| Ahhh. Isn't he just like his big brother? The | | | | Any twinge of guilt I felt about ploughing furrows |
| Touareg? Yes, the Tiguan is certainly a chip off | | | | in the wet fields of the new Luton Hoo hotel |
| the old block. But the baby 4x4 from Volkswagen | | | | were quickly forgotten as the stubborn streak of |
| has to grow up fast and compete head-on with | | | | the Tiguan Escape revealed itself and the fun |
| some of the toughest names in the compact | | | | began. |
| SUV (Sports Utility vehicle) market - like the iconic | | | | After pressing a button to activate the off-road |
| Toyota RAV4, Land Rover Freelander and Honda | | | | mode, I was quickly able to negotiate muddy |
| CRV. | | | | tracks, climb a steep, damp grassy hill and come |
| VW may be late to the market with their first | | | | down in even greater style, thanks to hill descent |
| ever compact SUV, but boy what an impact they | | | | assistant - here it's foot off the brake and let |
| promise to make. And after road testing this little | | | | technology do the rest for you. |
| toughie both on and off road under some pretty | | | | The off-road mode also provides finer engine |
| demanding conditions, I can tell you that it has all | | | | torque control and optimal engine braking on the |
| the attributes, style and quality to take on the | | | | auto model. Even when it the Tiguan appeared to |
| best and quickly carve out its own niche in the | | | | be chugging to a halt, it just had that extra grit to |
| market. It's that good. | | | | trickle on and keep going, which is a real |
| If the face looks familiar, it's because Tiguan | | | | confidence booster. |
| takes visual styling cues from its big brother | | | | All Tiguans have an electronic parking brake with |
| off-roader, the Touareg. | | | | standard auto-hold function - this saves valuable |
| And while most Tiguans are squarely aimed at | | | | centre cabin space and sorts itself automatically, |
| excelling as a road-going 4x4 with big safety | | | | on and off. |
| pluses and plenty of versatility, there is also an | | | | Bodily, the chunky VW's most impressive feature |
| elite Escape version. This can achieve some | | | | is the wraparound doors, which curve under the |
| impressive field work for those who require more | | | | vehicle to keep the inside sills clean. |
| of the vehicle than just tackling the school run and | | | | And Tiguan has an amazing party-piece as an |
| a heavy load of supermarket shopping. | | | | optional extra - the astonishing Park Assist |
| All Tiguans come with standard 4MOTION | | | | system. This takes over steering from the driver, |
| four-wheel drive. Here, 90 per cent of the power | | | | automatically calculates a space to reverse into |
| is directed to the front wheels and just 10 per | | | | and simply parallel parks it for you. The driver just |
| cent to the rear. But it can decide for itself what | | | | provides the power while the vehicle self-parks. |
| level of pulling power is needed at the back axle, | | | | This is the future, folks, and Tiguan is blazing a |
| so that in extreme cases, nearly 100 per cent | | | | new trail for others to follow. |
| can be transferred to the rear wheels. | | | | With build quality and fit and finish at an all-time |
| Cast an eye over the Tiguans on offer and you'll | | | | high, Tiguan is a highly desirable compact SUV. It's |
| see that all of them have that muscular, chunky | | | | here and nothing's going to stop it, on or off road. |
| image. But look more closely at the off-road | | | | Factfile: |
| Escape model and you'll see the front end has a | | | | * Volkswagen Tiguan on sale now - the |
| higher cutaway area (known as the angle of | | | | company's first foray into the compact 4x4 |
| approach) which means it can tackle heavier work | | | | market. |
| without chewing up that bullet nose in the mud. | | | | * Split into four trim levels - S, SE and Sport, with |
| There's also built-in under body protection to both | | | | Escape model for off-road use. |
| look the part and act it. | | | | * Initially offered with two engines - a 2.0-litre TDI |
| Both models are five-door hatchbacks and first | | | | 140PS diesel or 1.4-litre TSI 150 PS petrol unit. |
| engines on offer are a 2.0 litre TDI 140 PS diesel, | | | | * Both six-speed manual and automatic |
| destined to be the best-seller, and a 1.4-litre TSI | | | | transmissions available (1.4 manual only). |
| 150 PS petrol unit - later this year comes a 170PS | | | | * 4MOTION four-wheel drive as standard. |
| TSI engine and a further pair of TSI petrols. | | | | * Tiguan has class-leading trailer weight rating of |
| Both six-speed manual and tiptronic automatic | | | | 2,500 kg. |
| transmissions are offered - unusually VW say a | | | | * Off-road biased Escape model also equipped |
| high 35 per cent of drivers are likely to opt for | | | | with protective element over front radiator grille, |
| the auto. | | | | sump guard, hill descent control and compass. |
| The 2.0TDI I tested on road is very car-like to | | | | * VW's advanced Park Assist system and new |
| drive, with outstanding steering feel and response, | | | | RNS 510 touchscreen sat-nav system available as |
| a fast-action, smooth gearbox, easy clutch and | | | | options. |
| excellent ride quality. | | | | * Safety features include ABS, Hydraulic Brake |
| And the Escape model, likely to account for only | | | | Assist (HBA), Electronic Stabilisation Programme |
| about five per cent of sales, proved that it takes | | | | (ESP), a curtain airbag system, side airbags and |
| to grass and mud with just as much aplomb as | | | | drive and front passenger airbags all standard. |
| its stablemate does to tarmac. | | | | |