Apple’s brilliant iPhone with a latter VW software update)
* parking assistant works well and is quite easy to use (VW had their experimental version on their Futura concept car back in the eighties, so I think they would have refined it a lot more by now)
* good forward visibility but compromised rear visibility (I think young families should opt for the rear camera for child safety)
* excellent torque from diesel engine
* car like handling
* very sensitive brakes
* automatic gearbox slows down the car when no accelerator, a of an unusual feeling
* luggage space when seats upright is a bit smaller than what I want, should have been 460 litres, similar to current small SUVs, not to their predecessors to easily fit in prams
* superficial quality appeared quite good, whether intrinsic quality (and reliability) is even near Honda’s CRV is yet to be revealed as the Tiguan ages.

Overall I think the Tiguan offers Australian buyers a quality choice to the small SUV marketplace dominated by Japanese (and Korean) small SUV’s, it will be suitable for buyers wanting to drive in a more fashionable and Germanic type of small SUV to stand out from the Asian invasion (lol) of automobiles into this country.

Nota Bene: I am not a racist person, quite the opposite actually having an Australian female partner who has Vietnamese origin.

★★★★ from me
Neo Utopia

Post Script:

I was told by the sales woman that the Tiguan is currently made in Germany, however if demand is far greater than supply then Volkswagen may have to assemble it in South Africa.
Carzrawsm

How good is the towing capacity that is the same as a parado well done VW
doogle

Has anyone actually towed a camper or caravan with the 2.0 TDI near the rated 2 tonne limit? From what I can figure out it might tow it OK but how does it go on the open road at speed and on hills. How does it handle with 1.5-2.0 tonne on the back? Also the 100kg down load on the towball seems to be somewhat restrictive on what you can tow. There are only a few vans that fall into this category.