In Russia appeared Volkswagen tiguan second generation. In dealerships, there is an influx of people who want to take the new Tiguan for a test drive and understand from their own experience how the new product is good and how the second generation differs from the first. We managed to drive the new Tiguan for several days and test the car in urban and field conditions.

So, some notes and impressions about the new Volkswagen Tiguan 2017.

A bit of history and design.

The first generation Volkswagen Tiguan was launched in November 2007, and the model was restyled in the summer of 2011. Tiguan is produced at factories in Wolfsburg Germany and Kaluga Russia.

The world premiere of the updated version of the best-selling Volkswagen Tiguan took place in Frankfurt in the fall of 2016. For the Russian market, the new Tiguan has been produced since November 21, 2016 at the Volkswagen Group Rus plant in Kaluga.

In 2016, the new Volkswagen Tiguan received the German Design Award for Best Automotive Design. The design team under the leadership of Klaus Bischoff has successfully worked on the exterior. Klaus has been in charge of the Volkswagen Design Center since 2006.

Compared to its predecessor, the new Tiguan is visually longer, significantly wider and slightly lower. Gone are the rounded shapes, replaced by clear lines along the top of the front doors. It is these design elements that lengthen the body. This line also separates the upper part of the body with glazed doors from the lower, imparting lightness and dynamism.

The second generation Volkswagen Tiguan looks modern. Available - "sly squint" headlights.

Additional decorative ribs have also appeared on the hood, now there are four of them, betraying the hood and the entire front of the car with great "seriousness".

One of the main design elements of any car is, of course, the headlights. Modern LED headlight optics leave only a sense of admiration, both in terms of design and technology.

A new design line has also appeared at the rear, emphasizing the increased width of the car. New LED lights in the form of the letter " F» are quite memorable and should be well recognized in the stream.

The new Tiguan is noticeably taller and more square at the back.

All in all, I agree that the design award for the new Tiguan was not in vain.

New MQB platform and increased dimensions.

Volkswagen Tiguan is assembled on the modular MQB platform of the VAG concern.

For reference, this platform was demonstrated in 2012. It formed the basis for the Audi A3, VW Golf, Skoda Octavia and others. Now the close relative of the Tiguana, the Skoda Kodiaq, is also produced on it.

I will give the geometric dimensions of the Tiguana on the MQB platform and the change in comparison with its predecessor:

Trunkincreased by 145 liters and became more convenient.
The trunk has increased by 145 liters. and is 615 liters (when loaded up to the rear seats). The main increase was due to the side niches - very convenient niches appeared on the sides of the trunk, where a 5L bottle of washer fluid or other items that now do not "fly" through the luggage compartment wonderfully stand.

Note that the small trunk was one of the main disadvantages of the Tiguana compared to the competition. At the moment, among classmates, only the Kodiaq has a larger trunk.

Competitors' trunk volumesTiguan:
Volkswagen tiguan

It is also important to note that the storage location of the tools has changed in the trunk - so in the old Tiguan the toolbox was in the side niche of the trunk and the process of putting it back into place after use took a lot of time and a lot of nerve effort. The tools are now in a polyurethane foam insert under the luggage compartment lid.

The tailgate of the new Tiguan rises significantly higher than in the previous model, and there is no more danger of banging your head on it. An optional “hands-free” boot lid control system is also offered - a sensor is built into the bottom that detects foot movement under the boot and the tailgate rises.

LCD Instrument panel with various options for displaying information
The dashboard is liquid crystal. It displays all information about the condition of the vehicle and driver assistance systems. Information blocks are customizable at the request of the driver.

Available information blocks: off-road, environmental friendliness, consumption, speed and transmission. For example, in off-road mode, the steering angle of the front wheels is shown. A very handy feature. Even an experienced driver does not always understand the position of the wheels.

On the dashboard screen there is a parameter "body roll level", but it showed horizontal all the time, despite the descents and ascents of the hills. Perhaps I didn’t find how it turns on, or it’s just a design element (props), and such a device would be very useful. Even for a crossover, understanding the maximum allowable roll is a useful thing.

The tilt of the instrument panel has a negative angle (the upper part is closer to the driver) and this gives a very unusual feeling. It is clear that this is done to exclude the illumination of LCD devices. But until you get used to it, it's a little annoying.

There are many small elements on the dashboard, and in some modes there are a lot of moving elements, again, out of habit, it seems motley.

I would very much like to have several options for the types of the dashboard - classic, modern, sporty, etc. In some cars this is implemented. And with an LCD panel, it's not difficult at all, but it allows you to meet the needs of different customers. I know many people for whom the appearance of the dashboard was decisive in the final choice of a particular car. As they say, "the eyes are the mirror of the soul", so the car has a dashboard, the place through which the driver looks inside his pet.

Pensive windshield washer

Turning on the windshield washer occurs with a delay of about 1-2 seconds. It seems to me that this is an obvious engineering flaw that has moved from the old Tiguan and clearly needs to be solved. I don’t understand why it’s impossible to put an additional valve and not wait 1.5 seconds of precious time for an emergency windshield cleaning, while the motor creates the necessary pressure. Most cars do not have this problem. But the speed of cleaning the windshield significantly affects safety.

Rear view camera on our roads.

Unfortunately, Russian conditions are not taken into account here. German engineers, apparently, did not have to drive on our roads in winter and spring. They cannot know that instead of removing the snow, it is filled with reagents so that it melts and merges through the sewers.

The mud on our roads is something scary, especially in early spring. True, the last two years in St. Petersburg the situation with dirt on the roads began to change for the better, especially in the center. But the Ring Road, WHSD and regional roads still “launder” a lot of money - first by producing dirt on the roads, and then washing it off.

It's good that there are parking sensors and they work, despite our dirt, clearly and accurately.

The rear-view mirrors have changed shape, repeating the style of the body design, and at first glance are too small, but when driving, I did not feel discomfort - everything is clearly visible. Unlike the previous model, the mirrors do not accumulate dirt due to the aerodynamic turbulence of the mud flows. This is a pleasant surprise.

Heated front windshield

The test car was fitted with a heated front windshield option. With all the usefulness of this option, especially in our snow and rain conditions, I want to note that the mesh of a thin "heating" coating is visible. This is especially unpleasant in the evening, when the headlights of oncoming cars are refracted on this grid and create glare.

Lack of accessible navigation.

I do not understand marketers who offer cars for sale in St. Petersburg and Moscow in 2017 for almost 2 million rubles. without navigation. And it’s not that I don’t know the city, but the issue of traffic jams in our cities is quite acute and it is very effectively solved by using navigation with traffic jams.

Nevertheless, you have to put an additional "device" on the windshield, pull wires, etc.

In additional options there is a navigation system in the "Navigation" package and costs 119,500 rubles. This package also has a "parking autopilot", "all-round visibility system", "voice control", etc. I, for example, will survive without these functions, but pay extra 120 tr for navigation. somehow not humane.

Salon and space for rear passengers.

There is a lot of space for second-row passengers. Looking at the distance to the driver's seat, I even thought that the front seat was pushed backward. But no, it is tuned for my height of 189 cm, and there is enough room behind it to fully extend my legs.

Spacious and comfortable interior

The start / start button has moved from under the steering wheel to the lower part of the center console, next to the gear lever. Convenient enough place. A clear departure from the usual stereotypes in favor of practicality.

The glove compartment under the driver's seat is retractable. A very convenient storage place for various things for the driver is always at hand and does not interfere. For me personally, it is always inconvenient to climb into a standard glove compartment in the area of ​​the passenger seat.

No electric seat, even in top-end configuration (only as an additional option)

The knee does not rest on the center console, ergonomic and comfortable.

Often it becomes a problem for people with tall stature that the right leg rests on the center console - this is especially unpleasant on long trips - the leg just gets tired. In the new Tiguan, this trouble is not - the driver's position is comfortable and free.

How the new Tiguan rides

On the new platform, it was possible to remove the effect of vertical acceleration from the rear and shallow shaking on bumps inherent in short-wheelbase cars. It handles well, reacts quickly to every driver's action. Goes briskly and briskly.

The brakes are very responsive - early braking and a small brake pedal travel. These are the consequences of the installed DSG gearbox. When you press the brake, a command is sent to the mechatronics - "decouple the clutch" and if the driver does not fully press the brake, slipping and rapid wear of the clutch occurs. Apparently, to eliminate this, the engineers made such a small stroke of the brake pedal. But you quickly get used to it, and it does not cause any inconvenience.

Off-road passability.

Honestly, when planning the test, I did not expect to drive down bad roads. For me, the Tiguan is a sprightly, high-spirited city car with the ability to cope with uncleaned snow and country roads.

Looking for a location to shoot, I drove from the highway to the lake and decided to shoot there. I started backing up a steep hill with trampled snow without any thought to climb high. Indeed, after a slight lift, the wheels began to slip. I stopped and thought: "But there is an off-road mode!" I turned it on and decided to try to climb further. And the machine crawled! The sound of the differential lock and torque distribution systems was heard. Easily drove to the very top of the slide. And I decided: "Should I try it again?"

I was pleasantly surprised by the cross-country ability and control of the car. It creeps very confidently, the descent assistance systems work well and clearly. I drove a long distance along power lines following the tracks of ATVs. I was very pleased with the behavior of the new Tiguan. At the same time, the short wheelbase and large overhang angles allow you to pass serious off-road obstacles, including turning on a very narrow road with snow plows on the sides.

New LED headlights.

Already on the previous version of the Tiguan, complete with xenon headlights, the light was very decent. Crisp bright, adaptive. When the car turns, the beam of light turns in the direction of the turn (additional option in the "Lighting" package).

The new Tiguan has LED headlights. I consider head lighting to be one of the most important means of ensuring the comfort and safety of the car. In the new Tiguan, the light turned out to be excellent. The photographs show a high degree of illumination at night.

Also, the headlights have an adaptive function, turning the beam in the direction of the turn. In addition, there is side lighting, when turning at low speed in the headlights, an additional light source is turned on, illuminating the side space. In off-road mode, this light turns on in two directions at once and you get good illumination of both the road in front and the space for maneuver on the sides.

Also, these headlights are technologically beautiful. And they are an important design element of the "face" of the car.

In the new Tiguan, the bonnet rises on the shock absorbers and does not require a crutch. It is much more convenient and is an indicator of the class of the car.

Volkswagen Tiguan is a compact crossover, which has been produced since 2007. Recently, the 2nd generation of Tiguan came out, and in the secondary market there are many offers for the sale of the 1st generation Tiguan. Whether it is worth buying a used Volkswagen Tiguan, we will now find out. In Russia, Tiguanas appeared in mid-2008, cars were assembled in Kaluga. If at first these cars were assembled using SKD SKD technology, then after 2010 in Kaluga cars were already produced in a full cycle - CKD, bodies were also cooked and painted there.

The build quality is the same that the Germans assembled that ours. There were, of course, a couple of nuances, for example, the side doors were poorly adjusted, and the tailgate was crookedly planted, but after a few months they learned how to do everything right. So, the oldest cars had to be recalled for service in order to replace some of the bolts and put them on sealant. If this is not done, then the propeller shaft could become loose.

Salon

The interior is quite high-quality, the materials look almost like new after many years of operation, everything of course depends on the previous owner. But it happens that even the door trim on the go can begin to creak. On Tiguanas produced from 2008 to 2009, under warranty, it was necessary to make repairs to the wiring: the wire that goes from the antifreeze temperature sensor broke, so the fan worked constantly. There is also a harness that fits to the engine control unit, it is not properly secured, so it could get burned, which would make the car immovable.

There were also cases that the headlights went out on their own on cars manufactured before 2011. We fixed this situation in 2013. The problem was with the fuse or junction box under the hood. But the body is well protected from corrosion, the only weak point is on the tailgate, rust may appear on the lower edge.

Over time, purely cosmetic flaws appear, some of which you won't even see right away, for example - the hood soundproofing sheet may sag after a few years, and if you wash the engine inaccurately, this sheet will come off completely. The dealerships changed the clip-holders, or completely replaced the soundproofing sheathing. The appearance can be spoiled by the radiator grill, which will cover, door linings, paint peels off the side mirrors and bumpers. By the way, if chips appear, then they should be painted over as soon as possible, because the remaining paint may begin to peel off.

Another traditionally weak points are door locks and a stove motor, which already begins to make a lot of noise after 3 years of car operation. A new motor of this type costs 130 euros, but for the first time you can simply lubricate the bearing.

Tiguan has a radio navigation system RNS, produced by Continental, which lasts a long time and does not fail, so if it happens that it cannot be controlled using the buttons on the steering wheel, it means that you need to change the contacts on the steering column for 120 euros, because that because of them the signal and the airbag may stop working.

Motors

The very first cars assembled in Russia were equipped with a 1.4-liter engine with a capacity of 150 hp. with. There are 25% of cars on the market with this engine. The engine is economical, but pulls well, the car accelerates quite quickly. But reliability is not all that good. The liquid intercooler gets dirty over time. So, if you give a high load, then the piston group will wear out faster, the bridges between the rings can burn out, the pistons collapse, especially the 2nd and 3rd. The overhaul of this motor is quite expensive - 2500 euros, so it is better to look for the motor somewhere for disassembly.

In 2011, it was restyled and the 1.4 TSI engine was installed in Tiguanas - this is an upgraded version of the same engine. The power remained the same, only the pistons were strengthened, so that the engine became more reliable.

But some problems with the motor still remained. For example, injection pumps and injectors are sensitive to fuel, if you fill in low-quality fuel at least once, you will have to pay 260 euros for a new high-pressure fuel pump, and 150 euros for injectors each. After 100,000 km. mileage, a pump may start to leak, which costs 350 euros. The timing chain can stretch for about 60,000. The chain itself costs 70 euros plus the cost of the work. Therefore, in order not to have to do a major overhaul of the motor, it is better in advance, as soon as rattling or clinking appears, immediately check the condition of the chain and change it. But definitely after 100,000 km. it needs to be changed.

In general, all these problems are typical for Tiguan gasoline engines. In a 1.4 TSI supercharged engine with a capacity of 122 hp. with., which appeared in 2011, the chain is also not very strong. It should also be remembered that it is undesirable to leave a Tiguan with any gasoline engine on a hill without a parking brake, starting from a pusher is also a big risk, because the chain can jump over the teeth, especially when it is on the way. In general, you need to be careful with the chain.

By the way, the twin-aspirated 1.4 TSI engine, which has a cast-iron cylinder block, an aluminum head and a phase shifter on the intake shaft, must be filled with 98th gasoline. Most of all cars with a 2.0 TSI engine, after a while they start to eat oil, this is more noticeable on cars produced before restyling - 0.7 liters per 1000 km. mileage. There are several reasons - the camshaft position sensor seal starts to snot. After restyling, this problem was fixed.

But the real reason for the oil consumption is the oil scraper piston rings and the weak valve efficiency in the crankcase ventilation system. On cars manufactured after 2011, the design of valves, rings, oil seals was improved, the program in the ECU was improved, after all these innovations, oil consumption decreased by 2 times, but still remained.

But there are diesel engines, they are installed on 20% of cars, these engines cause less problems to their owners - they do not eat oil, there is no chain. The only thing, from driving around the city at low speed and when driving over short distances can after about 70,000 km. to require intervention of the EGR valve, a new one costs 150 euros.

Also, you need to monitor the quality of diesel fuel, here the high-pressure fuel pump is already more expensive - 1000 euros. In general, the motor is reliable, but sometimes it happens that after 100,000 km. mileage require replacement of the injector seals, they are inexpensive - 15 euros per set, but you also need to add the cost of work here. There are still cases that after 180,000 km. the flap in the intake tract begins to wedge, because the plastic gear in the mechanism of its drive wears out by this run. To fix this, you will have to spend 150 euros.

If there is a situation where a diesel car after 150,000 km. mileage does not start very well, then you need to immediately check the pressure reducing and pressure valves of the fuel system. And THAT should be done more than once every 15,000, as the officials recommend, but once every 10,000 km. In general, it is better to buy a Tiguan with a diesel engine, because it is much more reliable than gasoline engines.

Transmissions

There are different gearboxes - the DQ200 preselective with 2 dry clutches is a robotic gearbox, it is installed on cars with front-wheel drive and a 1.4 TSI engine, the power of which is 150 hp. with. In Europe, this box can also be found on Tiguanas with a 1.8 TSI engine. On cars produced after 2011, this box has already begun to break less, and after 2012 there was a serious modernization in it and there were almost no problems with it.

After 2011, both 6 and 7-step robots DQ250 and DQ500 appeared, they were installed on all-wheel drive vehicles with engines 1.4 and 2.0. The weak point in these boxes is the mechatronic valve body. A new unit of this kind is not cheap - more than 2,000 euros, therefore, for it to serve longer, it needs to be done every 80,000 km. change the oil in the box. This is the ATF DSG.

The most popular gearbox is the 6-speed automatic, which costs about 60% of cars. This box is an Aisin Warner TF-60 / 61SN series, jointly developed in 2003 by Japanese and German engineers. For front-wheel drive Tiguanas, this box is indexed 09G, and for all-wheel drive - 09M. There are no problems with the box, you just need to monitor the purity of the oil and its quality. Officially, the oil in the box does not need to be changed, but it is better to do this every 80,000 km, then the valve body will last longer. If freezes or jolts appear during switching, then this is a clear sign that it is time to change the oil in the box. Also, do not forget to monitor the radiator in the gearbox on diesel cars, because sometimes leaks appear.

But the most reliable is a 6-speed manual gearbox and no matter what engine it works with. The only thing that can happen to it is oil seals leak after about 80,000 km. The clutch is enough for about 140,000 km, the new kit will cost about 400 euros. It happens that on the same run the clarity disappears during the shift, then you need to check the shift mechanism, it is possible that it is worn out, its replacement will cost 200 euros. On four-wheel drive vehicles, remember to change the oil in the Haldex coupling, then the pump will last longer and the four-wheel drive will be in working order. It is necessary to change the oil every 60,000 km.

Suspension and chassis

Electric power steering on cars before restyling could simply turn off while driving. Therefore, engineers in 2009 reflashed the electric power steering control unit. But despite this, there were often cases when steering gear assemblies were changed on cars produced before 2011 under warranty after 30,000 km.

It is better not to drive off-road on the Tiguan, despite the short overhangs, because the suspension is not particularly designed for these purposes. Approximately 100,000 km. stabilizer bushings fail, but before that, they can just creak for a long time. Replacing the bushings with stabilizer will cost 140 euros. Approximately 70,000 km. fail:

• wheel bearings, which are assembled with the hub, cost 130 euros each;
• support bearings on the A-pillars, which cost 50 euros each;
• silent blocks of the front levers (30 euros each).

But the shock absorbers can already last longer - about 120,000 km. The front ones cost around 150 euros and the rear ones cost 130 euros. The levers serve as long as the shock absorbers, in general, to sort out the rear suspension will cost around 700 euros, but before 100,000 km. there should definitely not be any problems with the rear multi-link.
And the front suspension with MacPherson struts still causes trouble a little earlier, but up to 70,000 km. the suspension will be all right.

This generation of Tiguan uses the PQ35 platform, which is also installed on these cars:

• Skoda Yeti;
• Volkswagen Golf;
• Octavia (A5);
• Audi A3.

Many parts in the suspension are taken from the Passat. But in general, a car requires attention if it is no longer new, and the costs for it are quite high, especially if something breaks down. In terms of reliability, the Tiguan is about the same as the Nissan Qashqai, which is 100,000 rubles cheaper. Secondary market prices do not fall as quickly. It is better to look for a diesel car with an automatic or manual transmission after restyling. The price will not be less than 1,000,000 rubles for a 3-year-old car.

The thrill of riding a Tiguan

The volume of the engine is modest - 1.4, but produces 150 liters. with. thanks to turbocharging. With a manual gearbox, the car behaves better on the track, but in the urban cycle you have to often change gears so as not to get into a turbo lag. Off-road, it is also not very convenient to drive mechanics, so that the car does not stall, you need to give more revs, because there is not enough traction. Tiguan with a 2-liter engine and an automatic transmission behaves better, especially if you turn on the sport mode on the box. Volkswagen is better at cornering than comparable competitor models. Excellent feedback from the steering wheel thanks to the electric power assistance. The rolls are minimal, there is also no buildup. There is a stabilization system that will prevent skidding on a slippery road.

The car has excellent handling and it brakes well if necessary, but the suspension is quite stiff, it keeps the body evenly at any speed. Every bump is felt, but these are qualities of a more sporty car. By the way, the sound insulation is good, you can't hear the noise from the rubber. At a speed of more than 140, the wind is already beginning to be heard. On the off-road, the Volkswagen Tiguan has nothing to do, because the geometric cross-country ability here is so-so, but the car climbs well on the slopes, since the engine is quite high-torque. But the suspension is short-travel and on serious off-road irregularities the wheels remain in the air.

If you don't have time to read this test drive right now, that's okay. In a way, it's even better: just bookmark the page and come back here early next year. Because the new Volkswagen Tiguan will reach the Russian market only in the first quarter of 2017, and by that time the letters you read today will still disappear from your head.

Although in the context of "Tiguan" a year is more, a year less - no difference. The car of the first generation already lived one and a half times longer than it is customary in the class: nine long years, starting from 2007. Of course, this is not the period during which empires flourish and perish, and Yuri Loza manages to write another song, but still a serious period. For comparison, the change of generations in Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage and other Nissan Qashqai happens every six to seven years maximum.

The Germans have an excuse for such slowness: the new Tiguan is really new. The car was transferred from the PQ35 platform, which also caught the Cro-Magnons, punched cards and the fifth Golf, to the current modular MQB cart. This platform has been used on crossovers for the first time, but definitely not the last. Far from the last.

As before, there are two types of body kit provided for the Tiguan: off-road and not very. Only now the Germans have done without tricky names such as Track & Field and Sport & Style: the packages are simply called Onroad and Offroad. The main difference, as before, is in the sloping front bumper.

In the evening after the presentation of "Tiguan" one of the top VW managers forgot a thick folder with documents on the table. My German is, frankly, full of seams, but the cover said something like: "How to take over the SUV market by the end of the decade and not burst with greed." Out of the corner of my eye I managed to look inside: holy Haldexes, but they are going to bring at least one model to every existing segment of crossovers!

Therefore, the new Tiguan is not just "some kind of new Tiguan", but a launching pad for a whole swarm of SUVs, and everything smaller than the Tuareg will be directly related to the Tiguan. An elongated seven-seater version for China and the United States is coming, there will be a car the size of a Juke (and, possibly, its open modification), and representatives of the coupe-like squad are likely to appear - where can we go without them today? In the meantime, a clean, undiluted Tiguan is on the agenda.

The new "Tiguan" also has a daring sporty performance of the R-Line. But such machines were not brought to the presentation, and the prospects for their appearance in Russia are more than vague.

If the outcome of nine years of development turned out to be different, it would be just right to shout about the sensation and the loosening of the world's foundations. But no, there are no surprises here: the new car turned out better in everything than the old one and, it seems, will again set the tone in its class.

Look how handsome he is! "Tiguan" looks more dynamic than its ancestor, not only due to the efforts of designers (although it is not a sin to praise them for a fresh and even daring result), but also for purely geometric reasons. It has become 60 millimeters longer and 30 millimeters wider, but at the same time 33 millimeters lower - and the former karapuzability has taken off like a hand. More importantly, the distance between the axles has grown by as much as 77 millimeters: now 2681, which is plus or minus corresponds to the parameters of competitors. The plus is relative to the Sportage / Tucson and RAV4, and the minus is compared to the CX-5 and Kuga.

Thanks to the elongated base, the back now lives much more freely, and most importantly - more comfortable. Branded folding tables got rid of flimsy and got retractable cup holders, the backs of the second row travel back and forth in a wider range than before, and for a surcharge, passengers can even get their own climate control panel. An extra fifty liters of volume appeared in the trunk (it was 470, now it is 520), handles for remote folding of the seats and a removable flashlight (hello, Peugeot!), And the fifth door itself is equipped with an electric drive and is able to open and close without contact with a wave of the foot. In general, from the point of view of practicality, the Tiguan is a real fellow.

It is gratifying that all this nepotism did not make him a balding spineless bore in stretched sweatpants. On the contrary, the Tiguan is as young and progressive as ever. Gadgets - heaps! For example, the instrument cluster here can be completely digital, like the Passat or Audi TT. A color projection display is available, an all-round view system with darkness of various angles (you can even look at the car from above and behind, like in GTA), there is support for MirrorLink, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ... some very secret place (for example, in a trailer) and display the image from it on the central display!

True, most of these electronic gadgets look better in a brochure than they work in real life. Digital tidy is small, dazzling and requires a lot of getting used to; Head-up display data is not projected directly onto the windshield, but onto a separate glass, which is why it loses its beauty, convenience and sense; and the picture from all-round cameras is sometimes distorted so that Dali would eat his own mustache out of envy.

The good news is that no one forces you to order all this equipment, and without it, the Tiguan does not get any worse as a car. First of all, this is Volkswagen, so you don't need to study the location and logic of the controls: if any modern VW has passed within a radius of five meters from you at least once in your life, then everything will be familiar to you. You can only grumble about the high-rise steering wheel and the lack of physical buttons responsible for auxiliary electronics: to turn on or off monitoring of dead zones or tracking the markings, you have to go on a long tour through the back streets of the on-board computer every time.

No, in our case, it is much more pleasant to travel not on virtual menus, but on real roads - because the crossover rides excellently.

There were no complaints about the handling of the Tiguan before, but now it has become quite lightweight. I start to leave the parking lot, unscrew the steering wheel - and unexpectedly quickly run into the limiter. Bah, but there are only two kopecks turnovers from lock to lock - like the Infiniti Q50 in the sharpest mode! But the variable step of the reiki is chosen so well that you don't notice this sharpness at all. The Tiguan holds a straight line confidently, dives quickly into turns, but without hysterics, holds on to the trajectory tightly and is neutral in the "MQ Bish". Do you know how a reference compact crossover should steer? So that you never think about how it steers at all. And this is just about "Tiguan". Why, then, this show off with an ultra-short steering wheel? And so that you twist it less, as a result, less tired.

Power units do not cause any trouble either. Neither a 150-horsepower two-liter turbodiesel nor a 180-horsepower TSI gasoline engine of the same volume will make you the king of drag strips (they gain a hundred in 9.3 and 7.7 seconds, respectively), but they are cheerful and agreeable, and one and a half seconds the differences in life are almost imperceptible. Up to about 160 kilometers per hour, there is a shameful overtaking dynamics, which then turns into a slow but sure set of speed. On one of the German "no-limit-streets" we managed to slightly go beyond the second hundred - and this is more than enough for a normal buyer of a normal crossover.

And what a wonderful insulation here! Neither tires nor motors can be heard (which by themselves are much quieter and smoother than on the previous car), and aerodynamic noise begins to bother only at takeoff and landing speeds. More precisely, do not even bother, but simply be present - at the same time, the inhabitants of the salon continue to communicate at ease, without raising their voices. Chic!

Even the erratic DSG transmission was taught to be good. The classic "automatic" on the Tiguan is no longer installed - either a six-speed "mechanics" or a "robot" DQ500 with seven gears and two wet clutches are available. So, the DSG seemed to be replaced - it no longer dulls in normal mode and does not twitch in sports mode! The box works especially smoothly and logically in combination with a diesel engine - there are no questions at all to it. The relationship with the gasoline engine is a little less cloudless, but against the background of what happened before, it is idyllic and pastoral.

And, I beg you, just don't ask if the DSG on the new Tiguan will break every 20 thousand kilometers. At dinner I tried to ask this question to one of the Volkswagen engineers, but he just threw a salt shaker at me.

As expected, the share of high-strength steels increased, and with it the torsional rigidity of the body also increased. For versions without a panoramic roof, it is equal to 28,000 Nm / deg, and for cars with a glass ceiling - 25,000 Nm / deg. In addition, despite the increased dimensions, the new car turned out to be 16 kg lighter than the old one.

There is no crystal clearness and smooth running - simply because cars with suspension adapted for bad roads will be sold in our market, and there were no such versions at the European presentation. The chassis itself works softer than before: the itching and bumps from small bumps have diminished, but this, it seems, did not affect the energy intensity. The Tiguan is not very fond of, except for irregularities with sharp edges, especially if it relies on optional 20-inch wheels - shocks from thermal joints and the like come to the salon regularly and quite clearly. But on a forest primer, miraculously found in the vicinity of Berlin, we managed to accelerate to 130 kilometers per hour (we did not tell you about this, okay?) And stay with our spines, teeth and even on all four wheels. The suspensions are quite short-travel, but we managed to bring them to breakdown only a couple of times, and even then in the sport mode of adaptive shock absorbers and almost after a jump.

And yet it is too early to draw final conclusions. First, the German forest path, compared to the Ryazan or Tver asphalt, is like the Kremlin's inlaid parquet. Secondly, we repeat, in Russia the settings will be different, but it is not clear whether the same adaptive DCC racks will get to our long-suffering. They were on a car of the last generation five years ago, but they remained an exclusive foreign country.

Generation T

old crossover

Generation T

FIRSTscope: the new Volkswagen Tiguan through the eyes of the owner
old crossover

Efim Gantmakher, published September 05, 2017

Photo: website

The new Volkswagen Tiguan was expected in Russia. They waited with special trepidation, because its predecessor became a real bestseller in its segment! Even at the pre-retirement age, Tiguan was in the TOP-10 of C + class crossovers, noticeably inferior only to more affordable ones and slightly losing to more modern models. But after the upgrade, everything has grown: dimensions and interior space, the level of equipment and technology - and, of course, the price. Wouldn't I be sad for my predecessor, who fully justified his consumer properties? With this question, I got behind the wheel of a new Tiguan in Moscow and went to Chechnya on it.

I know firsthand how and why they bought the Tiguan before, because I myself am its owner. For three years, with the whole family, we dashed off 150,000 kilometers on it, and, believe me, these were very eventful years and distances. Together with us, he visited all the circuits where the stages of the Russian series of circuit races are held. He drove on dirt paths and broken asphalt roads, in the urban jungle and on wide highways.

In winter and summer, autumn and spring, Tiguan always carries us forward. Its modest trunk held half a ton of cement and more than a cubic meter of firewood, it carried all kinds of construction and household nonsense, racing equipment - and sometimes I just slept in it, spreading out a polyurethane foam mat and wrapping myself in a sleeping bag. In general, I think you already understood that testing the new Tiguan is a personal matter, even almost intimate.

And therefore, just sitting behind the wheel and loading all the necessary things, I immediately set off on a long journey - to the Chechen Republic, on the highway "Fortress Groznaya". And the first sensation from the car that arises from the owner of the old Tiguan is some gigantic size of a beginner! But you realize very quickly that this is just a feeling caused by its design.

In fact, the Volkswagen Tiguan grew only 3 cm wide, 6 cm long and became 3 cm lower. The changes are minimal and the visual impact is dramatic. The perception is influenced by the "angular" style of the exterior and the "airy" interior. On a long journey, this creates additional comfort and a sense of confidence, but in the city, from habit, it is a little uncomfortable. But, getting used to it, you maneuver on narrow streets as confidently as on your "native" Tiguan.

To help - a whole range of electronic assistants, starting with traditional ultrasonic sensors and cameras and ending with a parking assistant, which drives the car into an empty space both along and across. True, such an option is more useful to novice drivers: the Tiguan itself does not always risk climbing into the cracks where it turned out to be squeezed in from me.

But a large trunk is by no means a mirage. Its volume has really grown, confirming the feeling of increased size. This is especially noticeable when the backs of the second-row seats are raised: 615 liters versus 470 for the progenitor! The extra 145 liters is a very nice bonus, and the difference remains the same when the backs of the rear seats are folded down. But it seemed that since the wheelbase increased by a centimeter more than the length, then the entire increase will go to the rear passengers, and not the luggage. But the builders found a compromise, adding room to riders and taking into account the comments of those who criticized the trunk of the old model.

These additional 7 centimeters between the axles, seasoned with a decrease in curb weight by 43 kilograms, changed the Tiguan's cornering behavior beyond recognition. On the one hand, now on a slippery road, it turns less under the gas discharge - and for adrenaline lovers this is a minus. On the other hand, the car has become much more stable in any corners, whether it be gentle bends of highways or twisted serpentine loops. This means that any driver - both a pseudo-racer forcing events and a beginner who has gone too far with speed - is more likely to remain on the road.

So, we are going to Grozny, first cutting through the space along the M-4 "Don" highway, then turning onto the M-29 "Kavkaz". And it could be two different stories for the driver of another car, but not the new Tiguan. It is absolutely indifferent to the surface under the wheels: on long stretches of the newly built Don highway, adaptive cruise control comes to the rescue, and on narrow sections of old highways, if it is necessary to overtake someone, the third-generation 2.0 TSI engine and the updated DSG-7 enter the battle.

The new power plant has an even wider operating range - there is enough thrust anytime, anywhere. And already now it can be argued that this combination has become even more reliable in terms of resource, having proven itself well on other models of the concern. If you're worried, read our material on the DSG resource. Well, the efficiency is also up to the mark. For a trip to Chechnya and back, the average consumption was 7.1 l / 100 km, and even if you add a few days in Moscow traffic jams, the numbers still set you up for optimism: 8.6 l / 100 km in a combined cycle is a very decent result. True, in a purely urban mode it was rarely possible to drop below 10, but let's remember that a two-liter turbo engine carries you and one and a half tons of the new Tiguan.

In regions remote from Moscow, the newcomer is of genuine interest. Quite often I was asked if it was a Touareg, but still, overwhelmingly, people recognized him as the successor of the past Tiguan. Here I am, getting used to the new forms a little, I notice more and more kinship between the two generations. And one of the main joint skills is the unexpected talent of an urban crossover on surfaces that have nothing to do with the usual concept of "road".

Therefore, I decided to call any direction marked by standard navigation as a road. So I climbed the mountainside, from where a gorgeous view of Pyatigorsk opened up. So I drove through a small field, avoiding the accident near Rostov-on-Don. And if Volkswagen employees were not too lazy and drove along all these paths before pouring them into the navigator, then the maps for Tiguan and some Volkswagen Passat should be different: where the way is ordered for a sedan, you can slip through on a crossover!

After all, it was the regular navigation that took me both to the rocky slopes and to the muddy clay, but I never turned back. Although once I wanted to, but there was no opportunity to turn around in a deep rut, I had to jump out along the slope onto a normal road. At the same time, I appreciated the capabilities of the 4Motion Active Control system: even in the usual transmission mode, the Tiguan calmly copes with diagonal hanging and confidently rowing in the mud, but in front of a difficult area it is still better to click the washer and select one of the off-road modes and clamp the center coupling.

But there is something about the new crossover I don't like. First, there are complaints about the smoothness of the ride: the Tiguan does not notice long waves of asphalt at high speed, but it reacts nervously to pits with sharp edges and speed bumps and makes riders jump. Secondly, the fuel tank capacity is now 58 liters, which is 6 liters less than its predecessor. But this is an additional 60-80 km of power reserve, which can always come in handy on the track. Thirdly, the excessive optimism of the navigation system can sometimes drive an inexperienced driver into an impassable dead end.

All other quibbles are related to taste preferences. Probably pragmatic buyers will give up the chic panoramic roof, but I love seeing the sky overhead. The electronic dashboard is the prerogative of the expensive Highline configuration, but I am ready to pay extra for it in the lower versions too, in order to configure the “tidy” at my own discretion. After all, you can display anything you want here - from fuel consumption to navigation. I also liked the convenient multimedia system that works great with Apple CarPlay. And leather chairs with electric adjustments and memory are almost ideal: I only lacked lateral support on mountain roads, but on a long journey my back never reminded of itself.

Ample opportunities for transformation of the salon are not just an advertising slogan. In all versions, except for the basic one, the Tiguan allows not only to recline the backrests of the rear sofa, but also to fold the front passenger seat flush with them. The cabin has plenty of storage space for small items, tables for the rear passengers, a portable flashlight in the trunk and even a 230V socket. In short, the car is packed for all occasions. And this is truly a worthy successor to the old Tiguan, which will suit both the experienced driver and the absolute beginner.

I suspect that when creating a new model, German engineers drove the old car into a box and began to think: what can be improved in it? And after thousands of exclamations beginning with the phrase "what if ...", the most important of them made an important decision: to improve everything! Then they methodically worked through every detail, and when everything was done, they gave it to a variety of drivers for a test. We collected their opinions and did all the work again so that our loyal customers would like the new "chips".

As the owner of a previous generation Volkswagen Tiguan, I recognize the old car in everything. I understand everything intuitively, and I didn't have to get used to anything, although every little thing is done in a new way. Perhaps this is the German approach to creating a car. And based on the example of the future leader of the crossover segment, I understand that he is worth it. When the time comes to swap out my Tiguan for something new, I will know for sure that a worthy replacement exists.

Configuration and prices Volkswagen Tiguan 2017

Equipment	Modification	price, rub.
Trendline		1 349 000
	1.4 (125 HP) DSG6 front-wheel drive	1 449 000
	1.4 (150 HP) MKP6 four-wheel drive	1 549 000
Comfortline	1.4 (125 HP) MKP6 front-wheel drive	1 559 000
		1 609 000
		1 709 000
		1 909 000
		1 799 000
Highline	1.4 (150 HP) DSG6 front-wheel drive	1 829 000
	1.4 (150 HP) DSG6 all-wheel drive	1 869 000
	2.0 (180 HP) DSG7 all-wheel drive	2 069 000
	2.0 (220 HP) DSG7 all-wheel drive	2 139 000
	diesel 2.0 (150 hp) DSG7 four-wheel drive	2 959 000

Specifications of the tested vehicle
(manufacturer's data)

Modification	2.0 TSI 180 HP with.
Traction and dynamic characteristics
engine's type	P4, gasoline, turbocharged
Working volume	1 984 cm 3
Maximum power	180 l. with. @ 3940 - 6000 rpm
Maximum torque	320 Nm @ 1500 - 3940 rpm
Acceleration 0-100 km / h	7.7 s
Maximum speed	208 km / h
Average fuel consumption	8.0 l / 100 km
Transmission, suspension, brakes
type of drive	Full
Transmission	7-speed robotic with two clutches
Front suspension	Independent, spring-loaded, McPherson
Rear suspension	Independent, spring, multi-link
Front brakes	Ventilated discs
Rear brakes	Ventilated discs
Dimensions and weight
Length	4 486 mm
Width (mirrors folded)	1839 mm
Height	1,673 mm
Wheelbase	2677 mm
Ground clearance	200 mm
Trunk volume / with seats folded	615 l / 1 655 l
Fuel tank volume	58 l
Curb weight	1 636 kg

In our time, there is no way without localization. It not only smoothes the ruble fluctuations, but also allows the cars to be adapted to Russian road and climatic conditions. So the Tiguan was produced in Russia for almost all of its conveyor life. And the new Tiguan, for which we started this test, comes out with a delay for the only reason - it took time to set up production in Kaluga. Actually, the adjustment is still in the process and we have to wait several months before the start of sales, but we were the first in Russia to get a Kaluga-assembled car!

Buyers will be offered a choice of nine combinations of engines, transmissions and drive types. We settled on an all-wheel drive Tiguan with a two-liter 180-horsepower turbo engine and a DSG robot. And let's face it with the regulars of the top sales: Mazda CX ‑ 5 and Kia Sportage take the fight.

The rivals are also local spills. Mazda is located in Vladivostok. The test car is equipped with a 2.5-liter "four" SkyActiv with a capacity of 192 hp, a 6-speed automatic and four-wheel drive.

Sportage is an unrivaled leader in local assembly: all its generations were assembled in Kaliningrad! In theory, we should have taken the petrol version for comparison. But in terms of power, the 185-horsepower diesel is more suitable, which is slightly cheaper and extremely popular on the Russian market. In general, we take diesel! Of course, with a gun and four-wheel drive.

Volkswagen tiguan The new generation car was presented in 2015 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Sales in Europe started this year. It will appear in Russia in early 2017. Assembly - in Kaluga. ENGINES: gasoline: 1.4 T (125 HP); 1.4 T (150 HP); 2.0 T (180 HP); T (220 HP) diesel: 2.0 (150 hp) At the time of this release of the ZR to print, the prices were not announced.	Mazda CX ‑ 5 She made her debut in 2012. Last year, it underwent restyling. Cars for the Russian market are produced in Vladivostok. ENGINES: petrol: 2.0 (150 HP) - from 1,349,000 rubles; 2.5 (192 HP) - from RUB 1,865,000 diesel: 2.2 (175 HP) - from RUB 2,012,000	Kia sportage The fourth-generation car debuted in 2015, and sales started in Russia earlier this year. Assembly - at the Kaliningrad plant "Avtotor". ENGINES: petrol: 2.0 (150 HP) - from 1,204,900 rubles; 1.6T (177 HP) - from 2 084 900 rub. diesel: 2.0 (185 HP) - from 1 834 900 rub.

Do not find fault?

Strictly front or back, the new Tiguan is good! The faceted body and multi-storey front optics made it more interesting. But in profile, the Tiguan looks like a passenger car - you can feel the influence of the Golf: the same slope of the rear struts, a large front overhang.

However, design is a matter of taste. But won't the almost lightweight appearance affect the geometric cross-country ability? And how! Due to the low bumper, the approach angle is really small - less than twenty degrees.

The interior is a geometrically verified space. It was as if ergonomics specialists had redrawn the front panel hundreds of times, until the gaps between buttons, deflectors and chrome strips came to mathematical perfection. And for some reason, you don't doubt for a moment that the designers tried to please you. How else to explain that each of the participants in our test group quickly and without problems found a comfortable fit, and rated the relative position of the controls and all the buttons as five-plus? It is cozy and intuitive here. The case when the manual remains collecting dust in the glove box as unnecessary.

But this perfection is also the weakness of Tiguan. Assertive acceleration and perfected driving properties are taken for granted - and it costs Volkswagen at least to give some slack, it immediately hurts the eyes. I'm not talking about the hard actuation of the suspension on small irregularities - such a character is traditional for many German cars. Fortunately, on medium and large calibers, the Tiguan holds the punch firmly. A small aerodynamic noise is another matter. Not a crime, but against the background of perfectly insulated wheel arches and a muffled engine compartment, a light breeze in the windshield area, waking up at a speed of 100 km / h, is perceived as a tornado.

The same story with handling. The Tiguan stands flawlessly on the arc, captivating with its speed and purity of responses. The electric booster honestly changes the steering effort and does not misinform the driver. Perfectly! But a slight nervousness on asphalt ruts, a barely noticeable sensitivity to a crosswind, which otherwise I would not have paid attention to, here seem to be something out of the ordinary.

To which there is not a single comment is to the combination of the engine and gearbox. The wide torque shelf and machine-gun rate of fire of the dual-clutch transmission instantly take the Tiguan away from the competition, and the efficient brakes with informative drive are no less confident in bringing the car down. But the pedal is located a bit high in relation to the accelerator.

NO SPARK One more modification of the new Tiguan remained behind the scenes of the comparative test - we decided to get acquainted with the diesel version with a capacity of 150 hp. (see video above). The transmission is similar, with a DSG preselective robot and a fifth generation Haldex clutch in the rear wheel drive, and the difference, apart from the motor, is in the equipment. We got the diesel car with the Offroad package: other bumpers give it out. Thanks to the beveled beak, the angle of entry increased, and under the engine compartment we measured an "extra" centimeter - despite the fact that representatives of the Russian office of Volkswagen promise the same clearance for all cars that have passed the adaptation! It looks like the greater clearance is due to a different form of plastic protection. The vulnerability of a turbo diesel engine is the exhaust gas pressure control valve, which allows it to meet environmental requirements without the use of urea. It is located on the exhaust pipe, and if you are going to often get out off-road, it is better to cover it with an additional shield so as not to damage it in the rut. An unconditional plus of the diesel engine is the ability to order a pre-heater. It can be started both from the passenger compartment and from the key fob: this way you do not have to get into a cold car. At idle, the diesel engine spreads noticeable vibrations throughout the body, and if you open the door at the same time, an unpleasant hum will fill the interior. In motion, however, the motor manifests itself much less. According to the manufacturer, the diesel version accelerates to a hundred in 9.3 seconds, while the gasoline Tiguan spends 7.7 seconds for the same. And this difference is quite tangible! A 150-horsepower crossover cannot be called a slow-moving one, but the best epithet for its dynamics is “sufficient”.