Used Volkswagen Tiguan review: 2008-2014

Graham Smith reviews the first generation VW Tiguan between 2008 and 2014 as a used buy.

The neat SUV fits long-limbed occupants and has variants to suit most owners.

New

As sales of SUVs started to soar, Volkswagen wasted little time producing its own. Badged the Tiguan and launched in 2008, it gave SUV buyers the prestige and quality of a European model.

Typical of VW, the Tiguan was neatly styled with none of the over-the-top flashiness of some Asian-built rivals.

Despite its compact external dimensions the Tiguan's cabin was remarkably spacious with a flexible seating arrangement to make the most of it.

The seating for those in the front seats was comfortable, the controls were well placed and they fell easily to hand. Those in the rear seat had ample room and enjoyed the view from a high seating position.

With the rear seat in use the boot space wasn't great but when the seat was folded flat the space available was quite generous.

The Tiguan's on-road manners were impressive, with a solid feel, assured handling and comfortable ride.

VW had two 2.0-litre turbo engines initially, with outputs of 125kW and 147kW and a common torque figure of 280Nm. For thriftier motoring, there was a 2.0-litre turbo diesel (103kW/320Nm).

The transmission options at launch were a conventional six-speed automatic and an optional six-speed manual. Drive went to all four wheels via VW's well-proven 4Motion on-demand set-up.

An update in 2011 brought in a raft of changes, most of them under the mildly revamped skin.

The petrol engines got a power boost, to 132kW and 155kW, the torque still pegged at 280Nm.

VW added a new engine, a 1.4-litre four-cylinder with twin-charging — combining a supercharger and turbocharger to deliver snappy performance across the rev range and miserly fuel consumption.

It was the sole preserve of a new 118 TSI front-wheel drive variant.

The same update replaced the automatic, a conventional six-speeder, with a seven-speed dual-clutch (DSG) auto. The six-speed manual remained.

On all variants, the Tiguan's on-road manners were impressive, with a solid feel, assured handling and comfortable ride.

Now

The good news is that the Tiguan's DSG isn't one of those coming in for so much stick.

Owners mostly heap praise on their cars and few report reliability issues.

One issue that crops up is oil consumption, quite a common trait among VW engines but it's not necessarily a problem. If an owner is concerned, dealers usually conduct a simple test to determine how much oil an engine is using.

Owners mostly heap praise on their cars and few report reliability issues. A recurring comment is to do with the limited boot space with the rear seat in its normal position.

They also tell us the Tiguan is light on tyres and brakes — some say they're getting 70,000km or more before needing replacements.

That's more good news. The not-so-good news is that servicing and repairs are dearer than some rival brands. Once your car is out of warranty it's worth seeking an independent VW specialist mechanic, who could save you heaps.

As always, check the service history to ensure the car you're thinking of buying has been well maintained.