With the Tiptronic, the force-fed engine of the VW Tiguan fails to achieve the same level of operational smoothness as Volvo's T5 mill. The latter delivers progressive, linear accelerations, whereas the German turbo is quite jittery. For sure, performance is commendable: I sprinted from 0 to 100 km/h in barely 8 seconds despite the vehicle's 1,600+ kilos. However, the activation of the turbo is not seamless, which results in unpleasant, jerky forward surges.

The Tiguan relies on the same 200-hp, 2.0L turbocharged engine as the Jetta GLI.

In addition, the slow operation of the autobox adds a short though irritating delay between the moment you hammer the throttle and the 200 ponies are unleashed. By contrast, the manual gearbox of the Tiguan Trendline allows greater control over this spirited engine. Ironically, it provides more flexibility during aggressive driving.

Come to think of it, I would not hesitate to pay a $10,000 premium to get my hands on a BMW X3 3.0i and enjoy its exemplary smoothness.

Frugal operation...
In terms of fuel economy, the Tiguan fares pretty well. Among a group of about 15 compact SUVs evaluated by Transport Canada, the little Volkswagen earned the silver medal with an average rating of 10 liters per 100 kilometers (the RAV4 averages 9.4 L/100 km). The Tiguan requires premium gasoline, though.

I was disappointed to find out that my tester had burned a little over 12 L/100 km at the end of 400+ kilometers of city and country driving. Granted, my extensive road test was performed in real-world conditions, whereas the federal government conducts laboratory evaluations, resulting in 15-20 percent lower figures.

Such "truck-like" economy is in line with the driving dynamics, which are far from car-like. If you're looking for a smooth ride, try a Subaru Forester, a Nissan Murano or, better yet, any family sedan out there. The Tiguan's ride is more akin to the Nissan Xterra's: the suspension is hard and ineffective at soaking up the majority of road imperfections. On the plus side, the electromechanical steering is precise and not overly assisted. Talk about an odd combination...

Interior ergonomics are exemplary.