Used Volkswagen Tiguan Crossover 2007 - 2016 review

The Tiguan might not be the sort of car to shout its name from the mountain tops but it holds a special place in Volkswagen's motoring history: it was the firm's first compact SUV and catapulted it into the competitive marketplace dominated at the time by the Nissan Qashqai.

It actually sits atop the platform of the contemporary Golf and manages to combine all the practicality and flexibility expected of an SUV while still holding onto VW's strengths of quality and refinement.

The Tiguan was launched in 2007 and facelifted in 2011, and the range is quite complicated, with later models spread across four trims: S, SE, R-line and the special-edition off-road Escape with revised bodywork to improve approach and departure angles. There's the option of four-wheel drive on all models bar the entry-level diesel engine.

There's a range of engines available. Petrol units range from a 158bhp 1.4 to a 177bhp 2.0 and end with the 207bhp engine used in the last-generation Golf GTI.

But, perhaps not surprisingly, the vast majority of Tiguans are diesels. Presciently, VW offered three versions of the same 2.0-litre motor – a 108bhp for the entry-level S trim, a 138bhp variant available in all models and a 174bhp range-topper only for SE and R-line customers. Escape trim was available with only the 138bhp version.

Inside, the smart interior has plenty of room for up to five and rear seats that slide to favour leg room or boot space. At 505 litres, the boot isn't the biggest, but it's a useful, rectangular shape without awkward intrusions.

Drivers sit low, giving this SUV a hatchback-like feel, and the dashboard is logically laid out and built from high-quality materials, as you'd expect. All models come with decent safety kit, including stability control, side and window airbags and Isofix child seat mounts.

On the road, all the engines offer the refinement expected from most modern VW cars, with the petrols in particular being smooth and quiet, if not uproariously quick.

That said, the superior fuel economy of the diesel cars means most will overlook the petrols. The diesels are smooth at a cruise, if a little gravelly low down, with all of them offering reasonable performance – although the 138bhp version strikes the best balance.

A fairly slick six-speed manual gearbox is fitted as standard to all engines, although all have the option of a DSG automatic transmission. This can be a little hesitant and jerky, though, especially around town.

While the stiff suspension brings a slightly unsettled ride at lower speeds, it settles down nicely as the speed increases to become a relaxed and composed cruiser. It handles safely, if in a totally uninspiring manner. The same is true of the steering, which is well weighted and fairly accurate, but offers little in the way of communication to the driver.

So the Tiguan has a strength and a quality that pervades its entire structure, and this helps lift what is a rather dull driving – and potentially owning – experience. Find a good one, though – and there are plenty now available – and what you'll have is a solid and very practical car.

At the time of writing, high-mileage Tiguans can be had for £4000 to £5000, but we'd spend a little more – say, £6000-£8000 – to pick up a 2008-2009 car with an average mileage for the year and a full service history, possibly bought from a trader or an independent dealer.

If you spend between £9000 and £11,000, you'll see good 2010 and even some facelifted 2011 cars, all with the same basic criteria as mentioned. Upwards of £12,000 will see post-facelift 2011 and 2012 models, bought from independent dealers.

The Tiguan's fuel consumption is on a par with that of its rivals, which include the Ford Kuga, Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Qashqai. It is noticeably more efficient than the Land Rover Freelander. The diesel Bluemotion model will return an impressive claimed average of 53.3mpg, with even the sportiest petrol version returning a claimed 32.8mpg.

Stick to the diesel models and the Tiguan won't be too expensive to tax, with CO2 emissions ranging from 139g/km to 189g/km. The higher-powered petrol models emit 199g/km. This is on a par with rivals.

As far as insurance costs go, the smaller petrol Tiguans sit in groups 15-16, while the larger-capacity petrol-engined four-wheel-drive models rise to group 22.

Main dealer servicing can be expensive, but the VW stamp in the service book will help protect values. Rates vary wildly, so try a number of dealers for the best quote. Of course, this won't matter so much with an older car, which can be taken to an independent VW specialist.

The Tiguan's engine range is designed with economy in mind, and we prefer the refined and efficient 138bhp Bluemotion version of the 2.0-litre diesel.

Despite its 4x4 looks, the Tiguan isn't really built for off-road use, but VW's 4Motion all-wheel drive system is available across the range. It is an advantage in slippery conditions, but pushes up running costs.

All trims are well equipped, but we would bypass entry-level S and pick SE, if you can find one, because the extra kit it offers is worth the surplus you might have to pay.

Our favourite VW Tiguan: 2.0 TDI 140 SE

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The first-generation Nissan Qashqai dominated this class for many years. It was smooth, offered good petrol and diesel engines, looked chunky and funky, and kick-started the small SUV movement. The second generation was even more refined as well as being nicer to drive and to sit in, but there are reports that its reliability isn't as good as it should be.

Launched back in 2008, the original Ford Kuga was arguably, like the Tiguan, one of the first mainstream SUVs that promised sporty handling. Sadly, it failed to live up to its smart looks. It wasn't very practical, for starters, and it was actually a bit disappointing to drive.

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