2009 VOLKSWAGEN Tiguan

HUNK OF JUNK

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 1 Interior Rating: Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: Technology Rating: 1 Value Rating:

I purchased my 2009 Tiguan used in 2012 and it only had 20k miles on it. Now I'm pushing 90k miles and sadly I still owe 6K. It all started in September when the timing chain mysteriously jumped, basically destroying the top end of the motor. The VW dealership fixed all that for 5.3k. I complained so loudly to VW of America they actually sent me a check for 2K because they know their car is a lemon. Even the guys at my dealership in Topeka, Kansas are saying "oh yes, these Tiguan engines have a lot of problems" Thanks Captain Obvious! 6 weeks after that disaster the transmission fluid cooler springs a leak, draining all the fluid, and destroying the transmission. No dash lights came on! That was another 25 hundred including a deal on a junk yard tranny and a hook up with a local mechanic, not the dealership. I tried to get VW of American to pony up some money to help with the transmission. Their response: "We made one good will payment for the last problem, we won't be doing it again." Now there's an oil leak. Dave at VW & BMW of Topeka tells me that the crank case vent valve went bad causing the rear main seal to blow out spewing oil all over the undercarriage of the car and on any parking spot I use. That's another 18hundred. Not under warranty. A terrible car. A bad experience. Never VW again. Ever.

DO NOT BUY A TIGUAN!!MONEY PITS

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 1 Safety Rating: 1 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 1

I purchased this car used a month ago and I wish I did my homework before buying this car.We have owned it for little of a month and have put in $1100 for a seat belt sensor and now it is again at vw for breaking down on us for a time chain that broke that was fixed 10 months ago.Time Chains are very expensive and should last well over 100,000 miles on a car not 8,000 miles 10 months ago.I have owned many vw and this one is unbelievable.I will never again buy a vw very unhappy with vw of america and vw customer service.We have owned it for a month and have already put well over $4000 into it.

16 Months of Funs

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 4 Safety Rating: Technology Rating: 4 Value Rating: 4

I bought this car with just over 60,000 miles and it now has 75,000 miles on it, so I thought I would chime in here. So far this has been a great car, and after about $1,000 in maintenance since I've owned it, it seems like it will be good to hit the 100,000 mark, like many of the other 2009 Tiguans for sale around Northern VA right now. It's a really fun car to drive, and I keep my Acura TL in the driveway on most days now. It has breezed through two state inspections. We love the larger, optional sunroof. It turns on a dime and is so much quieter than our 2012 Subaru Outback and my previous small SUV, a 2001 Mazda Tribute that the Tiguan replaced as our "3rd" car. The styling is somewhat timeless too -- when I got it in late 2014, my co-workers and neighbors thought it was a brand new car! The only real con is no bluetooth -- although it does have the phone icon on the steering wheel -- and it does have an aux in, so there's that. I did have a pesky EPC light come on intermittently, which cost about $600 to fix, so that was the bulk of the expense over 16 months. The local VW dealer has been good, even though I didn't buy the car there.

Be Cautious & Do your homework

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 3 Safety Rating: 3 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 3

If you're interested in the Tiguan I strongly suggest you make sure the models are 2012 and above b/c anything later seems like the ball was dropped on mechanical issues and wasn't addressed until the reproduction of the later models i.e. rear main seal or coolant hose. Due to my consecutive visits majority of the dealership knows me by name and face

Some of these reviews are like looking in a mirror

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 2 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 1 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 1 Value Rating: 1

If at all you are on the fence about this car, hope off the fence and go in another direction. Up until about 82,000 this car was great, some minor interior wear and tear, but I attributed that to having kids. Well in on year, I have replaced my lights four or more times, my intake manifold and pumps have been replaced, and my entire door latch system has been changed on the drives side door. In all, this year alone this car has cost me over 3000. I am floored. When I had a note on this car, I did not even spend that in total. Every day I now get in the car and pray no dash lights come on, and the car just drives. Owning this car is pushing me to begin looking for another car, and definitely not another VW. I feel this car is made of glorified plastic. I see VW on the road from the late '80's and early '90's. I am so dismayed as to why my vehicle isn't hanging on. Had I been given just a glimpse into the future with this car, I would have chosen a Toyota or a Honda.

Great if you only want to lease it but don’t keep

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: Safety Rating: 2 Technology Rating: 1 Value Rating: 1

I have a 2009 Tiguan. It was a great car until it hit 55,000 miles. First the Freon leaked out due to a faulty pressure switch. A few months later the check engine light came on indicating a cylinder misfire. Dealer said it was due to carbon on the valves and it needed an $800.00 service. Shortly after that the front crankcase seal went. Total for the 2 repairs $1423.11 for a car with 66,000 miles on it. From reading other comments on the internet this is a common occurrence for this vehicle.

I so wanted to love it...

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 1 Safety Rating: 5 Technology Rating: 5 Value Rating: 1

This car drives like a dream. It is the peppiest little car in its class; however, at 88,000 miles it is a money pit. I am so sad to get rid of this car. It is stylish and performs, but I have poured more than $4k into in in 3 years and I am now facing needing to replace the engine because there is no compression. There were no warnings- just kabam. I will NEVER buy another VW.

My best driving car ever... but I can't keep it

Performance: 0 Comfort: 0 Fuel Economy: 0 Fun To Drive: 0 Interior Design: 0 Exterior Design: 0 Build Quality: 0 Reliability: 0 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 1 Safety Rating: 4 Technology Rating: 3 Value Rating: 2

I love driving this car... I've even posted glowing reviews on Facebook about how great it drives on the open highway, on twisting roads, and in the city. But, at 89,000 miles, I've spent more money on maintenance than I spent in 250,000 miles on my last car, a Toyota Camry. Unfortunately, the tales of woe on Edmunds seem to be true.... replaced the intake manifold, replaced a door handle, had many lights burn out, replaced water pump, thermostat, and cooling fans. And a few other things. Check engine light is glowing about 20% of the time. I'm very sad about needing to give up on this car, but I can't imagine the coming problems if I hold onto it. It might work out OK for those who drive fewer miles but I need my car for some long distance trips. Ultimately, reliability trumps performance. VW really needs to deal with this. I'll never buy another one.

Very disappointed!!

Performance: 3 Comfort: 2 Fuel Economy: 1 Fun To Drive: 2 Interior Design: 2 Exterior Design: 3 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 2 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 2 Reliability Rating: 1

One of the worst Volkswagens I have ever driven. A car with less than 70k miles had to get a new engines, throttle issues, oil leak issue, and much more. I have never had any issue with other makers such as Toyota and Nissan. I highly do not recommend this vehicle or anything else from VW please do not purchase VW it so unreliable.

Lots of Problems...where do I start?

Performance: 3 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 2 Reliability: 2 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 2

Bought the car as 2009 certified. It was great for about a month or so and then a coil went bad. OK, no biggie, $50 co-pay and i'm good to go. Next, the car starts to overheat when the AC is on. I bring it in, they can't find anything wrong, I drive it, it gets hot, I bring it back, etc. Eventually they replace one of the fans. Then the other fan. Then the water pump, then the radiator. OK, that seems to do it. But then, what is that moldy smell and why is there an inch of water on the floor boards? OMG, there is mold growing under all of the floor mats. Turns out the sunroof drain tubes had separated and the water poured into the cabin. Just waiting for the other show to drop now.

worry about quality

Performance: 3 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 3 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 3 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 3

Unfortunately, my 2009 Tiguan has big problems. At 36000miles, water pump was broken. At 40000 miles, oil is leaky. It cost me about $2000 to fix the problems.

my first car

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 4 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 4

I am a first time car buyer and I really like this car. I bought a used 09 with 57k miles on it in December and now it has 73k. I heard stories of German cars having a lot of trouble after 60k miles but I haven't had any yet. Yes the brakes squeak a little but I'm used to that I drove a Land Rover Discovery in high school. My tiggy has leather seats, xm, and bluetooth. really all you need. it gets me where I need to go...I would say the most unfortunate thing is that it only takes 91 gas and I'm in CA it's super expensive. Other than that I plan to have this car for at least another 5 years until I can get my dream car the merc glk :)

Fuel injector issues/money pit

Performance: 2 Comfort: 3 Fuel Economy: 1 Fun To Drive: 3 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 2 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 1

16 fuel injectors..3 throttle bodies... Nonstop breakdowns. Google Tiguan fuel injectors and you will not buy. Dangerous erratic acceleration out pf the blue when it breaks.

Stay far away

Performance: 1 Comfort: 3 Fuel Economy: 1 Fun To Drive: 3 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 1 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 1

Love driving this car but... I'm the second owner since 63000km 16 fuel injectors and 3 bad throttle bodies later I have decided that I'm done with constant breakdowns. For sale 1 tiguan 123000km

At 70K what you could expect

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 2 Reliability: 3 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 3

I bought my Tiquan new in 2009. It ran well up to 60K. In the last 10K I need a front drive axel ($650), a new manifold / seals as sensor light is on and there is carbon buildup ($700), yesterday it needed a pressure switch for the AC ($340), and then a electronic ignition problem caused a plug to blow ($150). Not sure what to do at this point, trade or keep putting money into the car. There has not been a lot post by people who had the car for 3-4 years.

Un-Reliable after 50K miles!

Performance: 3 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 2 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 1

I bought the car brand new in 2009 and it was a great drive at first. The car was awesome for the first 2 years. I drove it about 20k miles a year. It was so comfy and fun to drive esp on long trips. But, after about 50k miles, I had so many problems!! Those dreaded EPC lights would always come on! I ended up taking a huge loss on the car with another 1.5 years to pay off but I had safety concerns with a car that would stop accelerating in the middle of the road. I have heard the myths bout VW electrical issues but did not believe them until I bought my own VW. Unfortunately they are true.

Better build than our BMW!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

Over 3 years now with our 2009 Canadian Highline model Tiguan, and we still love it. 48K kms and no problems. Took a road trip in June through the Rocky mountains and got awesome fuel economy! Winter driving we swap out our 18inch rims for 16inch aluminum ones with Gislavid winter tires (from Finland) and can plow through snow that the bottom of the chassis is dragging on. It takes 5 days after a major snowfall before the County plows our road, and we have alread had one dump of 35 centimetres and last week another 25cm.

Love my Little Tiggi

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

I bought this car with 20k miles, and have put 10k in the 2 months I've had it. And i'm happy to report that I have not had any issues with it. Only problem I have is the squeeky/grinding of the brakes. or rattling when I suddenly step on them. It came with a navigation system that was installed by the first owner and it irritates me. radio wont come on when I want, cant hook up my ipod or hear music from my phone on pandora. And the fact that the radio shuts down and tells me "I am going over the speed limit kills me!! But overall I'm happy with it..

So Many Problems!!!!

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 1 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 2 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 2

I am just ending my 4 year lease and I have had so many issues with this car that have added up. Although the look of the car is very nice and it's fun to drive and I never had any major mechanical problems - I still had issue after issue with this car. A few weeks after I drove it off the lot the guage that showed how much gas I had in my tank was broken. I had to take it back twice for them to fix it. Since then my radio just goes off when it wants, the back-up camera stopped working, I had to get new tires and breaks, there is a horrible moisture problem and it always smells like mold, the AC doesn't come out cold .it goes on!I would stay away from this car ulnless you want a heacache

grinding brakes

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 2 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 2

At 40k the rear brakes are shot. The care has always braked well. Front brakes are still good. Only clue was grinding metal to metal. The inside brake pad (the one actuated by the caliper's piston) is totally worn down. The outside pad is still very good. It's either poorly designed or the servo actuated emergency brake might be the cause. We have never noticed any brake drag.

Lots of issues

Performance: 3 Comfort: 3 Fuel Economy: 1 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 3 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 3

I leased the 2009 Tiguan and after doing that I will never buy another VW again. Within the first 6 months one of the door handles came off in my hand. I had it put back on but it would fall off every few months. I also had severe leakage problems with my sunroof and had the interior ceiling reupholstered- twice. This car has serious moisture problems and the windows are completely fogged up every day. I need to keep a towel in my car to wipe down the window everytime I need to drive somewhere. The mildew smell is awful and there is growing in the car. I'm grossed out by the car & can't wait to get rid of it. It's ashame b/c it's adorable and drives well- just has too many issues.

Jury still out

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 2 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 2

I love (d) this car until it stranded me on a highway in France for no reason at all. 15,000 miles on the car and after driving 900 miles in two days it just stopped on a bridge 10 minutes from our destination. Now, the French VW dealership has had my car for 3 days and has no idea what the issue is. Who knows what the outcome will be, but service from VW is definitely lacking. Doesn't help that the French work 9-5 with a two hour break in the middle of the day either. Now I have spent most of my vacation on the phone trying to get this resolved before Friday comes since they don't work on weekends.

I will not get another VW again -

Performance: 3 Comfort: 3 Fuel Economy: 2 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 2 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 1

As a prior VW fan (4 times) ..It was with great regret I had to report back to Edmunds how shoddy I thought the Tiguan 2009 model was. I see we're well into the 2011 timeframe now and newer versions are out, however, problems still persist. Sure, the service teams get it taken care of and paperwork is smoothed over. Driving it out of the dealership on Day 1 was pure bliss, but one seriously short-lived. The issue is with engine / instrumentation and vehicle performance. I had multiple Electronic Power Steering and Engine checklights appear during the past 2 years recently towed back by VW. I would be hard-pressed to get another VW

DO NOT BUY - LEMON

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 1 Fun To Drive: 1 Interior Design: 2 Exterior Design: 2 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 2 Reliability Rating: 1

This car is the biggest lemon i have ever purchased at 44000 miles i have had to spend over 2000 dollars in non warranty computer repairs on the car is still not fixed correctly. I am giving the car back early cause i am afraid of how much more this car will cost me if i keep it the last 8 months of my lease. I would rather give the car back and pay off the eat the rest of the lease. Do not buy

Best Vehicle I have owned

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I have owned my Tiguan since October 2008 and have never had a problem. The 2.0 Turbo engine is fantastic and gives you the acceleration you need when you push down on the gas pedal. The transmission is smooth and both the interior and exterior are built with quality materials. This is the best vehicle I have owned in my over 30 years of driving. In addition, I was T-boned by a driver who ran a Red light doing 30 – 40 mph who crash strait into my driver’s door and walked away without a scratch due to the safety features and quality build of the Tiguan. As to people who complain about pulsating brakes during hard braking – that’s call Antilock brakes. Also, if you have a sunroof you need to close it when it rains. That will cut down on your mold problems.

Lots of issues with the tiguan

Performance: 3 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 3 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 3

First I want to start out by saying I am glad I found this site, because after reading most of the posts on here I realize I am not alone. Normally I don't post to sites like this but if this stuff helps somebody else going through what I am going through then it's worth it. I bought my car in Arizona in november of 2009 so I have owned it for 1 yr 4 1/2 mths. I will list the problems I have incurred so far. By the way I now live in northern California and I have apprx 30,000 miles. Satellite radio always says linking Back up camera gets stuck Drivers side cornering light went out Brakes jerk when stopping abruptly even at slower speed Emergency brake sticks Burns out cell phone chargers- gone through 5 oem Sensor had to be replaced. Mold inside my car! For the past few months we have been getting a lot of rain in northern California. I have noticed a lot of moisture on the inside of my car, mainly on the windows. I have to dry it every morning with a towel. It would be too much for a defroster to handle. I didn't think anything of it other than it being a pain in the butt. This morning I noticed mold growing underneath all 4 of my floor mats. I removed them from my car and wiped down the carpets with resolve carpet cleaner. I wasn't able to get it all because it is growing under the seats as well. This is a huge problem for me because I am allergic to mold. I have broken out in hives and didn't realize that was the cause. 

Vehicle Rollover Safety

Performance: 3 Comfort: 3 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 3 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

Just FYI: Purchased this vehicle for my wife; last week she was side-swiped by a taxi. Car rolled over on one side (driver's side), then righted itself and landed on top of a third vehicle with 2 wheels in the air. The build on the vehicle saved her life; without the driver's side airbags, my wife would be gone!!! Insurance is replacing the vehicle, and I'm getting her a Tiguan again. Thank goodness for VW!!!

POOR PERFORMANCE ENGINE

Performance: 1 Comfort: 1 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 3 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 1 Performance Rating: 1 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 1

From the start witht he purchase of this vehicle I have had nothing but issues. First the dealship messed up the paperwork and we were called back in at least 3 times. NOW after a year old the engine just stopped on the PA turnpike, stranded me there for 3 days. The dealer said that the fuel injector ALREADY needs to be replaced! VW left us out there with no help! They said because I was over my warranty by a 1000 miles. Nice 1st time I have ever bought a VW and will be the last! MY GM car's never gave me issues like this in such a new car. Oh and CD's get caught in the CD player, it grinds, but maintenance said it's ok!!

Fuel Injectors

Performance: 1 Comfort: 3 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 3 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 3 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 1 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 3

I bought this car, needing a small SUV for work and had a lot of problems. Since January, its been in the dealership 6 times with fuel injector problems....all under warranty but its getting really frustrating. The last time it was in the dealership, all the fuel injectors were completely replaced and we were hoping that the problem would be solved. Earlier this week- it was the same, driving and the check engine light comes on, then it shakes and acts like its choking, then it dies and gets towed into the dealership.

Tiguan Review at over 48,000 miles

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

We have had this car for over two years and have driven it over 48,000 miles and have had only one problem. The right front head light assembly. The mechanic wrote it up as a problem of the internal mechanical malfunction of the headlight assembly. Other than that our Tiguan has been a pleasure to own and drive.

They Leak - Severe Mold/Mildew Issues

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 1

OK, the Tiguan is a beautiful vehicle. Performance, handling and finish are best in class. However I have had a serious problem develop in mine, that is related to poor build quality. Mine leaks. Water was entering through back doors and seemingly the front fire wall. This precipitated and extremely bad mildew infestation and the car become undrivable. It is currently with the dealer, after 4 weeks, and they still cannot get rid of the mildew odor. Carpet, underlay, cushions, the works has been infected with this smell (spores). So if you are buying this car be very careful. Car has not been fixed. I have requested it be replaced as it is a very serious health issue.

Tiguan tiger and iguana for real

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

The tiger represents the speed of this car. Iguana for the luxury and smoothness. Amazing car. I think this is the best car I have ever owned I can't even tell you how much this car has impressed me

Very good car

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I bought this car skeptical but this car has really proved its self to me and my wife. Every day at least 50 miles a day this car is a work horse this car is amazingly fun to drive I have bought other SUV in my lifetime and never one like this. I thought it would have many electrical problems but none I would highly recommend this car to anyone that has a family or one thats going to last.

What's up with the brakes?

Performance: 5 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 4 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4

I owned my car for 3 months and the brakes started squeaking. Took it to dealer who says brakes had a little dust and they clean them. One month later same and worse. Rain, early morning worst, but sunshine too. I'm simply embarrassed that I drive a new car with less than 10,000 miles that screams like it needs a serious brake job, that's dust? Never had any stopping problems and love the car otherwise. More later when dealer looks at the car again. Not too happy right now.

Fun to Drive

Performance: 5 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 4 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 4

On the day of the 2nd anniversary of buying this car I turned over 72,000 miles - so we have had a lot of experience with this car. This car is fun to drive and the sunroof is great! The Tiguan displays a lot of info on the dash and every month there is something that needs to be serviced or looked at. If you take the car to anyone other than the dealership then the warning light will not be reset. You will still have to go to the dealership or it will bing at you every time you start the car and the warning light will be on. Most of the bells and warning lights are annoying and not major defects. Due to the constant high maintenance on this car - I will not purchase another VW.

On the Mark

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

We owned a 2008 Toure for 1.5 years and we love the Tiguan even more ... here are the reasons: 1) Practicality - smaller but not to small to hold 5 adults and luggage! Great gas mileage for SUV 2) Free 3 year maintenance program 3) Overall fun to drive and cost of ownership

The cutest CUV around

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Love x 100. We looked at the Rav4, CRV, before deciding on the Tiguan. We have the SE with upgraded seats, pano roof, etc. Looks great, drives great with the fun, peppy 2.0T engine. The suspension seems sporty, so it might be too stiff for some people. We get great MPG (averaging around 28MPG combined!). Seats are comfy & the roof is gorgeous. Interior is great - typical VW quality, lots of storage space too (esp. compared to VW's sedans). Good leg room in the back & plenty of space in the front. Cargo space is a little limited when compared to other CUVs, but it's more than adequate for us and the rear seats fold down easily. Haven't done anything but basic maintenance so far.

High-End Utilitarian Simplicity

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I picked up a 2009 SEL with Nav and the panoramic roof and I love it. After years of driving "luxory" AWD vehicles I was looking to simplify ... but didn't want to sacrifice the quality I had grown accustomed to. The SEL Tig was a perfect fit ... simple interior but top notch quality (no cheap plastic dashboards here), comfortable, tight as a drum, good Nav, incredible sunroof, and no real lack of "toys" (bluetooth, backup camera, etc.). I have driven Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti (my last three vehiles in that order) ... and I am VERY happy to be driving the Tiguan now.

1 CUTE UTE!!!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

This is my first VW! So far it has been a pleasure to own and drive..I usually trade at least once a year...I think I've owned just about every brand out there..had the Honda CRV & the Toy RAV-4..(BIG YAWN), thought I would try the TIGUAN. Exciting! This is a keeper..So far, I don't have any reason to trade it off! Husband loves the Turbo 2.0. and the 2wd does good in snow. Getting 24 Mpg mixed driving.

My Last VW

Performance: 3 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 1

From the start I knew we were in serious trouble. Our first problems started less than one week from delivery and they have gone on from then. To list it... Bad sensor in trans, missing parts under front end, gas pedal got stuck under center console trim (VW has no answer on this one, almost killed us!) Power window modulator failure, doors that do not close correctly, and the list goes on. We do not use the panoramic sunroof as it has failed twice and the dealership claims it is fine... okay, right on! Many issues come and go, and it is horrible in the cold and all around a clunker! BEWARE, it is a VW and they are no as reliable as they were... We have owned 10, and this is our last!

Fantastic CUV

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

After 17k miles, and 1+ years on the road, I am still loving this vehicle. Great performance, excellent braking /handling, and fantastic ride. Gas mileage could better, but I have a bit of a heavy foot. Elderly friend said it was smoother and quieter than her Lincoln. Wife likes it as much as her daily driver, BMW 328i. Passengers are continually amazed at the rear seat roominess. An absolute blast to drive, a GTI with room for hunting and fishing gear...

Awesome CUV! Can't find a better match!

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Gotta write a review for this one. This car has a very nice firm ride, sporty look inside out. I love that big 13 cu. in. moonroof, gotta have it. It makes the car more open, airy, and relax while cruising. The 18 in. wheels are hot. Nice xenon headlights; it uses the same xenon lights as DRL (daytime running light). Quiet interior. Feel roomy inside with well designed spaces. It actually about 1 foot shorter in length than a 09 Honda Accord coupe, surprising!? Engine power is adequate; wish that it came with DSG transmission; and eventually TDI engine? Bluetooth is standard on 2010 models, but not 09! :( Dynaudio system w/ 600 watt upgraded for the 2010 models w/ 2 extra speakers.

Strong, Not comfortable,dials difficult

Performance: 4 Comfort: 2 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 3 Interior Design: 2 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 4 Comfort Rating: 2 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 2 Reliability Rating: 4

It's a nice looking car, you just need to improve the cushioning in the seating and back, the radio is very difficult to read in the dark, and the red lights for the dash are difficult. But, it drives into the mountains, and through them nicely. It also does well so far in the city. A number of men and women have said it's a nice looking vehicle.

Love it, but ...

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 4 Reliability: 4 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 4

I love driving this car, steering is very easy, automatic transmission comfy and economic, yet with nice acceleration. Baggage space is not so big, but in the interior, there is plenty of space for passengers, compared to vehicle size. What is bothering me is that not only human, but also martens enjoy this car as there is a plenty of space between the engine and car hood and martens keep biting pressure tubes from turbo. Yesterday I found that when accelerating slightly, a deep sound, like a short deep silent bang comes from under the engine.

your dream small SUV is here !

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

a luxury car barely more expensive than a Japanese! the Tiguan has all the features me and my wife have been looking for, it got the looks and it is very practical. the 4Cyl turbocharged engine with the 6speed Tiptronic trans will give you the feel of driving a sport car all while being very easy on gas. the interior is very fancy and well designed, everything looks right at its place and nothing looks cheap. the downside to that is that it only uses premium gas, and its repairs are relatively higher than the regular American/Japanese car. so if you are looking for comfort, top safety and luxury, and power. i say the Tiguan is the way to go, because compered to it, the x3 looks overpriced.

6 Month Review

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

After researching what kind of SUV I wanted, I decided on the Tiguan. Happen to be in Florida on vac, they had a good deal, I bought and drove the car to New York. Drive was a lot of fun. Vehicle seems solid, firm ride. I get asked about it by passerbys. Brake is very responsive, quite interior. Some minor issues I do have: motorized driver reclining seat, but manual pump lever to elevate and move seat..why not motorize all, summer humidity seems to bring out a bad smell from air exhaust when it's not on a/c, engine is powerful, but there seems to be a delay in responsiveness when u go from braking to quickly accelerating, but then it eventually picks up when you press harder on the pedal

Best option

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I got my 2009 Tig in may of 2008 before better deals were to be had. Oh well... I love the car itself. It has been great and I get complements on it all the time. People stop me to ask about it. I sometimes wish I would've splurged and gotten the one with the sunroof. The car is great in city and hwy and I'm amazed at how well it insulates outside noise. Feels very solid throughout. I agree with some comments about the black upholstery, it is a hair magnet. I had an issue with a faulty fuel pump which was quickly replaced under warranty. That's been the only issue I currently have 11K miles in the Tig.

The good, the bad, the ugly

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 2 Reliability: 2 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 2

After one year... I love the power, handling and design of this car. I was looking for a sporty, fast cuv that could still accommodate a three year old and all that entails. This car does that. That being said, driving home from the dealer I noticed (it was at night) I could only see 3 ft ahead of me. Took car back to find lights were ill- positioned. 6 months later I had to get the fuel pump replaced. Already had to get burned out drivers head lamp replaced and there is an awful squeek inside that I can't seem to find/fix. I like the car but am wary about what to expect in year 2. Imo, quality is really lacking. I am thinking of trading it in already, which saddens me as it is fun to drive.

1500 miles so far-very fun, look'n good

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 4 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 4

I have had my new White SE Tiguan for 1 month and I am really enjoying driving again. I sold my 9 year old Camry and do not miss it one bit (it was very reliable but BORING, yet the gas mileage was great). I can't rate the reliability yet, but so far I am very pleased, and no real quality issues to address, but I do agree that the Turbo is rather jerky at times and leaving from a stop light turning right it is jerky accelerating to get going, almost like I am driving a stick in a low gear (which I do not have the manual, and I have no need or desire to use the shifting option). The dealer really came down on the sticker price - I got the pricing below a comparable Honda CRV/or RAV4.

Wish it was bigger but love the features

Performance: 4 Comfort: 3 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 5

I came from a Land Rover LR3 to a 2009 Tiguan. Love the same features of the Land Rover, but disappointed about the room inside. I have (2) dogs and cannot fit much else except them. Also cannot get over the fact there are no armrests in the middle, having to use the console seems odd. Also just ran over a nail on one of the tires and have to have it replaced. The 18" Pirelli's that are on the Tiguan are on national backorder - odd sized tire as well. Not sure if they are good snow tires from what I have researched on the Pirelli website. Gas mileage not what I expected, only averaging 21 mpg on the highway. Overall not quite sure I made the best choice. Should have stayed in my LR3

Great little car!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Traded down from a full size SUV to the Tiguan one month ago and absolutely love it. Getting about 20 - 22 mpg in mostly city driving, so a really nice improvement from 13-14 previously. Car drives very sporty, plenty of room inside for a 6' 4'' driver with kids in the back seat. Styling and design are good. My kids like riding in this car better than the BMW 5 series.

flawed

Performance: 3 Comfort: 2 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 3 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 4 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 2 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 1

after 3900 miles, my EPC warning light appeared on the dash. Acceleration was lost and the car sporadically regained power, only to lose it again. A few days later the Engine Malfunction icon also appeared. The car is now destined for a few days in the shop.

Past, Present but NOT future owner

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 1 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 3 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 3

Shame on us for not taking a closer look at the car during delivery, after we arrived home we noticed holes in the front bumper. Apparently the car was transferred from a dealer in a state that required front licence plates, in Michigan they are not required. First call was to the dealer - "sorry nothing we can do, but good news we do have a new bumper in stock if you would like to buy a replacement". Well, OK, then. So step two: call VW customer support. They happily assigned a "customer advocate" who called the following day. To quote: "sorry but this is an issue between you and the dealer, there is nothing we will do!" - WOW - what a great case study poor for customer support.

Just another SUV I suppose

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 3 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 3 Build Quality: 4 Reliability: 3 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 3

I suppose I had higher expectations since my other vehicles are classy sedans or coupes. Going from a sedan or coupe to one of these SUVs is not something a "driver" would be happy with. It's great for tossing large objects into, but even then, a minivan is better suited to people that want to haul stuff, including people. Otherwise, it's just another "L" on wheels.

LOOK GOOD - drives great!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 4 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I researched a number of crossovers. Ford Edge, Mazda cx-7, audi q5, nissan rouge, toyota venza, ford escape, saturn vue, honda crv. The Tiguan was the one that gave me the best value, the best handling, free scheduled maintenance, and VW reputation. The back seat is comfortable for adults to ride. The cargo space is awesome.

Lovin' my Tigger

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

This vehicle is awesome. The drive is very tight for its class and the appointments are similar to my Passat 4-motion wagon. The 4-motion is a definite plus and the ride is superb. It is definitely not a car for the everyday Joe or Jane and thats the way my wife and I like it. I can't imagine a 200 HP Rogue, Rav4, or CRV. I feel this vehicle sits similarly to a land rover but with a lower, more stable center of gravity. There are no unnecessary and gaudy amenities which would push up the price for many other makes. Plus, its a VW and you can't touch that. I do wish that a diesel version was available but I'll just have to wait, hope, and wish for the 2011 model to be a TDI.

6 Weeks and Very Happy

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I bought my Tiguan after several months of looking at small SUV's. Each time I kept coming back to the Tiguan. I thought I would get a CRV, but the power isn't there and there are far too many on the road. I wanted to like the Acura RDX as an Acura TL owner. While I liked it, the gas mileage (poor) and cost (high) prevented the deal. The Ford Escape Hybrid just didn't have the fit and finish. The Tiguan was the best bet for me: good value, my bike fit inside, still somewhat uncommon on the road, nice looking, and just a great all around package. Six weeks into it and I still love it as much as the day I bought it.

THE BEST VALUE IS SMALL SUV

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I have driven 30,000 miles in the deserts of Las Vegas and get 22 -23 MPG aroung town and 26 - 28 on the highway. I have had the services done and am sitting at the dealer having the 30 mile service performed as I write this. Th rear brakes need to be changed at $270 and the front are still 80%. All the tires are still good. 30,000 miles and the front brakes are at 80%, this is awesome. Look up brakes on the Toureg and you will see every 15k to 20k miles at 4 times the cost of the Tiguan. This SUV has been flawless, you cannot go wrong. I test drove the CRV and love the looks, however, the interior seemed cheap and the ride was not as quite. I cannot praise the vehicle enough.

Zippy little ride

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

All in all very happy with this new purchase, coming from a BMW I have high expectations but I was surprised with how much I liked this CUV. Has enough pep on the highway with the added turbo that I don't realize it's only a 4 cyl. Interior is very classy and comfortable, definitely has a luxury feel!

One Week

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 4 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

After almost a year and a half of research, I finally decided to go with the VW Tiguan. Moving from a Ford Explorer AWD V8, this is definitely a change. The Tiguan is lower so its height is somewhere in between a mid-size SUV and a car. The ride is great considering the wheel-base, yet still offers plenty of room for four adults to travel comfortably. The 4 cylinder has obviously less power, but it'll move when it's needed. I was initially worried about cargo space, and while it is certainly smaller than what I'm used to, it allows for most common trips the store without having to put the seats down. All in all, very pleased. I'm hoping this vehicle lasts for a while.

Great value, Fun to drive CUV

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

Build quality and performance are on the top of my list. Reliablity, we'll see as time goes on but at this point everything is spot on with the Tiguan. Surprisingly nimble, although the Michilein tires on the S model are not up to the handling capabilities of the chassis. At 6'4" comfort is not a problem in this CUV, good leg and head room, cargo capacity is as expected but much more than my sports sedan I traded in. Interior materials, seats dash and carpets are very good quality as are fit and finish of the exterior. Color match on the rear fascia is slightly off color for the White Gold but not enough to complain over.

SUPERIOR VEHICLE

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Moving from larger suv but wanted all its features minus size. This suv fits the bill. Excellent fit and finish. The 4-cylinder turbo is the best of its class. The ride is stiff but ergonomically sound. The Tiguan has highest rating on all categories of safety including roof strength by the IIHS. Interior is thoughtfully planned out. You pay more for this vehicle versus the other small suvs out there but you get more.

Class winner HANDS DOWN (are you tall?)

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

IMO the tiguan wins Best in Class. It is the ONLY vehicle in comparison that Ive found comfortable, font and back for tall people. Im 6'4 and the Tig is the sweetest ride Ive tested outside of the full sized SUVs. Editors seem to only have two complaints - the price tag is higher and it has marginally less cargo space. I cant argue the sticker - but lets be honest. Yes, that will sacrifice 2MPG, but the solid acceleration and grip on the road is the benefit. Cargo space? If the difference is that important you should probably be looking at the full sized. Great VW !

Georgeous Car

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I moved up from a compact car to a compact SUV to accommodate my growing family and deal with the decaying CA roads. The Tiguan is right-sized for urban life in the Bay Area, quite compact exterior for nimble driving and parking, but a very spacious interior. In comparison, Rav4 and CRV are weird/dull/dated. I had hopes for the Forester but the interior was extremely cheap - read the reviews. The Tiguan is in a class of its own for build quality, design, and driving experience. More expensive yes but better value as I will be enjoying this for many years. The 2.0T engine is fantastic, I feel I have the GTI from my youth wrapped in a responsible family package with all safety features.

The car to have!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I have the SE level with the sunroof. There is no words to describe how fun to drive this car can be. The quality of materials is obvious along with the beauty of designs. Pick up is amazing and smooth and the suspension is the perfect combination between sport and sedan. Not only were the dealers at VW ready to deal, the financing was great. I get compliments on this car all the time, people stare at it on the road too. I am very happy I purchased a car that is not ubiquitous and that allows me the freedom to enjoy rides with the sunroof fully open.

Fine car

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Top class car. Refined, precise and hi tech. Options may add up the price. Very powerful, fast and agile. 4 motion is awesome. Interior is incredibly classy. There is simply no comparison to this car at this time.

Driving it for a month so far

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

My first SUV. I agonized over it because of the mpg. I needed a bigger vehicle, but something smaller than the CRV/RAV4 - also with a nicer interior. I tried to love the CRV because my Civic was such a good car, but couldn't. VW is built much better. The steering freaked me out a bit at first but I'm getting used to it. I don't understand why at times it feels disconnected from the car. It does drive like a car and I like the boost from the turbo engine. Headlights from larger vehicles no longer shine in my rear view mirror or to be deluged by water when larger vehicles would pass me on wet highways. Hopefully my love will continue to grow and I'll feel better about getting such low mpg.

Fuel Problem/Engine lights on

Performance: 3 Comfort: 3 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 3 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 3 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 3 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 3 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 3

My car is only a moth old and they already replace gas cap due to engine light on. After a few months later another problem occur fuel gauge not working & showing fuel tank not full. Number on the dash board keep changing and not accurate.

Cruisin' in my Tiguan

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I traded my 07 Altima SL in for this car and so far so good. I wish it had a few more bells and whistles for the price tag but other than that it's great. It's a little bit tight on interior space but for right now it's a good fit for my family of 4. Seating is comfy, has a descent stock stereo system with an ipod adapter. I got mine with the 3 years of free maintenance which will save me a few hundred. Overall I'm happy with this car.

Most fun to drive CUV under $35K

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 4 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 4

It's no GTI, but for a CUV it is the best out there in its price range. Handling and composure on all road surfaces is excellent. Not skittish like the RAV4 V6, and better gas mileage than the Acura RDX. Fit and finish is better than the Honda CRV. Comfortable and quiet interior, controls are simple and in the right places. The 2.0T motor is smooth and refined with plenty of kick when you need it. And don't be put off by the high MSRP as large discounts can be had. Flemington VW was awesome, with no pressure and knowledgeable salespeople.

A very happy Tiguan owner

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Traded up from a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix. I researched cars for about 6 months prior to test-driving and this was one of my top pics. If you are thinking of purchasing a Honda CR-V or Toyota Rav-4, be sure to check out the Tiguan before making your final decision! Driving this car is a lot of fun! I was very impressed with the overall quality I got for the price.

Sweet Ride, Sweeter Deal

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I think the positives of this vehicle have been covered pretty thoroughly to this point. For me, it was this or a CRV, and the deal I received from VW just crushed what Honda was willing to do. Sticker on my SE was 29,115. Final purchase price was 25,604. Both of the preceding figures are pretax. I put $2000 down and financed the remainder @ 0% for 60 months. Honda thought I was making stuff up, $3600 off MSRP plus 0% for 5 years. VW is definitely trying to move inventory, I guess Honda isn't desperate enough yet. I absolutely love the vehicle though, but I've only had it for a week so reliability is tough to judge at this point. Absolutely zero buyer's remorse to this point.

Lovin It!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

This little SUV is awesome! Love the handling, great pick-up! Stylish and unique - I haven't seen another one on the road yet. Love it even more than my CRV - which I never thought possible. I got the base model (sunroofs get to hot in FL!), but my dealership upgraded me to leather seats. With the tinted windows and wood-trim kit, this ride is styling! People stop me all the time to ask about it!

VW's Best Kept Secret...

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I traded my 2008 Nissan Rogue SL AWD ater 21K miles for this Tiguan SE 4motion because of the better features, ride, handling, acceleration, and build quality.The car is the best engineering product I have found in the market today for the money. VW truly is the best kept secret in terms of quality,features,value, and fun to drive.

Market leader in this class

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

After much research on moving up from a zippy and efficient Mazda 3, and having test drove several competitors, the new Tiguan, stood out from the crowd. Am impressive array of features on the SE 4MOTION, sports-type handling, great vroom on the pedal, comfortable surrounds AND VW of America's 0% financing make this perhaps the best deal in America.

Like a GTI XL

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Wanted a GTI but rear seat room was just too small. Manual transmission and higher ingress/egress makes this fit my desire for fun and my need for comfort. Would have preferred a manual transmission with the ability to also have nav, sunroof, heated seats and AWD, but VW did not give me that option. I have found base 'S' model's cloth seats do not get as cold as leather seats so I have not yet gone to the aftermarket for heated seats. It is more quiet than my BMW and Chevy Tahoe. It tracks well and has lots of storage cubbies, including a hidden one to the left of steering wheel. Drawers under the seats like the European models would have been nice. Bring on the TDI with a stick!

Our 2nd Tiguan

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

This is our 2nd Tiguan, which we picked up just in time to use the 4-Motion against New England snow. Incredible! Very sure-footed in this slop, & a real hoot to drive. The kids love the panoramic moon-roof... it is about as much exposure one can have to the sky without getting a convertible. The Tiguan's Xenon headlamps have peripheral sidelights which activate and illuminate the sides of the road whenever you make a turn. Very nice to have on twisting roads, sharp corners, dark parking lots, city streets, etc. The Tiguan is also a very quiet car for the small SUV/CUV segment. No high pitched whine & road-noise like I experienced with the Toyota RAV4 and CRV.

VW puts the "SPORT" back into SUV

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

We traded our beloved 2005 Jetta 2.5 for our Tiguan. I loved driving our Jetta, but I have to say the Tiguan is more fun to drive. You can get into trouble with the police zipping around with this SPORT utility. Fit and finish is great. I'm a big fan of VW's electric steering, very smooth. I like the nylon seats they warm up quick, very comfortable. Visibility is good. I enjoy the sunroof, can't wait for summer. AWD has been been great this winter.

Great car - can't go wrong

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

I bought the first Tiguan to hit Colorado in May. I have put 32000+K miles on it and I love it! I am in sales, drive 50+K miles per year and insist on being comfortable. It is such a fun car to drive but I have picked up 2 speeding tickets since purchasing the car. The sunroof is great!! 6 cd stereo is great!! When I use Super gas I get 28+mpg - it drops to 23mpg when I cheap out on the gas. Stock tires are not so great - I already need a new set. The car has a tendency to slide in the snow even with AWD - breaks do need to be checked. Upgrade from the "Sports Cloth" seats - I wish I had been warned that the cloth shows EVERYTHING and dog hair does not come off.

7 months later and still in love

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

An update to my original post in June of 08. This car is still doing everything I expect and then some. I have used premium since day 1 and haven't thought different. This car still gets me roughly 26-27mpg (goin 70mph down the highway), I still love the comfort of the automobile (drove to Myrtle Beach and back from DC, and was very comfortable with 3 other adults, luggage, and 2 golf bags). The style is still cool and I don't regret one thing about this car. The quality is great, the ride is smooth, and its still fun for me. There is ample storage space (I don't have sunroof) and its VERY safe (read the safety ratings that came out last year and see who was on top). Great car, I love it!

New Tiguan - First Impressions

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Picked up our new White Gold w/Beige SEL 4-Motion a week ago but had to drive 4+ hours to get it due to the non-availability of what we wanted in our area. Great vehicle and I broke a personal cardinal rule about buying a car the first year it's offered because I was so impressed with it. The rear-view camera didn't work but the techs at my local dealer found a loose connection behind the radio. They rebuilt the connection and it works just fine. There is also some wind noise from the roof rails. There is plenty of room and comfort front and back and the acceleration & handling is fantastic. We'll see how the mileage works out as it breaks in over the next month or so

Gr8 SUV

Performance: 5 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

My 09 SEL has only been home 2 days. I must say going from the Touareg to the Tiquan was a step down for me. But the cost of gas plus the 1800 brake job on the Touareg made up my mind quick. I think dealers should disclose the high cost of maintenance. You can rest assured I checked out the cost to replace brakes on the Tig! I love all the features! Opted not to have the nav sys. Rather use my phone nav. Have everything else. With the limited supply and end-of-year incentives (they were gr8), had to settle for the blue-pretty though. The only down side I experienced was the negotiation at the dealer! I HATE that part of purchasing a car! Otherwise, I am happy so far! Happy Drivin VW Folk!

Great Ride

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Purchased the Tiguan in Aug, 2008 and now have 5000 miles. Two round trips to north of Atlanta, and no problems. No problem passing a vehicle or entering the Interstate, just put the pedal to the medal and this baby scoots. Many great compliments about it's sporty good looks. Just fun to drive. My wife has no problem getting me to run errands!!! My heavy foot may be the cause of the not so great gas mileage I've heard other reviewers reporting. Only about 25mpg average

Wow!!! What a fun ride!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

First VW since my 1974 rust bucket bug. Love the power, handling, utility and the price. I bought the base model with the manual tranny. This is one really fun and tight ride. An excellent balance of comfort and crisp handling. I have owned an acura, Nissan, Chevy, Ford and nothing compares to the quality so far. I know VW critics abound, for good reason (and that is why I bought the extended warranty) but I have known quite a few VW'ers who have had good luck w/ their vehicles. Don't know what noir authentique is talking about with the "cargo area is useless" comment, but this is a compact with very Nice interior room for the passengers and I fit 9 full size cases of beer in the cargo area.

As Advertised

Performance: 5 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I normally do not rate a vehicle until I have 30K+ miles on it but I just had to share my pleasure with this vehicle with you. I currently have 8K miles on this SE with no problems. I'm a salesman and I'm on the road alot for my job hauling good size samples. Not as much room as my previous 4runner (which my wife now drives) but enough room to get the job done. Back seat room is larger than you would think and the rear split seats fold down flat which works well for me. Really a nice ride, fun to drive, gas mileage as advertised, and the 4motion has really been a champ in this tough Midwest winter. I drove about everything in this class but I kept coming back to the Tiguan.

Still in the honeymoon

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Overall still in love. Like others really enjoy the zip and the handling. Would like more range of motion in seat adjustments, especially thigh support. Panoramic roof is very nice, but noisy in any position (compared to Acura's small SUV). Haven't tested the 4motion much but on wet road has done very well, very stable. I would like to see more audio controls on steering wheel, such as change mode and channel.

Ouch

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 1

I loved the looks and still do, but I have had this thing in the shop 4 times: transmission, engine light, major vibration at highway speed - twice. I spent a great deal of time researching before I bought a VW. I wish I had paid more attention to a few reviews that I had seen referencing quality problems. I feel like I have no choice but to sell before the warranty runs out.

Great choice for a small SUV

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I just picked up my new 2009 VW Tiguan SE 4Motion! What a great little CUV. Yes, I compared it with all the other little utes. Really it came down to this or the Mitsu Outlander for me in terms of features for the money. That was a great car also, but just can't compare to the build quality or upscale feel of the Tiguan. If I was 20 again, I would go with the Outlander. Now in my 30's, the Tiguan's the ride for me. It was hard to find one with the new Nav system (which is super cool) and the giant sunroof (also super cool), but I am glad I did. Has just the right balance of power and fuel economy, but it is a blast to drive. Drives a lot more like a car than a RAV4. Test drive one!

VW GOT IT RIGHT

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

The Tiguan is comfortable, easy to drive,well thought out, reliable. Makes road trips something to look forward to. VW got this right kinda reminds me of the fun I had with my old VW bus.

I would not recommend this SUV

Performance: 4 Comfort: 3 Fuel Economy: 1 Fun To Drive: 3 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 3 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 1

Coming from a 2002 Toyota RAV4 which was 100% reliable, I can say this so far has not been the SUV I imagined. The test drive went well at Potamkin VW. I like the interior and exterior design- typical clean design. The interior has a few cheap pieces but you get used to it. On par with the Toyota. The inside is quite roomy but the seats are not so comfortable. Cargo area is useless. With 4k miles- the power around town is peppy but it lacks power on the highway. I also notice the gas goes quicker than expected. It should average 21 MPG and I barely see 15MPG average. On the highway I have seen 23 with the cruise set at 60MPH. Around town it dips to 12-13MPG. Overall, not the best small SUV.

PERFECT!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Just drove home our brand new Tiguan! Extremely happy with our purchase. Solid car with quiet ride and comfortable drive. The power of 2.0 liter turbo, compared to other Crossover/SUV's in its class, outperforms the blender-type engines of the smaller 4 cyl. competitors. The full sunroof with automatic screen/shade ads a touch of class to the features. Body style says versatile yet sporty. Plenty of room for stroller or Golf Bags with the fold down seats. After countless hours of research on the internet and test driving all options, this is the one! Get your hands on a Tiguan before showrooms run out (we got the last one on the floor for the trim we wanted).

Some things great-some not so great.....

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

Owned 3 mo./3000 mi in gld-metallic. Researched all SUVs in class; was wowed by Tiguan. Interior styling in class by itself; handling/comfort exceptional. Cabin durability very impressive. Passengers rave about roominess/ styling. Ride not smooth on freeways, rather bumpy at times. Novelty retractable screen panel under sunroof does not fully block overhead sun glare. “Trunk” storage tray on website never materialized - rear underneath storage very ltd. Headrest has no tilt adjustment (only vertical) and tips head in uncomfortable position if you lean back. Miss my Acura’s Bose stereo; the sound of the system is 6 of 10 at best. Main center console storage could have been expanded.

Wonderful car

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I've driven mine for 2000 miles so far and it's been great. High build quality, very good organizational design, quick pickup, decent gas mileage, excellent handling and braking, quiet, top crash safety ratings. No complaints!

Only 200 miles in...

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 4 Reliability: 2 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 2

...and its already in the shop. Evidently the radiator fan doesn't come on when the car is idling. Its quite a sight to see the engine temperature gauge go from 190 to 260 within 3 minutes. Another example of VW's world renown "quality" or just an isolated incident? Who knows. Just be aware. Up to that point we were waiting to be towed to the nearest dealership, I would have to agree with everyone else's initial impressions. It seems like a quality car, handles like a much smaller car, and is just a pleasure to drive and use. The tight design of the exterior really belies what is a comfortable interior.

Best VW I ever drove

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

Not quite sure why everybody wants to see leatherette as an option. Who wants this fake stuff? I'm so glad I have the cloth seats. Neither cold in winter nor hot in summer (this is a blessing in Chicago) plus it's got heated seats. I love this car though it eats a lot of gas compared to the AUDI A4 2.0T CVT. I drove 30 mpg with same engine in the Audi and get barely 23/24 with the Tiguan. Tranny does not help at all. CVT or DSG (VW) S-tronic (AUDI) is the way to go. AISIN tranny from the Tiggy eats up more gas, also my AUDI was FWD which was more gas saving but this is why I bought the 4motion (just in time b4 winter). Otherwise I'm REALLY PLEASED (so far)

Love the Tiguan!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Just picked up my wife's 2009 Alpine Gray tiguan with nav and panoramic roof. Wow! This vehicle is fast . Stops on a dime. And is surprisingly comfortable. My wife keeps referring to it as "awesome". She loves it . It is a gti in disguise! In my opinion. Build quality is superb! VW and Audi have a winner on their hands in my opinion. Not for the faint of heart! A must drive before you buy anything else!

Our Best Choice!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

We test drove all the small SUVs out there and when we drove the Tiguan there was no comparison. First off I noticed the power was better than even the competition's V-6 models. The fit and finish is exceptional...I love German engineering! The handling is great, the cabin is very quiet, the sunroof is nothing short of spectacular. We bought this vehicle for my wife and I usually drive a BMW but love any opportunity to drive the Tiguan. I don't have to use the manual shift feature as this transmission shifts beautifully in the automatic shift mode. Had this vehicle 3 months now and am looking forward to driving it this winter. Just plain love the fun drive!

Excellent Performance/Ride/Quality

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

It has the same 2.0 turbo and transmission that were in my 2006 Passat which provides all the acceleration you need along with a smooth performing 6 speed transmission. Also has the same excellent standard radio/CD/mp3 that was in my Passat. Matter of fact any Passat 2006-8 owners will find a number of similarities in the Tiguan. While the SE and SEL with options might be a little pricy the Tiguan S with automatic is a bargain considering all the standard features and build quality. I tried some of the other 4 cylinders with a few miles better mpg, but they didn't stack up to the 2.0T; and even though Consumer Reports rates the Forrester higher, you have to spend about $2000 more than th

500 mile review

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I purchased the S auto with 17" wheels about 2 weeks ago. Love the car. It is the only SUV I know of that has good visibility all around. I traded a Nissan Rogue because of its poor visibility. It is fast, comfortable, quiet, handles well, has nice standard features for the entry level model. And I think it is one of the sharpest looking SUVs on the road. Too soon to judge gas mileage. Will report on with next report. I have the Alpine Gray Metallic, very nice color. If you are looking at small SUVs you must put this on your list. Was able to purchase under invoice.

Love the 2.0 Turbo

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I love the 2.0 Turbo in the Tiguan! Had the same engine in my 2006 Passat and love both the engine and transmission. The transmission is smooth and the turbo gives you that needed boast in passing or that extra acceleration you need when you’re entering a busy highway, and beats out all the competitors when it comes to acceleration. A little pricey, but the Tiguan S isn’t badly priced considering all the standard features and the quality of the build. The interior is nicely done and has actual aluminum trim vice the aluminum looking plastic you find in the competitors. Didn’t ever care for the color red, but the Black Cherry Metallic (which I purchased) is exceptional.

Definitely a winner!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I was researching the market for several months and nothing really convinced me until I came across the Tiguan. I have one for about two months now and I'm loving every minute of it! It is fun to drive, the engine is wonderful, a lot of small features that make this the perfect car. Plus it has the highest possible safety rating and it looks just amazing. Fuel economy is actually better than advertised, 20/27.

A new kive

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Great car with many usable features. Drives great and has plenty of pick up to merge onto highway. The build quality is excellent. Owned an Audi A- 4 cabriolet before and the panoramic sunroof is excellent. The SEL package has all the need to have comfort features. It is a head turner all the time. The cargo room is plenty for almost all your shopping needs. The Sirius radio is a pleasant surprise as we haven't played any CD's yet. The Wild Cherry color and 18" wheels make for a good looking car. Spend many hours researching the cars in this class and the Tiguan won even though it is more expensive. The gas mileage has been a little low however the foot in the turbo may the cause.

New love

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Purchased two weeks ago and have been very happy with the quality and features of the SEL package. It stands out from the competitors with its exterior and interior design. Get many comments about it whenever we are out in it. Drives and rides very good plus the 2.0 gives good acceleration when merging on the highway. The roof was not on the wish list but is a nice feature. Spent hours researching all the other competitors models and felt this Tiguan stood out. So far only one gas fill up and was mainly city driving, gas mileage to be determined. The build quality seems to be very tight, the heated seats are very comfortable, it drives great and has excellent power. So far a great buy.

I love my new car!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I was in the market to buy a new car. I'm only 21 but I do my research & I wasn't about to blow my money and money that my grandma had given me for a car. It came down to a Vue 08 or a Tiguan the Vue was roughly $4000 cheaper but after long nights of thinking about the reviews on this website on the vue and the tiguan I decided to get the tiguan & bought one on 9/12/08. I'm so glad I made the right choice it is so much fun to drive and so far I have only had one problem which is the sat. radio & it has nothing to do with vw it is some technical issue with Sirius that is supposed to be fixed in a week..I really have nothing but good things to say. Great SUV! I will write an updated review later

love it

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I've put a little under 3000 miles on mine and love it so far. After hearing everyone here rave about the sunroof I kinda wish I would've bought the next trim level up, but it was a little pricier. Also I think the bigger wheels look better. Fuel economy is good for this size vehicle, but if they ever bring the TDI version, that will be awesome... I don't know what the MPG would be on that, but the TDI Jetta gets close to 44 MPG! I would consider trading the gas for the diesel with those kind of numbers.

So far so good!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Just recently got my Tiguan and what a smooth and zippy ride this is! No problems except the hazard light button was defective and nonfunctional. I'm about to go get it fixed at the dealership. I just hope they got their electronics problems fixed by now.

Great SUV

Performance: 5 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 4 Reliability: 4 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4

This is a solid crossover SUV. I have the SE version. Rides like a dream - very, very smooth. Features are great, nearly on par with BMW or MB. Interior is also well done. Seats are very comfortable for all passengers, and there's plenty of legroom in the back. My MPG has been higher than advertised, I'm getting about 20/28 instead of 18/24.

Great Car, If You Can Get Over the Name

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

We love the the Tiguan we purchased last May, so we have another on order for my wife (White Gold with the tan leather. Gorgeous!) We spent months driving other cars in the small sports ute category (RAV 4, CR-V, the new '09 Forester XT, we found the category to be pretty bland. Fortunately, I drove a Tiguan when I was on a business trip in Europe, and wow! It had me after the first 2 miles of drive time. The interior has been thoughtfully put through finishing school. Elegant design, well-placed instrument clusters. The inside actually has more front/rear leg room and head room than our mid- sized Jeep Grand Cherokee. Plenty of pep, and we're averaging 28.5 mpg!

Drives like a sports sedan, not an SUV!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

My wife was in the market for an SUV, but still wanted good gas mileage along with the utility. We shopped around a bit, drove Honda, Toyota, Acura, GM, etc. Although pricing was a little better in some other brands, the quality and fun factor did not even compare to the Tiguan. My wife went from a Camry to this and did not even look back! Great SUV, good price range for options, safe and a very peppy engine for a 4 banger! Outdoes many other brands V6 crossover SUVs.

VW Junkie

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

This is the first vehicle that i have owned where i feel people are looking at me as i am driving down the road. It's an unexplainable experience. I have plenty of room for everything i need and i feel safe and secure for me and my family when we are out on the road.

Solid Car

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

So it's been a month since I got my Tiguan SE 4Motion in Blue exterior and Charcoal interior. I just can't get over the joy of driving it. For it's size it can handle the road so secure. Inside there is a lot of room (and I'm a tall guy). My legs and head are very comfortable. All the instrumentation is reachable and well placed for visualization. The construction of the car is very solid. Feels like one piece. Mileage is a blessing, but if you keep testing the turbo it can go down.

Tig is GREEAAAATTTT......

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I've officially put 1600 mi on my new Tig, and I'm so happy I made the right choice on getting a Tig, it handles so smooth and peppy at the same time. I really wanted the 6 speed manual trans and TDI, but couldn't wait. My dealer told me that they won't be available in the US 'til next year.

A winner

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I've had the tig for a week. What a joy to drive! Tiguan just won the highest safety rating in crash tests. Amazing acceleration for a small SUV. If you like German styling, engineering. Don't wait. This vehicle delivers

Happy new owner

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I've had my Tiguan almost three weeks now and it's been a great vehicle thus far. I'm getting a little less than 25mpg using 87 Octane (regular unleaded). I owned a 1997 Jeep Wrangler previous to this vehicle and the comfort level and gas mileage can't even be categorized between the two vehicles. This Tiguan S model has some real zip with the turbo engine in it! You can't go wrong with this vehicle if you're looking for a good, small compact SUV.

Worth the Wait!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I've been researching this next car purchase for well over a year. I'm so glad we waited to pull the trigger until after the release of the Tiguan. After researching and driving the competition, the Tiguan was the clear choice for us. Love pretty much everything about this car and could not be happier with our purchase.

Great So Far!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

My husband and I researched and drove every vehicle in this class. In our opinion, the Tiguan is simply the better vehicle all the way around. Build quality, styling, design, interior layout, handling, braking and acceleration (the turbo was smooth and peppy) are all excellent.

09 Tiguan is a great car, Buy It Now!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I've been eying up this vehicle since I first heard about it back in March. In my opinion this is the best designed vehicle in it's class although I do feel its price tag is slightly above what it should be. The Tiguan overall performs great and has a lot more room than it might appear from the outside. I'm very happy with this car!

Love it!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I traded in my 04 Passat for the Tiguan. The Tiguan is so much fun to drive. It's roomy and has already carried large loads from the hardware store. My only complaint, as was my complaint with the Passat, is the cup holder for passengers in the back seat. It completely fell apart the first time it was used.

Stunned

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I'm totally stunned!! The gas mileage of my Tiguan rivals that of my Honda but the build quality far exceeds ANY vehicle in its class. I feel like I'm driving a near luxury vehicle. I was very nervous about paying cash for a vehicle, but now if I could I'd buy one for everyone in my family. Safe, stable (feels like its glued to the road) and just out and out FUN TO DRIVE!

Fun, Fast & Good Lookin'

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I have had my Tiguan for just under 2 months and I have put over 8k miles on it. It rides great, has get up and go power when needed. After test driving every crossover/suv in this size I couldn't find one that I was willing to into debt for until I drove this car. Love at first drive.

Couldn't be happier

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I have been waiting for this SUV. I have always driven VW's, I traded my 2007 Rabbit for the 2009 Tiguan and I am thrilled with my purchase!!!

A Fair Review

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 4 Reliability: 4 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4

I actually went back to VW when buying the Tiguan. My first VW, a GTI VR6, had a lot of small problems and a major problem with the computer. However, nothing comes close to German style and especially the interior comfort and technology. My favorite feature is the sunroof which allows for a very nice view of the sky for both front and rear passengers. The gas mileage is respectable compared to the Mercury Mountaineer I traded in. The response to the accelerator is also respectable.

Check your measurments

Performance: 5 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

Be careful. They don't tell you. The antenna sticks up off the back of the roof 8-10 inches. Doesn't fit in my garage. Also you will have trouble putting 4 sets of golf clubs in trunk horizontally with 4 passengers.

Good by Minivan

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

The build quality on the Tiguan is amazing for a car in this price range. The car looks fantastic and handles exceptionally well with 4motion. The 2.0 Turbo is much quicker that I expected and the car is very quite on the highway.

Fun, Fast, and Fitting.

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

After having it for five days and putting over 560miles on it, I can say that this automobile is fantastic. I took it home Thursday of last week (6/19/2008) and took it to Va Beach Saturday morning. Being that it is the first 500 miles, I didn't go over 65, and I was getting between 31.5 and 33 mpg!! That is amazing. There is the "recommended" premium octane fuel, but you can put regular. I will tell you that paying the extra 4-5 bucks (at the most) for prem per tank is well worth it. The drive is comfortable, even with four adults. The cabin is very quiet and the seat comfort is just fantastic. Plenty of room for both driver & passenger along with back passengers.

Finally

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I drove just about every SUV in this class over a two month period and the Tiguan is by far the best. The Tiguan looks great inside and out and even without leather seats is very comfortable. The difference between this car and others like the Ford Escape or Toyota Rav4 is the way it handles. The drive is more like a car than an SUV. I thought the Honda CR-V was a very nice vehicle too but it was lacking any kind of pick up. Overall I am very happy to have purchased the Tiguan. Some dealers have said that they are not offering any deals for a number of reasons, but I was given a couple thousand off the sticker price.

Best Bargain In The SUV Market !

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

This is the most amazing value in the small SUV marketplace. The car is almost as fun to drive as our Mini ! The car sounds sporty, and looks like it racing along even parked at the curb. Drives like sporty car not an SUV. Gas mileage around town is 26 mpg and with gas price sky high we are very happy ! The quality and engineering are excellent as is to be expected from V.W. Lots of thoughtful features. But, driving is what's it all about, and the Tiguan is sure to put a smile on your face !

Love it!!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I wanted to buy an suv for the longest time, but with current gas prices... not too much of a chance UNTIL the TIGUAN... great on gas, super comfortable. Pretty quick, lots and lots of space... I couldn't be any happier with my purchase, worth the wait! =)

Fast, Fun and Fuel Economy

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I looked at many vehicles from sedans to SUVs before deciding on the Tiguan to replace by Pilot (including the new Pilot). I decided sitting a little higher in traffic and all-wheel drive were important - hence my choice of another SUV. The Tiguan is fantastic -- quick acceleration, fun to drive and fuel economy of 28.5 mpg average on my first 2 tanks of regular gas. I choose the SEL for the added features and am not disappointed that I did. There is lots of room, and as a big guy I appreciate that. The back is tight for 3 adults, but would be fine for shorter distances - a luxury ride for 2 in the back. I am looking forward to better mpg, and am very satisfied with my Tiguan!

Fast and Great Fuel Economy

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Fast and Fun to drive. Tiguan handles like a sports car. Turbo charged acceleration is great.Tiptronic transmission is fun to play with. Fuel economy on the first tank for city driving was 23mpg,looking forward to a road trip soon. Lots of cargo room with rear seats folded down. Ride is very comfortable and quiet.visibility is excellent, much better than anything I have test driven. Easily fits in my garage and tight parking spaces. Performance, Styling, features and fuel economy are what won me over.

2009 VW Tiguan

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Great response, fun to drive, many extras come standard. Too early to tell reliability but looks to be well thought out, preproduction much endurance testing and preformed well in all test I have researched.

Awesome!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Well worth waiting for. We were inches away from buying a different SUV (compact) So glad we waited. If you have ever driven a GTI, or Jetta with the 2.0T, this SUV is just that but you sit up higher, and it is AWD. Seats are very comfy and supportive. Lots of room in the rear sets. The icing on the cake is the panoramic moonroof WOW!!!! and has an extra electric screen that will cover the open moonroof. Also handles bumps in the road very.

An SUV with good fuel economy?

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I have been driving a Tiguan for a little over a week now and it rocks. Very versatile, tons of room for people and luggage. The panoramic sunroof is superb this car was really worth the wait and I am get just on 30 mpg! Get one!