Tiguan offers sporty, refined drive
Model: 2009-17 Volkswagen Tiguan
Vehicle type: Compact crossover
History/description: The Volkswagen Tiguan hit the scene for model-year 2009 to do battle with the likes of the Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, GMC Terrain and others.
Noted for a sporty and refined driving experience and set apart by standard turbocharged power, the Tiguan was a smaller crossover that was big on driving enjoyment.
Features included a panoramic sunroof, heated leather, xenon lights, Bluetooth, a navigation system, premium stereo systems, powered leather seats with seat heaters, push-button start, and plenty more.
All models ran VW’S wellknown 2.0T engine: a two-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with about 200 horsepower and generous low-end torque.
This powerplant represented a performance advantage over most competitors, though note that it does require the use of pricier premium fuel in exchange for maximum efficient performance.
Most used models will be equipped with 4Motion AWD and an automatic transmission, though some units were available with front-wheel drive and a sixspeed stick.
All units were five-door, fiveseaters and shoppers are advised to confirm that the cargo hold will be large enough for their needs before they buy.
What owners like: A quiet ride, comfortable cabin, sporty handling, rich interior trimmings and an overall feel of solid, dense quality are highly noted by owners. The up-level bi-xenon headlamps available on highergrade models are top-notch too. In most aspects of manoeuvrability, performance and flexibility, Tiguan seems to have hit the mark.
What owners dislike: Complaints include a sometimes-fussy navigation interface and a small cargo hold, and some owners wish the Tiguan didn’t need to run pricier premium gas.
The test drive: Start by arranging a scan of the Tiguan’s engine’s computer (ECU) at a VW dealership. Some Tiguan owners have reported issues with ignition coil packs, sensors or even a build-up of valve gunk, which can cause poor performance, sporadic power delivery and other issues.
A computer scan can reveal stored ‘trouble codes’ which can reveal potentially-hidden problems like these, even if there’s no check-engine light illuminated.
Inspect the finish of the wheels for pitting, flaking finishes or corrosion, noting that owners have reported premature wear of their wheel finishes.
Depending on the year and mileage of the unit you’re considering, this may be covered by warranty.
Confirm proper operation of the Bluetooth system, all steering-wheel mounted controls, all motorized seat adjustments and the Tiguan’s climate control system. Ditto the xenon lighting system, if equipped.
Though infrequent, some owners have noted problems with the Tiguan’s cooling system, so have a VW mechanic inspect the level and condition of its engine coolant, and check for signs of coolant leaks, which could indicate a water pump that’s about to kick the bucket, or other issues. Further, look for signs of fluid leaking beneath where the Tiguan is parked before your test- drive.
Check for signs of wet or musty carpeting on the Tiguan’s interior floor, particularly at the outer corners of the vehicle’s lower cabin.
Plugged sunroof drain tubes, or what appears to be an issue with leaky door seals, may be to blame if water or moisture is detected.
In the presence of any detected leaks, be sure to have the problem identified and addressed before you buy.
The fix may be as simple as blasting some compressed air through the sunroof drain tubes to dislodge any blockages. As a general rule, avoiding the panoramic sunroof in your used Tiguan should keep you from experiencing any leak-related issues.
Note that reported issues are relatively rare against total sales volume.
Some owners have had trans- missions replaced under warranty on earlier model-year units, and others note that a strange and random ‘thump’ as the vehicle comes to a stop in traffic may be a precursor to transmission problems.
The vast majority of Tiguan owners did not experience these problems, though if the automatic gearbox in the unit you’re considering exhibits any unwelcome behaviour, be sure to have it checked out.
The verdict: Tiguan’s most commonly-reported issues look to be easily diagnosed and repaired, and most are reported with low frequency.
Thanks to Volkswagen’s experience with the 2.0T powerplant and 4Motion system, shoppers can take confidence in buying a used copy that passes a basic mechanical and computer scan at a VW dealer.