| Isn't it annoying if you have been waiting patiently at a | | | | folds forward for extra long loads. |
| bar for ages to be served and someone breezes in | | | | It has a front-end design that allows it to mount steep |
| and gets served straight away. In most walks of life | | | | banks without scraping the bumper, and comes with a |
| there is invariably some opportunist waiting around the | | | | sophisticated battery of electronic off-road aids. These |
| corner to steal the limelight from the rest of us. | | | | include hill-descent control, pioneered by Land Rover, |
| With this thought in mind it seems that Volkswagen | | | | which brakes the car to crawling speed on steep |
| was able to time the launch of their compact 4x4 to | | | | slippery slopes, and a hill-hold control system that |
| perfection especially as they have sat back for a | | | | operates in conjunction with the electronic handbrake |
| number of years and waited to see what the | | | | so you don't inadvertently roll backwards off a cliff. |
| competition was doing and then simply breezed in with | | | | The car's electronic brain also activates a limited slip |
| the Tiguan. | | | | differential to eliminate wheel spin, alters the brakes to |
| This was a masterstroke on the part of VW as they | | | | suit loose surfaces and reduces the accelerator's |
| were able to assess all the shortcomings of the other | | | | sensitivity and there's even a compass if the sat nav |
| vehicles in this class and introduce new technology | | | | does pack up. |
| that was way ahead of anything else on the market. | | | | All Tiguans come equipped with permanent four-wheel |
| Some would argue that the Tiguan was a little late to | | | | drive known as 4Motion, in VW language. This divides |
| arrive at the party but I believe that by biding their time | | | | power equally between all four wheels, ensuring |
| VW has been able to offer a vehicle that is simply light | | | | maximum traction. Once on the move it will send 90% |
| years ahead of its rivals. | | | | of the engine's energy to the front wheels if conditions |
| Sure there have been successful offerings from other | | | | are good, in order to improve fuel economy. |
| manufacturers in the meantime, not least Honda with | | | | The Tiguan is fitted with a 2 litre direct injection 140bhp |
| its CR-V, Mitsubishi with its Outlander which has | | | | turbo diesel which is considerably quieter than clattery |
| spawned the Citroen C-Crosser and Peugeot 4007 | | | | old-school diesels, especially at motorway cruising |
| and Nissan with the Qashqai. However, it is the Land | | | | speed. |
| Rover Freelander that the Tiguan has its eye on. | | | | The Tiguan's impeccable road manners are |
| Although the Tiguan is not the most flamboyant off | | | | complemented by its comfortable and well appointed |
| roader, it is almost certainly one of the best conceived. | | | | cabin, which is also exceptionally well laid out. The sat |
| For a start it comes packed with gizmos that leave | | | | nav screen is sited conveniently high, the instruments |
| drivers of an old Land Rover Discovery like mine | | | | and controls are easily read and the electronic |
| slack-jawed in amazement. These include an | | | | handbrake gives plenty of storage space between the |
| electronic self-parking system, a rear parking camera, | | | | front seats. |
| a panoramic sunroof and a sat nav and stereo | | | | Also impressive given this is a family car, is that the |
| system that can store 30 gigabytes worth of your | | | | back seats are equally as accommodating, and when |
| favorite garage tunes or alternatively nursery rhymes | | | | slid into the rearmost position still provide generous |
| when the kids are on board. | | | | legroom. The seat which is split 60:40 is easily folded |
| More practical is the fact that the Tiguan can tow | | | | too. The boot is well designed and reasonably large, |
| 2½ tons, more than any other car in its class, this | | | | even with the rear seats pushed fully back. |
| is accompanied by a neat, optional pop-out tow hook. | | | | Practical design combined with innovative technology is |
| Further features include a steering system that | | | | what VW is all about these days and when you factor |
| prevents the steering wheel from breaking your | | | | in a standard of finish that's a cut above you can see |
| thumbs during serious off-roading, a sat nav system | | | | why people are prepared to spend a bit extra on a |
| that can work out where you are even if you are off | | | | Volkswagen. |
| road and a front passenger seat whose backrest | | | | |