2013 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2013 Tiguan is available in just three trims with no engine and transmission options in either front-wheel or all-wheel-drive configurations. The base S trim covers all the essentials rather well with a decent amount of functionality on offer while the SE trim adds more convenience and creature comforts to the mix. The top-end SEL trim although gets pretty expensive, offers a lot of premium features to make it feel worth the cost. The S trim can be had with a Sunroof package for an additional $1,800 while the SE trim is available with a Sunroof & Navigation package for $1,940. 

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Although the prices are already pretty steep, since the SE trim adds plenty of creature comforts and technology to the mix, it is better to opt for that and add value to the car. The AWD is an option that can be skipped if the weather conditions aren’t too extreme in your region. 

The 2013 Tiguan is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine only that is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission which powers the front wheels as standard with an option for all-wheel drive. The engine is rated for 200 hp and 2017 lb-ft of torque and the base S trim can also be had with a 6-speed manual transmission as well. 

The performance from the turbo-4 engine is pretty strong as it zips in and out of traffic rather comfortably and feels more like a crossover powered by a V6 rather than a four-pot engine. The 0-60 mph acceleration time of 7.9 seconds is also one of the quickest of the segment with some even claiming to achieve this feat in as quick as 7.5 seconds. 

All its rivals employ a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine under their hoods and hence have a much lower engine output. The Toyota RAV4 is next in line in this comparison, costing a bit less than the Tiguan, and is under 1 second slower in the straight-line acceleration tests. The Ford Escape and Honda CR-V are the more affordable family crossovers here and lack the punch that the Tiguan has to offer and hence are awfully slow off the line. 

The forced induction motor under the hood of the Tiguan might suggest high efficiency to many, and although that is usually true, it is not the case with the 2013 Tiguan. The 2-liter turbo-4 engine is rated for just 23 mpg of combined city and highway fuel consumption by the EPA which is pretty low as per the segment standards. Even with the larger 16.8-gallon fuel tank, the maximum driving range is limited to just over 400 miles on a single tank of gas.

The Ford Escape on the other hand is a lot more frugal and despite its smaller capacity gas tank, the driving range is on par with the Tiguan. Both the Japanese crossovers have pretty high frugality with the Toyota RAV4 having the best city fuel efficiency figures. It employs a larger gas tank and hence also offers the best driving range amongst all the SUVs here. 

The Volkswagen Tiguan continues the high-quality premium cabin tradition of the German carmaker which makes it stand apart from its competitors. The solid build quality with precise fit and finish is the best even in a class above, while the soft-touch materials and genuine metal interior trims make the car visually appealing as well. At the front, the space is pretty good to accommodate most average-sized Americans and the front seats offer a great amount of support for long drives. 

The rear seats have a decent amount of legroom to offer but the reclining backrests offer 6-inch of fore and aft travel for optimum comfort. The cargo capacity is pretty limited for its class at 23.8 cu-ft which can be extended to a maximum of 56.1 cu-ft when folding down the rear seat. That being said, the front passenger seat also folds down completely to offer a maximum of 98 inches of space from front to back. 

The Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 are far more spacious in comparison and also offer plenty more luggage space than the Tiguan. There is a bit more legroom for the front occupants while the rear seat passengers enjoy a lot more space at the rear. They also offer upwards of 70 cu-ft of cargo space with their rear seats folded. The Ford Escape is considerably more spacious than the Tiguan. 

• 12-way power driver seat and 8-way manual passenger seat w/fold-flat capability & power recline
• Heated front bucket seats with driver memory and power lumbar support
• 60/40 split-folding reclining rear bench seat w/one-pull folding feature
• Leather seat trim
• Leather-wrapped multi-function tilt/telescopic steering wheel
• Climatic air conditioning w/rear AC vents
• Leather door panel inserts and chrome interior door handles
• Ambient dash and footwell lighting
• 4 cargo area tie-down hooks

How intuitive is the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan SUV’s infotainment unit?

Although the infotainment system is very well placed and is intuitive to use, the screen is a bit smaller than its rivals. The navigation system isn’t the greatest as well as the small screen limits the information available which could become tedious to find a location in some cases. There is satellite radio on offer, but some rivals also offer HD radio and Pandora radio which are missing here. 

• Touchscreen infotainment system
• 8-speaker audio system
• SiriusXM satellite radio w/3-month trial
• Navigation system
• Bluetooth connectivity w/voice control
• iPod connectivity
• Media device interface (MDI)

In the exterior front, the 2013 Tiguan looks classy and stylish overall. The headlamps look striking with the dual chrome strips on the front grille, while the silver painted roof rack and lower bumper inserts makes it look sportier. The straight and strong body line further accentuate the tough built feel of the SUV while the 19-inch alloy wheels add more character to the car.

The shorter length is what limits the cabin and luggage space for the Tiguan. And in spite of the Honda CR-V being larger than the Tiguan, it weighs considerably lesser. The Ford Escape is similar to the CR-V in terms of dimensions but is heavier and also offers a lot higher ground clearance. The Toyota RAV4 is the largest of them all and yet weighs almost as much as the Tiguan, but also rides closest to the ground. Some of the exterior features in the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan are:

• Automatic bi-xenon advanced front light system (AFS) w/directionally adjustable headlights
• Heated power mirrors w/memory function and integrated turn signals
• Rain-sensing variable intermittent aero front windshield wipers w/heated washer nozzles
• Chrome front grille and window trim
• Textured side rocker panel
• Silver roof rack
• Power tilt/sliding panoramic sunroof
• 19-inch "Savannah" alloy wheels

The solid build quality also aids the Tiguan in offering great safety standards for all its occupants. The NHTSA has rated the Volkswagen Tiguan with a 4-star overall rating while the IIHS has chosen it as the “Top Safety Pick” of the segment for 2013 model year. There are plenty of active and passive safety features on offer with the Tiguan and most of them are standard and available across the trims, a highlight of which is listed below. 

• Intelligent crash response system (ICRS)
• Anti-slip regulation (ASR) and Trailer roll stability program
• Comfort brake assistant and Hydraulic brake assist (HBA)
• Dual front and side-impact airbags
• Front/rear side curtain airbags
• Rearview camera
• Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)

The 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan may not be the most practical or affordable or even the most exciting compact crossover today. But what it does is offers all of this together in one package. It has a powerful engine with an agile chassis and nicely tuned suspension setup to complement it. The cabin is premium and solidly built and yet it does not cost a fortune over its competitors. For all German engineering fans out there, the 2013 Tiguan could very well be the perfect crossover in spite of its shortcomings.