Crouching tiger
VW Tiguan 2-litre TDI
Seldom have we had the opportunity to put a small 4x4 through such a quick, quirky test drive.
What should have been the leisurely pursuit of the sun on a mix of local roads was transformed into little over an hour of pretty searching driving.
On properly surfaced roads, the VW Tiguan provided all the handling and comfort of a superb family car. I sampled both two-wheel drive at cruising speeds, and automatic four-wheel drive when the fast foot was floored to either show off or to have all the stability needed when accelerating hard.
A potentially difficult hill start was termed easy in the Tiguan as we left the Sliema/San ?wann road to join the Regional Road using the notoriously difficult Triq Klarissi. We went from Mag?tab to the top of Victoria Lines on the poorly surfaced tertiary road, and for an off-road finale, with the off-road facility engaged, we left the Salina/Naxxar road to link cross-country with G?allis tower.
This car is fun to drive, and, although in reality, it's quite wide at 2,027mm, it handles so well that the size is readily forgotten.
There is no regular handbrake, but a couple of switches do the work for you. Switch one is a parking brake, which has to be pressed again to release it. Switch two operates the brake temporarily, so beloved of driving test examiners. This part of the braking system cuts out automatically as you begin to accelerate away from the stopping point.
Another pleasing inbuilt facility is the automatic parking device. The driver selects a parking bay with cars to the front and rear, not of necessity immediately to the rear as I discovered. If it's big enough, the warning sensors will automatically give the OK to begin the parking sequence. Pull the car up outside the first car with the wheel angled outwards. Select reverse. Select the appropriate switch. Remove hands from the wheel and simply use the correct pedal and you virtually become a passenger as the car gently manoeuvres into the appropriate parking space.
This is a pretty useful tool in the hands of those who have difficulty reversing into parking bays, and, as an option, a rear-facing camera can also be mounted so that manual parking by the driver can be safely enjoyed.
No, the car will neither drive into a nearby wall, as I tempted it to do, nor will it get too close front or rear to other vehicles, or, I suspect, pedestrians, as the various warning sensors take over.
A great deal of worry is eliminated when driving along our grass-centred tracks because the 'Track and Field' version I had comes with an undershield as standard, built to protect the sump and other vitals from striking a hidden rock. This model also has a 'hill descent' facility and a 'drive off' assist to make driving on difficult terrain easier.
Over the years, we have grown to expect great things from VW and this car is no exception. Apart from providing an incredibly 'safe' passenger cell, a great deal of thought has gone into the way the seats can be moved and folded, including the front passenger seat, so that this vehicle can accommodate an incredible amount of 'gear'. From the driver's seat the all-round visibility is quite exceptional, almost as good as that found when driving my two-seater, and what you lose in reversing visibility is more than compensated for by the warning sensors that give audible warning that something is close behind.
The test car came with the very quiet 138bhp turbo diesel four-motion option with the standard six-speed manual change (six-speed speed automatic on option).
This lovely torquey (236 lb/ft) surges the car forward in intermediate gears or wracks the vehicle up to 100km/h in only 10.7 seconds, flattening out at 195km/h. Its economical to boot, with a combined fuel consumption of only 7.5 litres/100kms covered.
Gone are the days when the interior of this type of vehicle could only be described as 'severe'. Upholstery comes in a choice of fabric or leather; all the controls are user-friendly and easy to understand, including climate control. There is ample storage locker space in the roof, doors and under the seats
To sum it up, this 140 TDI is a most satisfactory package either on or off road. There's space aplenty, great suspension, comfortable seats and effortless steering and usefully powerful brakes, and as the dreaded CO2 combined emissions roll out at 189gm/k, the Tiguan even has a usefully clean engine too.
At a glance
Engine: 2 litre TDI
Bhp, 138. Torque, 320 Nm. Emissions up to Euro 5 (to become compulsory in 2009).
Dimensions: Length 4,407mm, width 2,027mm, height1,635mm.
Luggage space: from 695 to 1,989 litres.
Weight: 1,423-1,600 kgs.
Towing: 1,600 kg max.
Price: from €38,000 (Lm16,500).
What should have been the leisurely pursuit of the sun on a mix of local roads was transformed into little over an hour of pretty searching driving.
On properly surfaced roads, the VW Tiguan provided all the handling and comfort of a superb family car. I sampled both two-wheel drive at cruising speeds, and automatic four-wheel drive when the fast foot was floored to either show off or to have all the stability needed when accelerating hard.
A potentially difficult hill start was termed easy in the Tiguan as we left the Sliema/San ?wann road to join the Regional Road using the notoriously difficult Triq Klarissi. We went from Mag?tab to the top of Victoria Lines on the poorly surfaced tertiary road, and for an off-road finale, with the off-road facility engaged, we left the Salina/Naxxar road to link cross-country with G?allis tower.
This car is fun to drive, and, although in reality, it's quite wide at 2,027mm, it handles so well that the size is readily forgotten.
There is no regular handbrake, but a couple of switches do the work for you. Switch one is a parking brake, which has to be pressed again to release it. Switch two operates the brake temporarily, so beloved of driving test examiners. This part of the braking system cuts out automatically as you begin to accelerate away from the stopping point.
Another pleasing inbuilt facility is the automatic parking device. The driver selects a parking bay with cars to the front and rear, not of necessity immediately to the rear as I discovered. If it's big enough, the warning sensors will automatically give the OK to begin the parking sequence. Pull the car up outside the first car with the wheel angled outwards. Select reverse. Select the appropriate switch. Remove hands from the wheel and simply use the correct pedal and you virtually become a passenger as the car gently manoeuvres into the appropriate parking space.
This is a pretty useful tool in the hands of those who have difficulty reversing into parking bays, and, as an option, a rear-facing camera can also be mounted so that manual parking by the driver can be safely enjoyed.
No, the car will neither drive into a nearby wall, as I tempted it to do, nor will it get too close front or rear to other vehicles, or, I suspect, pedestrians, as the various warning sensors take over.
A great deal of worry is eliminated when driving along our grass-centred tracks because the 'Track and Field' version I had comes with an undershield as standard, built to protect the sump and other vitals from striking a hidden rock. This model also has a 'hill descent' facility and a 'drive off' assist to make driving on difficult terrain easier.
Over the years, we have grown to expect great things from VW and this car is no exception. Apart from providing an incredibly 'safe' passenger cell, a great deal of thought has gone into the way the seats can be moved and folded, including the front passenger seat, so that this vehicle can accommodate an incredible amount of 'gear'. From the driver's seat the all-round visibility is quite exceptional, almost as good as that found when driving my two-seater, and what you lose in reversing visibility is more than compensated for by the warning sensors that give audible warning that something is close behind.
The test car came with the very quiet 138bhp turbo diesel four-motion option with the standard six-speed manual change (six-speed speed automatic on option).
This lovely torquey (236 lb/ft) surges the car forward in intermediate gears or wracks the vehicle up to 100km/h in only 10.7 seconds, flattening out at 195km/h. Its economical to boot, with a combined fuel consumption of only 7.5 litres/100kms covered.
Gone are the days when the interior of this type of vehicle could only be described as 'severe'. Upholstery comes in a choice of fabric or leather; all the controls are user-friendly and easy to understand, including climate control. There is ample storage locker space in the roof, doors and under the seats
To sum it up, this 140 TDI is a most satisfactory package either on or off road. There's space aplenty, great suspension, comfortable seats and effortless steering and usefully powerful brakes, and as the dreaded CO2 combined emissions roll out at 189gm/k, the Tiguan even has a usefully clean engine too.
At a glance
Engine: 2 litre TDI
Bhp, 138. Torque, 320 Nm. Emissions up to Euro 5 (to become compulsory in 2009).
Dimensions: Length 4,407mm, width 2,027mm, height1,635mm.
Luggage space: from 695 to 1,989 litres.
Weight: 1,423-1,600 kgs.
Towing: 1,600 kg max.
Price: from €38,000 (Lm16,500).