BUYING USED: VW TIGUAN (2007 - 2015) Used VW Tiguan holds price
It might have been late to the SUV, but it was worth waiting for, writes Dave Moore.
Volkswagen’s Tiguan was a little late to the party compared with similarly-sized Japanese C-segment SUVs, but VW’s first crossover was derived from the Golf 5 platform and displayed all the benefits of being so connected by sticking to the company’s usual strengths of quality and refinement. Popular from the word go, the VW actually benefits from not trying to be a sevenseater (that job went to the Touran MPV) as with space for five on its extended Golf platform and with a rear seat set-up that could slide to and fro, depending on whether passenger of load space was needed, the Tiguan was nothing if not practicable.
The Tiguan’s cabin was very much its own, with eight vents rather than the Golf’s four and despite being taller than the Golf by a few centimetres, its driving position feels more car-like than most SUV’s and with patently superior materials when compared with the RAV-4s and CR-Vs, it almost feels like a luxury car by comparison, especially if you’re lucky enough to get a fullspecced top of the range model with leather and all the fruit. Every Tiguan comes with a good safety manifest, with stability control, front, side- and window airbags, and ISOFIX child seat mounts, while even the entry-level models get with air-con and an MP3-compatible stereo. Spend more for newer versions and a leather-trimmed wheel and shift lever is included, as well as attractive trim and a touch-screen for the stereo as well as parking sensors.
Sporting Tiguans can be had with firmer suspension, automatic headlights and front sports seats, while the top-of-therange R-line adds a bodykit, aluminum pedals and a multifunction steering wheel. You can opt for front or all-wheel-drive city of country versions of the Tiguan, with the latter having a cleaner front underside and chassis protection as well as hill descent control. Initially the Tiguan’s engine range consisted of a 110kW 1.4-litre TSI petrol and a 102kW 2.0-litre diesel. In 2008, these were joined by a 124kW 2.0-litre diesel and two petrols with 124kW or 145kW on offer. Best of all, however is the delightfully frugal 102kW Bluemotion superclean version of the 2.0-litre diesel. Simple, but pleasing styling. VW badge always adds street cred in an used-car category. Spacious, well-organised cabin, with top build quality and a good choice of materials around the dash, and console as well as major and minor controls. Tiguans have good selection of engines, though New Zealand didn’t get them all as new cars, with many coming in as used imports (usually loaded with gear). Six-speed manuals are slick and easy to drive, albeit rare, while the six-speed DSG automatic is a cracker. The Tiguan affords a choice of twowheel-drive or VW’s 4Motion allwheel-drive system which is excellent in slippery conditions. The Tiguan is an excellent drive on the road, though more sporting wheel choices can make the ride a little firm. The top-end diesel Bluemotion car would be our choice, with 4Motion, though lack of the latter wouldn’t be a dealbreaker if all you need is the clearance and ride height, but didn’t do much genuine off-road work. Failing the best diesel, the 1.4-litre TSi engine is a honey, as is the slightly rarer 1.8-litre TSi and they each work well with the DSG transmission. Later models even offered the seven-speed unit which has obvious extra benefits. It looked old-fashioned when it came out and time hasn’t improved that aspect, though its shape and profile do command respect thanks to the car’s reputation. In fact, compared with partner Skoda’s slightly smaller Yeti SUV, the Tiguan seems older than it is. Door handles that stick in the open position, and some earlier models’ occasional fuelpump failures were reported on earlier, though those issues will have been fixed or designed-out (check your paperwork).
The aircon can suffer from switchgear problems which prevents hot or cold from being selected, but at least it’s not the condenser or compressor. An automatic parking brake failing to release, can also be problem, while apart from a firm ride on sporty low profiled wheels and tyres, there’s not a lot of negatives to report. The Tiguan wasn’t cheap new and it’s not that inexpensive when shopped for as a used car. This is both good an bad, for though it means you’ll pay more than for the usual used Japanese SUV suspects, the Tiguan holds its value throughout its life, so when you come to sell it on, it will fetch you more cash too. Keep any paperwork and enjoy knowing that its enjoyment isn’t being eaten away by depreciation as quickly as some in the class. You can get a used 2015 Tiguan 2WD with four figures on the clock for well under $40,000, and if you can spare a bit more you could snap up the 2014, 999km Tiguan Tdi diesel 7-speed we found for $46,990. Go a bit older in your search and the same spec car with 11,000km and a petrol 2.0-litre engine can be had for $44,900.
You don’t have to pay anything near the above process if you look hard enough, as this $23,990 Tiguan 2.0 TDI 103KW NZ New car from 2008 suggests, on 98,500km.
However, the best we found, without too much effort was a 38,647km, 2.0-litre diesel automatic from 2012 for $32,990.
The lowest we got to was a 2010 2.0L TSi with 101,767km, for $19,990. (We told you Tiguans hold their prices!) The diesel Bluemotion model will return an impressive average of 5.3-L/100km, with even the most sporting petrol version returning 8L/100km, while with CO2 emissions ranging from 139g/km to 199g/km, you can’t really be accused of being a ‘‘gas guzzler, ‘‘ even though the Tiguan you’ve chosen looks tough enough to be one! You could opt for the Land Rover Freelander II, but ignore the thirsty sixes and stick with diesel.
The earliest BMW X3 is a good bet too, while the only other European SUV we’d look would be the Skoda Yeti which is even better built than the VW.
There’s also the series II Volvo XC70 if you don’t mind a wagon.