2016 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan is offered in four trims, and each of the trim can be configured with a four-wheel-drive for around $2,000. The base S trim starts at $24,890 with front-wheel-drive, next is the R-line, which is somewhat a sportier version of the Tiguan and starts at $28,700. Above that is the SE trim that starts at $31,390 and adds some upscale features. Lastly, is the SEL trim, which starts at $34,445 with front-wheel-drive.

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Our pick would be the R-Line trim as it adds a host of features along with a sports-tuned suspension and different paint scheme, which gives it a unique personality. Some of the features are a power-adjustable driver's seat, 19-inch wheels, and a sport steering with paddle shifters, and comes at under $30,000 with front-wheel-drive configuration.

The 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged inline-4 engine that puts out 200 horsepower along with 207 lb-ft of torque through a 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission. Although it may seem that the Tiguan is a driver-focused vehicle, it's not. It's meant to be a family hauler that is versatile and usable for day-to-day commute while providing a hassle-free experience. The 2016 Tiguan puts out an impressive 0-60 mph timing of 8.1 seconds and covers the quarter-mile in 14.5 seconds.

The Tiguan is surely a performer when compared to rivals in the crossover segment but doesn't seem so when compared to similarly priced vehicles outside its particular segment. Even though it is the fastest crossover among all here in both the 0-60 mph run and quarter-mile runs, the overall power delivery feels lackluster. That said, the Tiguan is the pricier SUV among all and commands a minimum one grand premium over the similarly specced competitors.

The EPA has rated the 2016 Tiguan to return a fuel economy of 21 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined, which is the worst in the competition. The fuel tank has 16.8 gallons of fuel capacity, which is average for this type of vehicle, and a full tank can take you quite far without worrying about gas stations, measuring 353 in the city, 437 miles on the highway, and 386 miles combined.

Coming to the rivals, the Honda CR-V is the most fuel-efficient among all and returns 5 mpg more in the city, 7 mpg more on the highway, and 6 mpg more combined compared to the Tiguan. Even the least fuel-efficient among the rivals, i.e., Kia Sportage manages to beat the fuel economy of the Tiguan by 1 mpg on the highway and combined, respectively.

The interior of the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan is well-engineered, and every material used feels premium. The space is ample in the front seats, and the seats are plush, comfortable, and surely won't disappoint anyone. Although the rear seats are bolstered and that restricts seating for only two passengers in comfort here. The lack of a third row is a disappointment because some of its rivals do offer it as an option. The cargo space is just average at 23.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 56.1 cubic feet if rear seats are folded.

All the rivals beat the Volkswagen Tiguan in terms of cabin space by a margin. While among the rivals, the Honda CR-V has the most spacious cabin, followed by the Ford Escape. Coming to the cargo space, again the Honda CR-V takes the lead here with 37.2 cubic feet of space, which is 13.4 cubic feet more than what the Volkswagen Tiguan offers. Key interior features include:

• Air conditioning
• Keyless entry and ignition
• V-Tex vinyl upholstery
• Sliding and reclining backseat
• Heated front seats
• Available power-adjustable front seats w/ driver’s seat memory function
• Available dual-zone automatic climate control

How intuitive is the Volkswagen Tiguan’s infotainment system?

The 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan offers the latest MIB II infotainment system that runs on a 5.0-inch screen in the base trim and upgrades to a bigger 6.3-inch unit in the R-Line trim. Standard features that come along with the infotainment contains a CD player, Bluetooth, eight-speaker sound system, USB ports, etc. Higher trims add navigation, smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an eight-speaker Fender audio system. Key infotainment features include:

• 5- or 6.3-inch touchscreen
• MIB-II infotainment interface
• Eight-speaker sound system
• Available Fender sound system
• Available navigation system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

The styling of the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan remains unchanged this year, and we feel the looks have aged, but it has aged like a fine wine. The conservative looks with a European styling flair make the Tiguan appear premium and upscale, separating it from the flashy chrome cladded crossovers that are crowding the market. From every angle, the Tiguan looks tasteful and elegant, and even though it has conservative design language, it still grabs a lot of eyeballs.

Dimensions wise, the Tiguan is the tallest SUV among all, while the Honda CR-V is the longest, Kia Sportage is the widest, and Ford Escape has the highest ground clearance and wheelbase. That said, the Volkswagen Tiguan weighing more than 3,404 pounds is the second heaviest SUV of all, whereas the Ford Escape is the heaviest at 3,515 lbs. Key exterior features include:

• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Automatic headlights and wipers
• Roof rails
• Available LED daytime running lights
• Available panoramic sunroof
• Available power-folding mirrors

The 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan lacks a lot in terms of advanced safety features, and thus it scored rather poorly in both the agencies crash tests. The NHTSA gave the 2016 Tiguan an overall rating of four out of five stars, while the front crash test was rated as three stars, side crash as five stars, and four stars in the rollover test. The IIHS rated the 2016 Tiguan with a rating of ‘Good’ in only four out of five parameters and gave the lowest rating of ‘Poor’ for its headlights. Key safety features include:

• Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR)
• Engine Braking Assist (EBA)
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS)
• Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD)
• Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)

The 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan is supposed to be a family-hauling daily driving vehicle, but it still hasn’t lost its SUV-like charms or looks. It is quite a unique vehicle that feels well-engineered and premium. However, the lack of a third row and the poor fuel efficiency pushes it lower in the ranks. Overall, the Tiguan is a great deal for the price if one can look away from the last two cons.