Despite the huge sales declines for SUVs and trucks, there’s one niche within the SUV segment that remains viable and profitable for automakers: the crossover. American drivers are finally realizing that full-size, truck-based, gas-guzzling sport utilities are just silly when you can get moderately efficient cargo haulers with a far more compliant and even sporty ride in the form of a crossover.
This trend has fueled the popularity of compact SUVs in recent months, including the segment staples, the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4. But the latest entry into the ever-crowded compact crossover market is the Volkswagen Tiguan. Based on the VW Rabbit platform, the Tiguan delivers everything you love about a Volkswagen into a package that shares similar proportions to a Ford Escape.
Despite its compact stature, the Volkswagen Tiguan has ample room for passengers and cargo alike. Upfront, the driver can enjoy an available touch screen navigation system and enjoy the Tiguan’s clean, organized dash. Equally attractive is the Tiguan’s exterior which shares the same clean and handsome looks of its larger Touareg stable-mate.
Powering the Tiguan is an available turbo-charged 2.0-liter four cylinder engine, the same engine found in the GTI. Delivering 200 horsepower and mated to a smooth shifting six-speed automatic transmission, the Volkswagen Tiguan can reach 60 mpg in 7.7 seconds. Although that may leave some drivers wanting more, that’s still commendable performance considering that drivers can expect about 22 miles per gallon in mixed use driving conditions.
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Checkout a more detailed Volkswagen Tiguan review soon.
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