If you are looking at the Tiguan for the first time, it is a bit like the poem by John Godfrey Saxe, The “Six Blind Men of Indostan”, who had never been able to check out a whole elephant. They had only been able to touch one part each and had very different opinions of what an elephant was. This created a great controversy amongst the men. The Tiguan is a bit like that. Each combination changes the nature of the vehicle.

As a CUV, the Tiguan is full of surprises.

There are three trim levels; the Trendline, Comfortline and Highline which start out pretty much the same. Then you have to choose between a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic with Tiptronic™. Once that is done, you need to decide if you want 4Motion which is the VW equivalent of All Wheel Drive. Then there are the interior choices and the option groups.

Where the elephant comes in is that when you change a significant item like the transmission or add 4Motion, the nature of the car changes significantly. I did have an opportunity to take a brief spin in the others and being a bit of a softie, some of the equipment that comes with other parts of this “elephant” can make life pretty comfortable.

Back to reality of my Trendline! The automatic in this front wheel drive unit worked great. Every shift was on time as well as crisp and solid without being harsh. There is a part throttle kick down feature that really helps to stay on the power band when trying to zip around town. In addition to that, if you want to, you can shift manually for the boy racer feel when you have a bit of open road with a few corners.

The Tiguan seems to combine the practicality (and shape) of a Golf with the size of a Jetta. When you add in the possibility of 4Motion as an option, Tiguan fits firmly into the CUV (Cross Over Utility Vehicle) category. Ironically, you would never think to call it a CUV because it does everything well, including handling.

Volkswagen uses MacPherson struts with a triangular lower wishbone on the front and a four link set up with coil springs and gas shocks to control the rear. This doesn’t give “race car” like handling. It provides a well controlled ride that gets you around corners without making you feel like you are going to fall out of the seat because of body sway. In addition, the tires will give you plenty of warning before they start to have the nose slide out during hard cornering.

When you put the transmission in drive and head for the grocery store, Tiguan is up to that task as well. Acceleration with light throttle applications will get you smoothly down the road and from lane to lane without raising any eyebrows.

Volkswagen uses four link set up with coil springs and gas shocks to control the rear.

That same “hard cornering” suspension filters out all the major bounces and bumps without making you feel like you are floating along. Load your monthly Costco shopping in the back and still have room left over. If you have to, the back seat will fold down in a 60/40 split to provide a cargo area large enough to hold small furniture.

Trendline may be entry level but, you are never going to feel hard done to. The front buckets are very comfortable for a large range of body types. Driver and passenger have plenty of leg room and head room. The driver has a clear view of the instruments and all switches and controls fall readily to hand.

Trendline may be entry level but, you are never going to feel hard done to.

If you are relegated to the rear seat, you are going to find that the seat is comfortable for two (you can fit three, but not that comfortably) and that head room borders on excessive. Only when it comes to leg and knee room can things get a bit tight. Usually the hollowed out front seat backs provide enough space to be comfortable, but if your inseam is more than 33 inches, the seat in front usually has to come forward a notch or so.

There is a single power plant for the entire Tiguan lineup. Volkswagen uses their 2.0 litre direct injected gas engine to move the Tiguan down the road. Total output of this turbocharged and intercooled four is 200 horsepower, but the important number is 207 lb.ft of torque. Peak torque is available from 1,700 rpm up to 5,000 rpm. With a torque band this broad, the Tiguan can push you back in your seat and keep you there.

As a CUV, the Tiguan is full of surprises. It is one of the few that will put a grin on your face when you are hauling the family or out by yourself. When you go to drive one, check out all the parts of the elephant and make a well informed decision.