Used 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan Crossover SUV Review & Ratings

The Volkswagen Tiguan crossover SUV evolved as a product of the fledgling auto maker Auto 5000 established by the German government in an effort to produce less expensive vehicles to maintain production levels (and jobs) in the car industry. The experiment succeeded and eventually Volkswagen took over production of the Tiguan in 2007 for the 2008 model, reaching the North American market for 2009.

The Tiguan derived its title from the unification of two words, the Tiger and the Iguana, both of which are famed for their power and their speed, an impression that Volkswagen were determined to create with their new SUV. From the outset, the Volkswagen Tiguan took its chassis footprint from the Jetta and Golf, That means the same 71.2 inches width, 174.5 inches height and a ground clearance of just less than seven inches, standard dimensions for this four door, five-seater compact crossover.

Coming powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo-charged engine generating the power of 200 horses and 206 pound per feet of torque, the Volkswagen Tiguan comes with a pairing of six speed automatic transmission as standard with a choice of front wheel or all wheel drive . The S version, which is the most basic, comes with a six speed manual gearbox, although it cannot be ordered as an all wheel drive.

As far as driving is concerned, the Tiguan earns some particularly glowing reviews thanks to its advanced driving mobility, and four wheel independent suspension that allows it to absorb most road bumps with ease while cornering effortlessly.

Carrying five passengers is a piece of cake for the Tiguan, with plenty of leg and head room available for the back seat, with an easily slide-able 60/40 back seat which can also recline. A feature that is unusual for a car of the Tiguan's size.

As far as cargo carrying capabilities are concerned, the Volkswagen Tiguan does its best with the limited space that it has, aided slightly by a gap between the two rear seat benches. The statistics show just 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space with all the seats up, rising to 23.8 cubic feet when they are pushed forward and an uninspiring 56.1 cubic feet when the seats are folded forward completely.

The 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan brings a European flair to the mid- sized compact niche, winning a lot of very positive reviews for its excellent handling, high standards of interior and exterior finish and comfortable ride.