Great Escape

5:02pm Friday 7th March 2008

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VOLKSWAGEN'S first compact sports utility vehicle, the 4x4 Tiguan, is now on the road - and off - available to drive away from VW retailers.

Taking on the Toyota RAV4, Land Rover Freelander, Nissan Qashqai and Honda CRV, but with a head start on Ford's new Kuga due in June, Tiguan offers buyers high levels of interior space, comfort and specification, as well as value for money.

The five-seater is set to become a popular compact 4x4 choice with expected sales of about 10,500 units this year in the UK.

From launch, two engines are available - a 1.4 litre TSI 150PS petrol and a 2.0 litre TDI 140PS diesel - plus four trim levels - S, SE, Sport and Escape - and all have standard 4Motion four-wheel drive.

Escape models differentiate themselves from the rest of the range thanks to a front end treatment which is biased towards off-road applications, as well as a number of other features suited to venturing off the beaten track, including hill descent and hill climb assistance.

Prices for the Tiguan start at £19,370 for the S 1.4 litre TSI manual.

Now 1,400cc might not sound a lot but this latest technology uses both a supercharger, brought in at low engine speeds, and a turbocharger for excellent driveability and high torque for 0-62mph in 9.3sec and 119mph top speed, with combined cycle economy of 33.6mpg.

Two further TSI petrol engines are to follow, producing 170 and 200PS, and the 140PS diesel is to be followed by a 170PS version.

The entry diesel is good for 0-62mph in 10.5sec (10.7 auto) and 115mph maximum (113 auto), with combined economy of 39.2 and 37.7mpg respectively.

Standard equipment levels are high across the range, with all models featuring alloy wheels, air conditioning, MP3 compatible stereo and CD player, anti-lock brakes and electronic stability program, plus twin front and side airbags and a curtain airbag system.

A number of innovative options are also offered on the Tiguan, including Volkswagen's new RNS 510 touchscreen satellite navigation and audio system featured on the SE models and above.

This incorporates a hard drive to record not only the owner's favourite tracks and navigation mapping, but also waypoints and routes off-road where digital mapping does not exist.

One design feature that is simple and will be appreciated is the way the doors close under the sills so that you don't get mucky getting in or out.

Until March 31, Volkswagen Finance is offering a Solutions plan to all retail customers who purchase a new Tiguan.