2011 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 turbo gas from North America

Summary:

A nice little all-wheel drive that will give you more traction than a non all-wheel drive

Faults:

This car has a funny key fob - you literally have to press it 5-6 times before the doors open.

The rear hatch is funny and gets stuck in between open and closed.

Recently, 2 of the 4 ignition coils went out at 55k miles. The dealer replaced them at my cost since I did not buy the extended warranty (recommended).

I live in snow country and have a Jeep Wrangler for the deep stuff. This is an all wheel/full time drive CUV. Any snow over 4" - wait for the snow plow or drive your Jeep, as this car is not a serious snow traverser with its wide, short wheels & tires.

General Comments:

This car has been mostly dependable. I had a little "close call" in the snow one snowy night on our mountain, and hit a snow bank when the tires had 30k miles on them. I admit I was driving a tad too fast for the conditions, & had to have a front-end realignment at Sears, where I also purchased new tires.

One other time it had just begun to snow down at a lower elevation, & once again we had a close call. While traveling 26 MPH in a posted 30MPH (I remember the electronic MPH sign was on) with the new tires, I attempted to go right into a slow turn and the vehicle refused. So, I went straight instead and was OK.

Again, this vehicle is not a serious snow traversing vehicle. I don't believe chains are an option due to the clearance in the wheel wells, as well as the fact it's already an all-wheel drive vehicle.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 8th February, 2014

29th Mar 2018, 00:50

Driving in snow has only to do with using winter tires. Put winter tires on it and leave your Wrangler in the garage. Remember: snow = winter tires. All season tires are for summer, with or without AWD.

17th Apr 2020, 14:36

You must not be a very good driver or driving on summer tires. The 4motion Tiguan is a TANK in the snow.

2013 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion 2.0 turbo from North America

Summary:

Perfect combination of practicality, sportiness, handling, quality, elegance and safety

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

I got the SE 4Motion model with panoramic sunroof and navigation in black with light tan leatherette. It is absolutely elegant inside and out, with impeccable fit and finish. The interior is gorgeous, it is of a level you would find on a much more premium European car like a BMW or Mercedes (my previous car was a Mercedes). This model is manufactured in Germany, not Mexico like the previous Jetta I had a few years ago, which I think makes a difference.

The vehicle is very comfortable, it like pretty much all VW's I have driven, it has seats that almost anyone can get comfortable in, they tend to be on the firmer side, and can adjust for someone of virtually any size. I have driven my car on all day trips and have been comfortable the entire time. The ergonomics are quite good once you learn the layout. This car is packed with electronics and advanced features, and the owner's manual is VERY long; spend some time with it up front and you will learn all kinds of cool things this car can do for you.

The Tiguan handles amazingly well for a small SUV. It basically drives like a sports car; it's like having an SUV version of the GTI. It sticks to the road like Velcro and hugs the corners at high speed. The engine can sometimes sound rough, but it delivers plenty of power when and where you need it. I drive fairly aggressively and get around 21 MPG combined, and 26 MPG in highway driving.

I absolutely love everything about my Tiguan, I thoroughly enjoy driving it, and if I had to think of one negative thing to say about it, I guess it would be that I wish it had a little bit more cargo room, but I guess if I wanted more room I could have always gotten a Touareg.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 5th October, 2013

6th Oct 2013, 18:03

"it's like having an SUV version of the GTi"

That's because the Tiguan is actually just a Golf, but raised up and given a higher price. A 4-motion Golf will do almost everything better for less.

12th Oct 2013, 21:45

I don't believe the Golf is available with 4Motion in the USA. And the Tiguan does have a slight advantage with height/ground clearance over the Golf for when you live in a snowy climate or when you like greater visibility or easier entry/exit of the vehicle. This can be helpful for elderly, disabled, or people with children.