Reader Review of the Week: 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
“I’m usually very pragmatic about my car purchases. I tend to buy a car that is first and foremost reliable and functional and keep the car for a long time (I just traded in my ’97 CR-V, purchased new). So when I was looking for a new small SUV I checked out the usual suspects: Subaru Forrester, RAV4, etc.
“When I first saw the Tiguan, the pragmatic side of me said ‘enough room for the kids’ and ‘small and practical for the city.’ Then I took it for a test-drive and fell in love. I got in the front seat and was impressed by the fit and finish — more like a Mercedes than a plasticky SUV. Then I looked up and saw the huge sunroof (it spans the whole car and has a built-in powered sun-shade) and I thought, ‘Wow, it’s like having a convertible SUV!’
“The real ‘wow’ came when I took one for a test drive. The ride is smooth and quiet, but when you put the pedal down there is plenty of get-up-and-go. And the driving manners are more sports-sedan than SUV. It has no real body-lean on turns and is very maneuverable.
“The car’s transmission has a Sport mode when maximum performance is desired, as well as standard drive. And you can shift it manually with the Tiptronic transmission.
“The only thing I wish it has that it does not (in the U.S.) is a DSG transmission. The VW Eos, Rabbit and other models offer a combined automatic/manual transmission that shifts very quickly (by having two clutches). For some reason the U.S. version of the Tiguan has a Tiptronic, which goes through a torque converter and is governed, so you can’t shift quite as quickly and it won’t let you redline.
“Still, it’s a wonderful vehicle and we pick ours up at the dealer today. I can’t wait.
“One final comment: Some reviews mention that the car ‘requires premium fuel.’ It doesn’t require it, and the owner’s manual says 87 octane is fine. Premium fuel may give slightly better performance and mileage. That is why VW ‘recommends’ it.”
