Volkswagen Tiguan

Comfort - good comfort when set to comfort and normal drive mode, made more comfortable by cabin space and upholstery. Reliability - not sure but read up about EA888 Evo4 and DQ381 gearbox; My take is that this engine should be reliable and wet gearbox itself is robust but may be caused by the MU if there is issue in normal operation / shifting of gears. Handling - very stable when driving and turning, 4motion model can accelerate while U-turn except being limited when detects wheel spin. Could reach 3-figure speeds without realizing because of how stable it is despite SUV stature. Acceleration is brisk especially in sport mode. Turbo felt like spooling half a second to release boost in normal mode means need some getting used to / practice. Exterior styling - akin to a well groomed and dress gentleman with a hint of sportiness (R-line trim). Fake exhaust garnish not every one's liking. Well put together as evident in the small gaps and tight fit of different parts of vehicle. Probably exceeds the built of those luxury brands in similar price range. Interior design - being mostly dark gray implied somewhat conservative and boring design; Saving grace being ambient lighting (31 colors iirc) with some matt silver trims, white tubing on dark gray leather seats and digital cockpit. Again, all parts appeared and felt well put together with almost no squeaks (unless deliberately exert significant strength). Centre console didn't even budge trying to push it side to side. Features - wireless Carplay and AA, can play external media using thumbdrive. HU, aircon all touch controls. Steering controls combo of touch / press. Both front electric seats with lumbar adjustment. 360 cam. Rear seats recline and traverse adjustable; Knock down level from tailgate side provided. No driver assist tech Value for $ - not so at current period and due to branding / past repute, yet at this price point it's either getting cat A entry luxury or cat B feature / performance rides. Engine performance - stock 187bHP 320Nm moving 1.7 ton feels somewhat more than adequate... Read More

Had the Tiguan highline for almost a year now and the car has been pretty solid. What has been most impressive is the drivetrain and interior practicality. The engine and gearbox combo is rather responsive yet fuel efficient. The interior is also a rather nice place to be as there are features like the digital instrument cluster and apple carplay. Ride quality and NVH is also very good even when compared to other European makes. However, one aspect that has lots of room for improvement is on the safety front. Many other cars in the segment now include adaptive and active safety features like adaptive/active cruise control, blindspot monitoring, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert, etc and the Pre-facelift Tiguan highline 2020 model(standard roof) only comes with Automatic emergency braking and rear view camera. Overall, if looking for a European make SUV, the Tiguan is a rather good choice and is a good family vehicle with lots of space. Only real downside is maybe the lack of active safety features when compared to competitors.... Read More