Overview

Tiguan was Volkswagen's brand new entry into the ever growing SUV market for in 2009. The 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan is a sophisticated SUV with a truly European design and takes on the likes of Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 with supreme confidence. The Tiguan is extensively redesigned for 2012 with sleek, new front- and rear-end styling and new-style Bi-Xenon headlights feature striking and bright-white LED daytime running lights. The 2012 VW Tiguan is available in S, SE or SEL trim levels.

Powertrain and Performance

The Tiguan gets power from a versatile 200-hp 2.0-liter TSI turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Turbocharged and intercooled, the compact, in-line 1984cc four-cylinder produces an impressive 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft. from just 1700 rpm. The 2.0T is mated to a precise-shifting six-speed manual transmission, which is standard on the Tiguan S model. The rest of the Tiguan line-up comes standard with a six-speed automatic with Tiptronic manual shifting, Sport mode, and Dynamic Shift Program (DSP). To provide added traction for the 2012 Tiguan, Volkswagen?s 4Motion all-wheel drive system is offered on all models. The electro-hydraulic system delivers drive to all four wheels without any buttons to press or levers to pull.

Build and Styling

The 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan combines the style and sophistication of a sporty, urban compact SUV that caters to an active lifestyle. Standard on the range-topping SEL models are Bi-Xenon headlights with advanced lighting system (AFS) illumination that conform with the steering wheel to turn up to 15 degrees for increased visibility. Adding a new dimension is the U-shaped band of 14 LEDs around the AFS lenses that not only act as daytime running lights, but add a striking visual element to the front of the new Tiguan. To heighten the 2012 Tiguan?s new style, there?s a new honeycomb grille section beneath the redesigned bumper, and beneath that a gray, skid-plate-style panel with three distinctive openings. Integrated into the new bumper at each side are honeycomb-backed panels housing stylish new fog lights. At the rear, distinctive new two-part taillights echo those of the latest Touareg and feature signature L-shaped lighting elements. A dramatic new feature of the 2012 Tiguan is its new 19-inch ?Savannah? alloy wheels that come standard on the SEL mode. The sunroof comes standard with the new 2.0T S with Sunroof model, the SE with Sunroof and Navigation, and as part of the long list of standard equipment on the Tiguan SEL model. The 2012 Tiguan also features standard Bluetooth connectivity, aux-in for portable audio players, and an eight-speaker audio system with an MP3 and WMA-compatible in-dash CD player. The mid-range SE model features Volkswagen?s acclaimed touchscreen Premium VIII audio system with a six-disc CD changer, SD memory-card reader, and Media Device Interface (MDI) with an iPod cable. For 2012, the Tiguan S offers new, high-quality cloth seating surfaces in black; the Tiguan SE features Volkswagen?s perforated V-Tex leatherette, available in black or beige; and the Tiguan SEL offers rich leather seating surfaces in black or beige.

Safety Features

Safety and security in the 2012 Tiguan starts with a strong, rigid laser-seam-welded bodyshell, crash-optimized, energy-absorbing front end, and features like heat-formed steel center B-pillars for added roll-over protection. Electronic guardian angels include Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Tire Pressure Monitor (TPS) are some of the safety features present on the Tiguan. The driver and front-seat passenger are protected by front, and side-thorax airbags, while must-have Side Curtain protection head airbags protect those in the front and rear seats. And pyrotechnic safety belt pretensions cinch-tight the safety belts of the front-seat and rear-outboard-seat occupants in a collision.