2009 Volkswagen Tiguan SE

VW ventures into small SUV field with tantalizing Tiguan

Sat, Apr 18th 2009

We were in the final stages of moving a household full of furniture -- and pets -- from a large two-bedroom apartment into a tiny, one-bedroom cottage, when I came to a realization about the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan.

In this time of downsizing, the Tiguan is tops.

We’d already packed – and I mean packed – a 16-foot rental truck, plus another vehicle with all the main stuff like dressers, beds, sofas and appliances. And now we were down to the final load of stuff that just couldn’t be squeezed into the main moving mobile. This load included a couple of small coffee tables, patio chairs, an ironing board and a couple of house plants.

At first glance, this final load looked like too much for the compact Tiguan, which has the appearance of a full-size SUV that was accidentally and dramatically shrunken in the wash. But the thought of extending our already exhausting move yet another day was enough to encourage us to work hard to make it all fit.

Low and behold, the Tiguan tackled the job with ease. The tailgate opens low and wide for easy loading of furniture and boxes and a cargo cover that hangs from the tailgate can be easily removed and stored behind the front seats. The middle row seats split 60/40 and fold about 90 percent flat for ample cargo carrying configurations.

There was even plenty of room leftover for a couple of large dogs, secured safety in their seat harnesses.

The interior of the Tiguan leaves a bit to be desired, with a dashboard area that looks rather basic, with more plastic than we care for. And we could do without the optional panoramic sunroof and sunshade that covers both front and back seats but never totally blocks the sun. On the plus side, the tailgate camera and monitor was very helpful in gauging space and direction while backing up.

Fully packed with this final furniture and doggy load, the Tiguan took to the road with confidence and comfort. Handling the twists and turns of the foothills was hardly an issue and the turbo-charged four-cylinder provided just enough power for passing those slow-mo rental trucks we waved at on the highway.

-- Keith Turner

Carguy Comments: The 2009 VW Tiguan comes in three trim levels: “S,”, “SE” and “SEL,” all of which offer the standard four-cylinder, 2.0-liter TSI engine that delivers impressive turbocharged acceleration with 200 horsepower. Available with either a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission, the Tiguan’s cargo volume is 56 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

Barking Lot Banter: Volkswagen’s first compact SUV is visually deceptive because while it looks petite on the outside, the cargo area is quite spacious and dog-friendly.