Isn't it annoying if you have been waiting patiently at a bar for ages to be served and someone breezes in and gets served straight away. In most walks of life there is invariably some opportunist waiting around the corner to steal the limelight from the rest of us.
With this thought in mind it seems that Volkswagen was able to time the launch of their compact 4x4 to perfection especially as they have sat back for a number of years and waited to see what the competition was doing and then simply breezed in with the Tiguan.
This was a masterstroke on the part of VW as they were able to assess all the shortcomings of the other vehicles in this class and introduce new technology that was way ahead of anything else on the market. Some would argue that the Tiguan was a little late to arrive at the party but I believe that by biding their time VW has been able to offer a vehicle that is simply light years ahead of its rivals.
Sure there have been successful offerings from other manufacturers in the meantime, not least Honda with its CR-V, Mitsubishi with its Outlander which has spawned the Citroen C-Crosser and Peugeot 4007 and Nissan with the Qashqai. However, it is the Land Rover Freelander that the Tiguan has its eye on.
Although the Tiguan is not the most flamboyant off roader, it is almost certainly one of the best conceived.
For a start it comes packed with gizmos that leave drivers of an old Land Rover Discovery like mine slack-jawed in amazement. These include an electronic self-parking system, a rear parking camera, a panoramic sunroof and a sat nav and stereo system that can store 30 gigabytes worth of your favorite garage tunes or alternatively nursery rhymes when the kids are on board.
More practical is the fact that the Tiguan can tow 2 tons, more than any other car in its class, this is accompanied by a neat, optional pop-out tow hook. Further features include a steering system that prevents the steering wheel from breaking your thumbs during serious off-roading, a sat nav system that can work out where you are even if you are off road and a front passenger seat whose backrest folds forward for extra long loads.
It has a front-end design that allows it to mount steep banks without scraping the bumper, and comes with a sophisticated battery of electronic off-road aids. These include hill-descent control, pioneered by Land Rover, which brakes the car to crawling speed on steep slippery slopes, and a hill-hold control system that operates in conjunction with the electronic handbrake so you don't inadvertently roll backwards off a cliff.
The car's electronic brain also activates a limited slip differential to eliminate wheel spin, alters the brakes to suit loose surfaces and reduces the accelerator's sensitivity and there's even a compass if the sat nav does pack up.
All Tiguans come equipped with permanent four-wheel drive known as 4Motion, in VW language. This divides power equally between all four wheels, ensuring maximum traction. Once on the move it will send 90% of the engine's energy to the front wheels if conditions are good, in order to improve fuel economy.
The Tiguan is fitted with a 2 litre direct injection 140bhp turbo diesel which is considerably quieter than clattery old-school diesels, especially at motorway cruising speed.
The Tiguan's impeccable road manners are complemented by its comfortable and well appointed cabin, which is also exceptionally well laid out. The sat nav screen is sited conveniently high, the instruments and controls are easily read and the electronic handbrake gives plenty of storage space between the front seats.
Also impressive given this is a family car, is that the back seats are equally as accommodating, and when slid into the rearmost position still provide generous legroom. The seat which is split 60:40 is easily folded too. The boot is well designed and reasonably large, even with the rear seats pushed fully back.
Practical design combined with innovative technology is what VW is all about these days and when you factor in a standard of finish that's a cut above you can see why people are prepared to spend a bit extra on a Volkswagen.
The Tiguan is the intelligent 4x4 from VW. Jon Barlow has recently been looking at one http://www.heritagewestbury.co.uk/new-cars/volkswagen-tiguan.shtml
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