Changing of the guard for Volkswagen (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Changing of the guard for Volkswagen

1:12pm Wednesday 2nd December 2009 in

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It’s easy to see why the old 4x4s became such a figure of a hate.

The huge, expensive-to-run machines were symbols of extravagance, which didn’t sit well with the green types.

But the 4x4, or SUV (sports utility vehicle) as we are encouraged to call them, have changed. They’re still big and powerful, but – thanks to some clever engineering and design – they are relatively environmentally-friendly and fun to drive. In fact, some are almost limousine-like in quality.

Take Volkswagen’s Tiguan, a smaller, neater, more affordable version of the chunky Touareg.

Alongside Ford’s smashing Kuga and Toyota’s RAV4 (a car which gets better as time goes on), the Tiguan is a smart and elegant model. Competitively-priced and smartly-designed, I believe this is the best VW for a generation, and that’s saying something when you consider how well-respected the Golf, Scirocco and Passat are.

It’s a deceiving car. Roughly the same size as a Ford Focus, it manages to squeeze in an enormous amount of cabin and luggage space. More than that, it offers refinement that you simply wouldn’t have found in a £20,000 4x4 five years ago.

It has SUV ground clearance and can negotiate a muddy field, plus the excellent driving position advantages of a tall car, but it’s actually as compact as a socially acceptable five-door hatch. It’s actually narrower than a Focus, which means it feels like a family car to drive.

The driving position is one of the key attractions of the Tiguan and its compact SUV competitors. Drivers rightly or wrongly shamed into downsizing from a full-size SUV will feel comfortably lofty behind the wheel, and the view over the Tiguan’s stubby, sloping bonnet makes for safe progress on the motorway and means the Tiguan is perfectly manoeuvrable around town.

More than that, you can still park it relatively easily in a car park.

Many perceive this type of vehicle to have high fuel consumption, something not helped by the standardised image of the large SUV driver bombing along the fast lane, sucking the planet’s oil reserves dry.

Tested here is the flagship R Line (sports) model, but there are four other versions – S, SE, Sport and Escape – and five engines, from 1.4 to 2.0 litres.

Even this relatively powerful model, which can soar to 60mph in under eight seconds, returns almost 40mpg on a run.

It has 4Motion, a sophisticated four-wheel-drive system which maximises traction on-road or off-road. Safe to say, VW are leaders in this field, having pioneered it on the Golf and Bora in 1998.

Diesel engines are good, but frankly I’d find it had to be swayed from this petrol unit, which is flexible, refined and very quick to respond. It makes the Tiguan as smooth around town as it is comfortable on the motorway or capable off the beaten track. With plenty of performance low down in the rev range, the Tiguan gets up to speed quickly and with a minimum of fuss.

The handling is also noticeably unflustered. Naturally, there’s more body roll and less precision from the steering than you might get from a standard hatchback with a lower centre of gravity, but the Tiguan always feels composed and assured. The 4Motion adds to that feeling of security, particularly in the wet.

In true Volkswagen style, the interior is comfortable, smart and expertly put together. Hardly stunning, but it is very easy to live with. The handbrake (or rather fingerbrake) isn’t to my liking. Give me a big old-fashioned handbrake any day rather than this slim button affair.

Standard trim for the SE model makes for a comfortable existence for families, with full electrics and air-con, plus a sensible layout in terms of cubbyholes and practicality.

The high quality of build and materials means that upgrades such as leather, the excellent Volkswagen group sat-nav and audio system and the clever parking assist package are highly desirable, giving the interior a premium feel; but they don’t come cheap. In standard form, there’s nothing downmarket about the ambience, and the exterior styling is equally appealing.

Based on this evidence, the SUV is far from dead. Instead, the old guard is making way for a smarter new generation. The cars themselves are changing; it’s probably time public perceptions shifted, too.

Tiguan doesn’t mean anything. Apparently, it’s a combination of Tiger and Leguan (German for iguana).

Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 R Line TSI 4Motion: PRICE: £22,452 on the road. It starts at £19,295 on the road. ENGINE: a 1,984cc petrol unit developing 200ps via six-speed manual transmission as standard, driving front wheels. PERFORMANCE: Maximum speed 130mph, 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds. CO2 EMISSIONS: 213g/km. ECONOMY: urban (town) 23.3mpg; extra-urban (country) 39.8mpg; combined 31.7mpg. INSURANCE: Group 14. WARRANTY: Three years, 60,000 miles.