Family cars are not usually the ones that make car enthusiasts' hearts beat faster. Volkswagen is known for its reliability and quality that won't let you down whether you're taking your kids to school or taking a trip across Europe, and its models aren't exactly the ones that people with petrol in their veins would choose, with a few exceptions. The Tiguan has always been more of a decision of the mind than the heart. Despite this, Volkswagen sold more than two and a half million units of the first generation during its eight years of production! For comparison, that's more cars than Land Rover managed to sell in the entire sixty-five years of production of the legendary Defender. So there must be something to them, right?
But it wasn't the impressive sales figures that got us interested in Wolfsburg's latest creation. Volkswagen designers pulled out all the stops and brought the all-new Tiguan to the world in shapes that will catch the attention of any stylish gentleman. So when our phone rang and our friends from Araver Nitra were on the line, we didn't hesitate for a second to test whether their new SUV was really as good as it looks. We picked up the car on a sunny Friday afternoon in Nitra and immediately set off for a busy weekend.
The first few kilometers on the highway allow us to comfortably settle into the new interior, where the story of minimalism continues. The comfortable and spacious cabin will take you anywhere, whether you're going shopping or traveling for a spring ski trip to the Dolomites. But that's to be expected from a car in this category. What really sets the Tiguan apart from the competition is the technology you'll find on board.
You are greeted by a large digital display that has replaced the traditional engine speed and speedometer gauges. In cars like the Porsche 911, we love the analogue tachometer needle rushing towards the red line at the speed of light, but in the Tiguan, the path of digitalization is right. All the information you need, from consumption to great navigation graphics, is transmitted directly to your field of vision. What's more, the digital display simply fits perfectly into the concept of a twenty-first century car. However, the main control center is still the display in the center console, where you can find everything from a great navigation system to Apple Car Play and Android Auto connectivity.
To help you get to your destination as fresh as a fish, the Tiguan is happy to help you with its dynamic cruise control and lane control, which warns you when you are approaching the center line of the road. The car will even gently steer for you if you lose your attention for a moment. Of course, we didn't try this on purpose. The two-liter diesel engine is more than happy under the hood and offers exactly as much power as you need. It goes hand in hand with a fantastic DSG gearbox, which shifts gears easily and quickly like few gearboxes in the world.
Sunday is reserved for perhaps the most demanding test for the Volkswagen Tiguan, which is the trip to a family lunch. The Tiguan is subjected to relentless evaluation from the fairer sex and children, which is, however, more than positive thanks to the surprisingly spacious rear seats. The elegant design is an exceptional plus for all involved.
The new Tiguan is simply great news that practical cars don't have to be boring and dull. And not only that. The alternative combination of design and technology will reach your pocket much deeper than the Tiguan. That's why it's special. It's definitely a car that belongs in every stylish garage. But seeing once is better than hearing a thousand times, so visit Araver Nitra, where the friendly Volkswagen dealers will be happy to show you what the new Tiguan can do.
Photo: Pavol Zachar www.zacharphoto.com
We prepared a series of challenges for the Tiguan to see if the new Volkswagen can swim in the sea of fierce competition from premium mid-sized SUVs. After all, the price of 40,000 euros for almost the highest model proves that it belongs there. At first glance, it is clear that Volkswagen has relied on minimalist design of the twenty-first century. Sharp edges, following one another, give the Tiguan a subtle touch of the Nordic design school. Despite the minimalism, the car is now larger and more aggressive. In person, it looks truly mature, even majestic, which is a tribute to its older brother, the Touareg, in the best sense of the word.
Check the 19-inch wheels option when ordering and the Tiguan can proudly walk through the center of any big city.By the way, we were stopped several times in the parking lot over the weekend by passersby asking what kind of car it was, which we really didn't expect. It really shows the brilliance of the design, doesn't it?
And when you finally arrive at your destination, the car parks itself thanks to the super-intelligent parking assistant. After an easy drive on the motorway, the Tiguan is busy with us. Early Saturday morning, our Olympic team is taking their oath of office with the President of the Republic. To ensure that our athletes look their best, we have the task of delivering shirts to the entire team just before the oath. The Volkswagen makes this job all too easy thanks to its large trunk and automatic tailgate. We managed loading and especially unloading without any difficulty, as you open the trunk by gently moving your foot under the rear bumper. What's more, there is only one planned trip back and forth to the warehouse, so our van can stay parked in the garage for the weekend.
After a hard day's work, we decided we deserved a bottle of good wine for the evening. And since the Tiguan also has an offroad mode, why not combine business with pleasure and head to the hills of Svätý Jur for some shopping? We turn off the winding narrow asphalt road and head towards a dry riverbed, while selecting the offroad mode on the center console, which sets the chassis, engine, transmission and traction control to the right mode to handle the terrain. Although the Tiguan is not exactly a purebred offroader and the vast majority of them will never take their wheels off the black asphalt, we can guarantee that it is surprisingly capable if you give it a chance. It manages to climb terrain that is usually reserved only for its larger relatives, and the road to our favorite vineyards has not been so fun for a long time.
