WASHINGTON — If you’re looking for a small crossover with a German feel and you don’t want to spend more than $35,000, your choice is Volkswagen. The Tiguan has been around for a while now, so it might be the time to get a good deal on this crossover. There is probably a year or so before there’s a new replacement for the current Tiguan.
The Tiguan still has a solid-looking interior, with comfortable heated front seats in a convincing leatherette material that does a good job of looking like real leather. The rear seats have good space for two adults, but the rear cargo area isn’t that big, so don’t pack too much in the back unless you fold down the back seats.
The rest of the materials are also nice, with softer touch materials throughout the cabin. My SE test model, the mid-level for the Tiguan, had a nice two-tone interior color scheme. Another new feature is a standard rearview camera, a welcome addition for the 2015 and newer models. The premium sound system sounds pretty good, but it doesn’t always respond the first time you use the touch screen.
The exterior is weathering pretty well – it’s still handsome, but starting to look a bit dated when parked next to some of the competition. My test ride did have larger 18-inch wheels, fog lights and some chrome trim pieces that help a bit with curb appeal. You also notice the smaller size when compared to some of the models in its class. This is really a small crossover, which is refreshing when parking and driving in the city. The Wild Cherry metallic paint is a welcome departure from the grays and whites that are typical on the Tiguan.
When you drive this crossover, you notice it has decent horsepower for the class – a 200 hp turbo-charged engine moves this VW with ease. The six-speed automatic provides quick shifts when needed, or it can be very smooth for normal driving. The ride is good. It does a nice job on city streets by not slamming over bumps. It’s not very sporty, but it’s a smooth operator in most situations. It delivers a mostly quiet ride with just a bit of road noise, but it’s still pretty quiet for the small crossover class.
Fuel economy isn’t the best I’ve seen: The sticker says 20 mpg city/26 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined. I managed 21.8 mpg over my week of mixed driving over 175 miles.
The Volkswagen Tiguan is a German alternative in the small crossover class with a more upscale feel and a nice driving package with good power to boot. It might not be the newest small crossover on the market but it feels like a solid, easy-to-live-with size for those who value city living and want a little more space than a small sedan. With starting prices well under $30,000 and dealers looking to move them, this could be a bargain small crossover in a hot market.