Volkswagen Tiguan test drive since 2008 SUV

German surprise

I expected Tiguan in Lapland in Lapland in the homeland of snow, ice and Santa Claus last. It is less likely than deer (they are food and disaster for Finland at the same time), frosty and humid to opacity air, as well as slippery icy tracks, wriggling both horizontal and vertical planes
When the quality of roads worsens in cities, there are more cars with all -wheel drive and enlarged clearance in them. In Europe and in America, to get to a country house, it is not at all necessary to have an SUV.
In Russia, even in large cities, you sometimes need to take the child to kindergarten on something that can move through the curb and get out of the marsh that had come from nowhere.
In Lapland, the problems are different. Despite the fact that the local population prefers sedans and station wagons, it is worth taking a step from the road, as the front bumper can gain a new snowpock bucket function.
Here, behind the Arctic Circle, the Finns will think 25 times before moving out of the highway. But I have as many as five reasons to turn away: four new Finnish tires (which I came to Finland) and one new German car (which Russians are unlikely to manage to ride before this issue of the magazine).
The authentic off -road appearance of Tiguan in Volkswagen is considered one of the main trump cards of the crossover. It is intended for people who want their car to look like an SUV, while maintaining the comfort and controllability of compact. And yet, what is more important: to look like an SUV or to be it?
Despite the fact that Tiguan is called the younger brother of Touareg, in fact, this is rather an illegitimate son of Golf and Passat 4Motion. With an engine, gearbox, steering mechanism and front suspension from the first and rear suspension with all -wheel drive from the second.
Tiguan is really very similar to the Touareg reduced in the proportions, but only externally
The crossover salon is fulfilled in full accordance with Volkswagen: the order and ergonomics of Uber Alles above all things. High quality of materials and fitting parts; At the height, the readability of the devices and the range of driver's adjustments.
Climate control is located on its unit, music in its own, the ESP and the Park Assist system is turned on on the central tunnel, which is also located in its autonomous rectangle. Style? Order!
Under the hood of the Tiguan I got, there was a 1.4-liter 150-horsepower TSI engine forced modification of a 140-horsepower engine with Golf and Touran. The drive, by default, is the front, but in the case of slipping one of the front wheels, the modified Haldex coupon quickly throws the required amount of torque to the rear axle.
The gearbox is uninitiated manual, six -speed. So far, automatic transmissions are not provided for this motor. But it is precisely the 1.4-liter TSI that will be taken to Russia! And rightly, the engines are what you need!
The motor smoothly and briskly accelerates a crossover weighing one and a half tons and picks up from any revolutions. But this is not the limit: Volkswagen plans to prepare two more engines with a boost: with a capacity of 170 and 200 liters. With.!
Tiguan is obediently and confidently controlled, even despite the usual faint force on the steering wheel. The work of the coupling is almost invisible, only the result is visible: stability and confident acceleration on a slippery icy road and stability in corners.
A good sound insulation, along with unsolved tires, make Tiguan an incredibly quiet and acoustically comfortable car. It was worth finding a section of an uneven road (in Finland it is difficult, but possible), how comfort disappears. The crossover jerks nervously, and the salon plastic begins to sound.
The energy intensity is also not enough in places: on the pits, the pendant pierces the larger. However, it will be possible for Russian roads that will be equipped with more rigid shock absorbers.
Finnish roads are dangerous deer. Pired-minded cross the road where they want, making it collectively and quite in a hurry. Therefore, a meeting with deer threatens the testing of either Tiguan manageability or brake dynamics.
I was lucky: the speed was low, and the road was clearly visible. The brakes coped with the task and saved a couple of horned goals. I just don’t know if for a long time whether Olenin is served here in almost every diner.
Look like an SUV or if they want to be here, if you want it, whether it is not working. Tiguan is not an all -terrain vehicle, but only it seems to them.
With the right pricing policy (at the time of writing the material, Russian prices for Tiguan are not declared approx. Aut.) The crossover is able to find its buyers in Russia and greatly disturb the leaders of Japanese competitors in the segment.
While asphalt has still remained in our country, compact crossovers will be more in demand than SUVs.
Text: Alexander Korobchenko
Photo: Alexander Korobchenko

 
 
 
 

A source: Wheel magazine [February 2008]