2013 Volkswagen Tiguan

A face-lift for 2012 brought the Tiguan’s looks in line with the rest of the Volkswagen family, particularly the larger Touareg. For 2013, all Tiguans receive an electronic parking brake, hill-hold assist, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a leather shift knob. The SE trim gets a part-power passenger seat, and the SEL model is now equipped with a full-power passenger seat and a rearview camera.

The 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan has approximately a 175-inch length, 71-inch width, 66-inch height, seven-inch ground clearance, 103-inch wheelbase, and 3400 pound curb weight. Seven colors are offered: candy white, deep metallic black, night blue metallic, pepper grey metallic, reflex silver metallic, white gold metallic, and wild cherry metallic. Resembling the VW Golf, Its exterior styling is not dramatic, yet will still attract buyers who aren’t paying for appearance. In front, there is a long, sloping hood that blends seamlessly into a small grille with the Volkswagen logo in the middle. The grille is sided by halogen headlamps that wraparound the rounded corners. Down below is the air intakes, body-colored bumper, and daytime running lights. A side view portrays body-colored, heated, power door mirrors and standard 16-inch steel wheels, which may be upgraded to 16-, 18-, or 19-inch alloy wheels. A rear view shows a spoiler, body-colored bumper, and LED taillights. Available exterior features include a panoramic sunroof, fog lights, and special bi-xenon headlights.

The interior of the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan is built with solid craftsmanship and provides genuine comfort to all passengers. In front, there are eight-way, adjustable bucket seats that provide good support for the back and shoulders. Passenger seats may be folded flat. Heated seats are optional. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is multi-functional, giving drivers easy access to controls for the audio system, trip computer, and Bluetooth connection. The dash has logically arranged gauges and conveniently placed controls for clear readability and easy use. In the rear, there is a 60/40 split-folding bench seat with height-adjustable headrests and backrest adjustment. V-Tex leatherette is used on all seating surfaces. Cargo capacity is measured at 23.8 cubic feet, which may be expanded to 56.1 cubic feet by folding down the rear seat. Interior features include dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-speaker sound system with a CD player that is compatible with MP3 and WMA technology, and the ability to stream audio onto Bluetooth compatible devices.

The 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan has a solid set of safety features, receiving the top rating of good for side-impact, frontal-offset, and roof strength crash protection by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Six airbags are onboard: side-impact in the front, side-curtain in both rows, and overhead for the front and rear. It has anti-lock brakes on all four wheels, along with emergency brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution. Traction and stability control work to provide better handling on slick and rough road surfaces. Front and rear seats have height-adjustable head restraints that help protect passengers from whiplash-related injuries. Rear seats have child seat anchors that securely carry cars seats around. All seatbelts have pretensioners that automatically tighten to help restrain passengers in the event of an accident. Additional safety features include an engine immobilizer, tire pressure monitoring, a post-collision safety system, and turn signal mirrors.

All models of the 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan are packed with a turbocharged, 2.0-liter, inline, four-cylinder engine that pumps out 200-horsepower at 5100 rpm and 207 lb-ft of torque at 1700 rpm. It is mated with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission with overdrive. In performance testing, zero to 60 mph was accomplished in 7.5 seconds. Maximum towing capacity is 2200 pounds. Average fuel economy is 19/26 mpg city/highway driving and 22 mpg combined.

Compared to some other compacts in its class, the Tiguan lacks power and speed. Nevertheless, it demonstrates sufficient acceleration to pass other vehicles on the highway and two-lane roads. It is built with an independent MacPherson strut front suspension teamed with a multi-link rear suspension. There is a stabilizer and coil springs on both ends. This setup provides a firm ride, soaking up road imperfections nicely. Handling is adequate, with little or no noticeable body lean when travelling around corners. Steering is accurate and responds appropriately. In brake testing, stops from 60 mph came in 125 feet. Models with all-wheel drive are able to handle slippery roads and dirt without any trouble.

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