![]() ![]() The Tiguan received the highest rating, good, in all Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crashworthiness tests. The Tiguan includes a spot under the cargo floor for storing the cargo cover when it’s not in use.Ģ019 Volkswagen Tiguan | images by Christian Lantry Safety While the CR-V’s rating was driven by the SUV’s largest-in-test cargo volume, the Tiguan - which had a bit less cargo space with its third row folded - benefited from features like a sliding second-row seat with a 40/20/40-split backrest, which enhanced its versatility. The Tiguan’s cargo score tied the CR-V’s for best in our comparison. The touchscreens in the Cherokee and Tucson had slightly better usability overall. There are touch-sensitive controls on either side of the larger touchscreen, and you’ll have to be mindful not to brush against them when using the volume and tuning knobs, or you’ll end up in a different part of the system. SE and higher trims have three USB ports instead of the single port on the base S. The materials are complemented by luxury-grade features, like an available all-digital instrument cluster screen and details like a steering wheel finished with intricate stitching.Ģ019 Volkswagen Tiguan | images by Christian Lantry Multimedia and ControlsĪ 6.5-inch touchscreen multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity is standard, but higher trims get an 8-inch touchscreen and SEL trims add built-in navigation. There was a richness and consistency to the materials that wasn’t present in the other SUVs we tested even the Tiguan’s hard-plastic trim seemed more upscale. You should expect a lot from a $40,000-plus compact SUV, and our Tiguan SEL Premium’s cabin largely delivered. ![]() This wheel-and-tire choice likely contributed to the Tiguan’s handling prowess, but we’d gladly give up some handling capability for better ride quality if that’s what the SUV’s available 17-, 18- and 19-inch wheels offer. The Tiguan was the only SUV in our comparison test with 20-inch wheels, and they were fitted with the lowest-profile tires. The significance of that will largely depend on where you live: On decent roads, the Tiguan’s ride quality was no worse than the other SUVs we tested (they all skew firm), but potholed roads revealed a brittle, harsh ride that was less forgiving than the other SUVs we tested - especially the Cherokee, which has a refined ride on even the worst pavement. The Tiguan’s clear handling advantage does come with a downside: an at-times-harsh ride. On our mileage drive, the Tiguan’s real-world fuel economy of 26.5 mpg was mid-pack the RAV4’s 29 mpg was the best. There’s no persistent engine drone like you get in the Rogue and RAV4. There’s some gas-pedal lag when accelerating from a standstill, but selecting the automatic transmission’s Sport mode erases it. The Tiguan accelerates up to highway speeds well enough, but high-speed passing power is modest. All trim levels are powered by a 184-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that drives an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Tiguan’s drivetrain makes enough power to avoid feeling sluggish. The Subaru Forester’s engaging driving experience also impressed, but its highway manners fell short of the Tiguan’s. ![]() And thanks to a settled, stable feel on the highway, it was the only one I’d be interested in taking on a long road trip the others felt too skittish at highway speeds. With light-effort, responsive steering and crisp handling on suburban streets and interstate highways alike, the Tiguan was the most fun to drive. The Tiguan’s driving manners set it apart. For more details on what we tested and how they finished, check out our 2019 Compact SUV Challenge.Ģ019 Volkswagen Tiguan | photo by Christian Lantry How It Drives To get a read on the current state of the market, we tested seven 2019 models - the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Jeep Cherokee, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4 and Volkswagen Tiguan - over the course of a few days. The popularity of compact SUVs is booming as shoppers trade their cars for the higher seating position, greater cargo versatility and available all-wheel drive SUVs offer. Versus the competition: In a recent comparison test of well-equipped compact SUVs, including segment heavyweights like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, the Volkswagen Tiguan came in first thanks to an unmatched combination of driving refinement, interior luxury and occupant comfort, as well as strong showings in our cargo versatility and child-safety seat evaluations. The verdict: With sporty driving characteristics and a premium interior, the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan isn’t like a lot of other compact SUVs available today - and that’s a good thing. 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan | images by Christian Lantry ![]()
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