The Volkswagen Tiguan is a relative latecomer to the compact crossover SUV market. While many competitors already have established small SUV models in their lineups, VW is hoping the Tiguan will lure customers away from a range of other options that have traditionally been somewhat bland.
Because of its compact car-based platform, the Volkswagen Tiguan crossover remains a manageable size. The Tiguan comes in both front-wheel- and all-wheel-drive versions and is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine — the same engine used in sporty relatives such as the Audi A4 and the VW GTI.
Perhaps the Tiguan gets the most attention over its name. A figment of the VW marketing department’s imagination, we’re told it’s a marriage of “tiger” and “iguana.” Keeping with the animal theme, the fictitious mammalian reptile is built on the same chassis as the Jetta and recently resurrected Rabbit. To keep the small SUV from looking like a hopped-up version of the latter, the Tiguan uses styling elements similar to VW’s larger SUV, the Touareg, which gives the Tiguan both a more aggressive and a more premium look than its competitors. The downside, however, is that the Tiguan comes with slightly less space — and a higher price tag.
