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2009 Volkswagen Tiguan Review

November 3, 2008

STYLING | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Looks like a smaller version of VW's Touareg 2 midsize SUV
Cars.com

Bold chrome grille and swoopy headlamp treatment
Edmunds

Clean, graceful, modern and attractive
The Auto Channel

The 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan is another fresh statement from a company that is known for its strong styling. Both inside and out, the new VW Tiguan proves to be a hit in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com.

The 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan is "your typical sport-utility," according to Edmunds, and for 2009, the Tiguan VW is available in "three trim levels: S, SE and SEL." According to Cars.com, "the [VW] Tiguan looks like a smaller version of VW's Touareg 2 midsize SUV until you step around back, where it looks like the rear end of a Rabbit compact hatchback." Road & Track generally concurs, though it notes the VW Tiguan's exterior styling "is an interesting blend of Touareg and GTI." Autoblog says the VW Tiguan "looks pretty bitchin' to us," and they give it credit for not just being a "prettied-up tall Golf."

Edmunds reviewers report that the Tiguan VW "boasts a number of cues first established on the Concept A," a VW show car from several years ago, "including its bold chrome grille and swoopy headlamp treatment." However, the concept car had a more "sporting, coupe-like silhouette with a roof line that plunged to the rear," whereas the production Tiguan VW has a more upright roofline that's more practical, which should appeal to the masses. The Auto Channel says the VW Tiguan's styling is "clean, graceful, modern and attractive."

The exterior of the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan is very well received by reviewers, and the interior doesn't disappoint either. For those who've spent some time in Europe, Edmunds says that "if the interior of the new Volkswagen looks familiar, it's no coincidence," adding that "in a bid to keep development costs down, Volkswagen has provided its new SUV with the same basic cabin architecture as the European-market Golf Plus." That interior is highly rated by The Auto Channel, which says the "interior is attractive as well" and the "gauges, controls, and everything we interact with are thoughtfully placed." Kelley Blue Book also appreciates the "thoughtful" layout of the interior controls.

Conclusion

The 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan has European styling that rivals the much more expensive BMW X3 and dares to be different than the American and Asian competition.

STYLING | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Looks like a smaller version of VW's Touareg 2 midsize SUVCars.comBold chrome grille and swoopy headlamp treatmentEdmundsClean, graceful, modern and attractiveThe Auto Channel The 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan is another fresh statement from a company that is known for its strong styling. Both inside and out, the new VW Tiguan proves to be a hit in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com. The 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan is "your typical sport-utility," according to Edmunds, and for 2009, the Tiguan VW is available in "three trim levels: S, SE and SEL." According to Cars.com, "the [VW] Tiguan looks like a smaller version of VW's Touareg 2 midsize SUV until you step around back, where it looks like the rear end of a Rabbit compact hatchback." Road & Track generally concurs, though it notes the VW Tiguan's exterior styling "is an interesting blend of Touareg and GTI." Autoblog says the VW Tiguan "looks pretty bitchin' to us," and they give it credit for not just being a "prettied-up tall Golf." Edmunds reviewers report that the Tiguan VW "boasts a number of cues first established on the Concept A," a VW show car from several years ago, "including its bold chrome grille and swoopy headlamp treatment." However, the concept car had a more "sporting, coupe-like silhouette with a roof line that plunged to the rear," whereas the production Tiguan VW has a more upright roofline that's more practical, which should appeal to the masses. The Auto Channel says the VW Tiguan's styling is "clean, graceful, modern and attractive." The exterior of the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan is very well received by reviewers, and the interior doesn't disappoint either. For those who've spent some time in Europe, Edmunds says that "if the interior of the new Volkswagen looks familiar, it's no coincidence," adding that "in a bid to keep development costs down, Volkswagen has provided its new SUV with the same basic cabin architecture as the European-market Golf Plus." That interior is highly rated by The Auto Channel, which says the "interior is attractive as well" and the "gauges, controls, and everything we interact with are thoughtfully placed." Kelley Blue Book also appreciates the "thoughtful" layout of the interior controls. ConclusionThe 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan has European styling that rivals the much more expensive BMW X3 and dares to be different than the American and Asian competition. 2009 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN STYLING [8 out of 10] Cars.com: "Looks like a smaller version of VW's Touareg 2 midsize SUV" Edmunds: "Bold chrome grille and swoopy headlamp treatment" The Auto Channel: "Clean, graceful, modern and attractive" The 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan is another fresh ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan competes in a very crowded class of vehicles. Small crossovers like the Honda CR-V are perennial best-sellers because of their smooth rides, reputation for reliability, and flexible interiors. The CR-V, like the Tiguan, is only available in four-cylinder trim. Toyota's RAV4 has grown, though, and now offers a V-6 option as well as a third-row seat. Saturn's Vue was brand-new for 2008, and it's smaller than the CR-V and RAV4, with no third-row seat, but it can be ordered with a gas-electric hybrid powertrain or a powerful V-6 engine.

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See the Volkswagen Tiguan in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008

Comments (6 total)

  1. By PRH #1, Posted: 9/12/2008

    Tiguan is an ideal small crossover

    I have owned my Tiguan SE 4 motion for 3 months and it is an incredible car. It is extremely well built, has a high quality interior and handles like a GTI. I think the performance is actually better than what is stated above. The car is very fast and on the highway I typically get between 28.5 and 30 MPG with speeds of between 65-68 MPH.
    I highly recommend this vehicle.

  2. By adam rolfson #4, Posted: 4/28/2009

    sales associate

    I am a VW salesman at Hall VW / Mazda in Brookfield WI and every person that has purchased a Tiguan from us has had nothing but great things to say about their new VW.

  3. By adam rolfson #5, Posted: 4/28/2009

    sales associate

    I am a VW salesman at Hall VW / Mazda in Brookfield WI and every person that has purchased a Tiguan from us has had nothing but great things to say about their new VW.

  4. By aus_tig_owner #6, Posted: 6/21/2009

    Incredible car. It is straight 10/10 in my rating for everything (performance, handling, looks and technology). I compared this one to the BMW X 3 as well as the Subaru new forester - both are far below this car!! This car sets new standards for other manufacturers to follow. Even their own Golf, Jetta and Passat will have to try hard to match the Tiguan. Its an expensive car, after all the 'soft' charges. But, a great value for money (compare with BMW X 3, which is not even worth the new Subaru forester, in my opinion!!). Options are costly. Requires premium petrol (125 TSI, 4 motion, Auto).

  5. By calvin #7, Posted: 10/3/2009

    The question is, do the plastic interior fittings pop and break, surfaces dissolve into gel like scum, and smell like previous VWs I've owned?

  6. By Kerry #8, Posted: 10/19/2009

    Calvin....what on earth are you doing in that car?
    Dissolving interiors, gel like scum.....and smell???
    Are interior painted surfaces peeling as well? Maybe it's your cologne.

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