Used car review: Volkswagen Tiguan 2008-10
It was a game changer in the competitive soft-roader market – as long as space wasn’t a priority.
When Volkswagen launched the Tiguan in 2008, it caused a stir in the compact soft-roader segment. It brought with it Volkswagen's reputation for dynamically strong performers with a European flair.
With plenty of competition (mainly from Japan and South Korea), the Tiguan had its work cut out, especially as it was nowhere near as roomy as some, including Nissan's X-Trail or Subaru's top-selling Forester.
When shopping for a Tiguan, be careful not to pay too much for a car that does not have all the options. European makers are good at conjuring options lists and VW is no different. Some Tiguans are better equipped than others.
For instance, leather trim costs almost $4000 and many buyers could not see the benefit. A rear-view camera that arguably should be standard on all soft-roaders is only available as an optional extra and bundled with a satnav package, which added between $3000 and $5000.
Some buyers were attracted to the Volkswagen because it wasn't Japanese or South Korean. But brand snobbery will only get you so far and one could argue the Tiguan lacked the build quality and reliability of some contemporaries.
The quick-thinking ''DSG'' dual-clutch automatic gearbox has been known to give problems, with some vehicles requiring new transmissions. To be fair, Volkswagen seems to have done the right thing by its customers in this instance but any DSG that shudders or clunks into gear or simply cannot make up its mind what gear to pluck could be trouble.
The turbo diesel engine, meanwhile, seems very robust but needs its cam belt replaced about every 100,000 kilometres.
Being a hard-working diesel, it needs regular maintenance, so a service record is an essential part of any second-hand Tiguan.
As for petrol engines, the excellent 125kW ''twincharged'' 1.4-litre engine in the Golf GT wasn't available in the Tiguan. Instead, the choice was between two 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder units - one with 125kW of power or a 147kW version lifted from the Golf GTI.
These engines really delivered, so a stamped, up-to-date service handbook is more than desirable.
Perhaps the biggest quality issues facing Volkswagens of the past few years have been niggles with electrics and trim.
Water leaks and ill-fitting carpets were the start of it all but even by 2008, when the Tiguan landed, there was still no guarantee that bits and pieces wouldn't stop working at inconvenient moments.
Check each power window and make sure the sunroof works and is not leaking. Water stains around the headlining are sure signs water is getting in and blocked drain channels are a likely culprit.
Check all the buttons and dials work, especially the satnav and Bluetooth; check by connecting your phone.
The biggest issue for some would-be buyers is the Tiguan's load space, or lack of it.
The short rear overhang of the vehicle limits the amount of gear it will swallow.
The Tiguan is 130 millimetres shorter than the Forester, the next shortest in its class. It does have a clever sliding rear seat, however, which will buy you an extra 180 millimetres of luggage space; but at that point there is virtually no rear-seat legroom.
The other catch is that Volkswagen also fitted a space-saver spare wheel to maximise its minimal space.
That will not worry most owners but does impose limitations on how the vehicle is driven after you have had a flat tyre.
Model | Year | New | Now |
125TSI | 2008 | $36,290 | $21,800 |
125TSI | 2009 | $36,490 | $23,700 |
125TSI | 2010 | $36,490 | $26,800 |
147TSI | 2008 | $42,990 | $26,200 |
147TSI | 2009 | $42,990 | $28,500 |
147TSI | 2010 | $42,990 | $32,000 |
103TDI | 2008 | $38,290 | $23,300 |
103TDI | 2009 | $39,190 | $26,000 |
103TDI | 2010 | $39,190 | $28,800 |
Source: Glass's Guide
The competitors
Subaru Forester
The granddaddy of all compact SUVs. Sensible wagon styling works well but probably is not as highly regarded as the model it replaced.
Nissan X-Trail
Not flash looking but lots of it for the money. Plastic load area feels cheap and some apparently simple mechanical jobs are more involved than they might be.
Toyota Rav4
The benchmark for durability and ease of ownership. Automatic transmission woes have been fixed by this time but the manual is still nicer.