Autocar - First for car news and reviews

Volkswagen has a surprising dearth of utility vehicles in its locker. The first was the Hitler-commissioned, Ferdinand Porsche-conceived Kubelsitzwagen of WWII. Which, in the late 1960s, became the Kurierwagen (the Thing in the US, or Trekker in the UK).

Then there was nothing until Porsche wanted a large SUV and went into partnership to produce the Cayenne/Touareg from 2003. And now there’s the Tiguan, which has just landed in a market more closely fought than any of those occupied ...Read the full article

I'm not suprised at the tester's comments on ride quality given the Sport suspension and big wheels, but did the model tested have the new common rail TDI engine or the old pumpe duse version? Every other test of the diesel Tiguan has commented on how smooth and refined the new CR diesel engine is.

Is the Tiguan 2.0 TDI in Britain different to the one in Germany? If it ain't I'm afraid this test is full of sh*t.

The German one has a COMMON-RAIL engine. Go to http://www.autobild.de/artikel/Themen-Testberichte-Ganz-schoen-spritzig_422540.html for AutoBild's report, or indeed VW GB's own online brochure at http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/assets/pdf/tiguan_brochure.pdf which says in the ENGINES section:

"The 2.0litre TDI engine offers everything you would expect from a diesel and more, with common rail injection making it powerful, economical and quiet." (My underlining added)

Just what are you guys up to here? Am I completely out of whack or are you peddling some ulterior, defaming motive here? Your 3.5/5 rating is mainly based on the crappy Pumpe-Duese engine. The german mags. (AutoBild, AutoZeitung, Auto Motor und Sport) have all rated it in single and comparison tests at the top of the pile for performance and value for money.

I have contacted VW GB to make them aware of your test report and invited them to comment.

Regards,

an EX-Autocar reader.

OOhh get you!

I Don't know what your problem is on this. It's unusual for me to defend Autocar, but on this one I feel I have to. The VW diesel engine whether it be the Pumpe Duse or the Common Rail have always appeared to be a noisier unit to those from other manufacturers. Comments have even been made as to other manufacturers, who take the VW diesel engine where it actually seems better insulated against noise and vibration.

The German press maybe a little bias towards VW, as Autocar is to BMW.

 Let us know what VW UK have to say on this.

The DSG gearbox isn't available - see the First Drive report in "Autocar" !! Has this road tester driven the Tiguan, or has he confused it with some other model?

I think Sierra has hit the "nail" on the head. The whole test article smacks of desk research, borrowing heavily on previous VW / Audi small diesel road tests. It is interesting to note that when another manufacturer installs the old-tech 140 bhp pumpe duse engine in, for example the Jeep Patriot, harshness and noise are not considered to be an issue. Is VW just being too mean on sound insulation?

Good point and one that i have made elsewhere on this forum.

Note: can anyone confirm to the contrary, but up to now VW only make diesel engines using the pump duse technology?

Sorry guys, this is our balls-up entirely. It is a common-rail unit. It's a long story: we've researched bags of stuff about the car including, inadvertantly, tech details for the wrong engine, which has slipped through. No excuses though, it's our fault. However, the common rail thing doesn't represent a breakthrough in NVH levels. It's typically louder, for example, than both a Chevrolet Captiva and Nissan X-Trail, neither of which is the quietest car in the class.

To Mr M Prior, Chief Road Tester,

are you serious? "We've researched bags of stuff about the car..." What?

How about physically driving it, you know, opening the bonnet and stuff. Then maybe reading the no doubt supplied accompanying reams of material from VW UK on their new product. How difficult can that be? Failing that go to any of umpteen German auto web sites and cut and paste their comprehensive test reviews when the car was first launched in its home market. But no, here's the real killer:

Go to your own "Find a Road Test" on your own website and select VW, Tiguan, then TDI 140 S. Guess what? Up comes Autocar's First Drive for the Tiguan 2.0 TDI from Sep. 20th 2007 written by Greg Kable; in his sixth paragraph he writes:

"When it arrives here in February, there will be a choice of two engines: a 150bhp version of Volkswagen’s supercharged and turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder direct injection petrol unit, and a brand new 138bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel - the latter set to replace the German car maker’s old pumpe duse engine right across the Volkswagen line-up."

I'm sorry mate, but if you weren't aware that some geyser from Autocar had written about the same car, weeks before your 'bags of research', and GOT IT RIGHT about what was under the bonnet, I'd be more than red-faced. I don't buy your printed mag., but if this Tiguan road test appeared in the mag same way as here, online, with the 'piss poor engine' comments and crap 3.5./5 score, I would expect VW UK to be demanding a full printed retraction and apology at the front of the magazine, or sue for defamation due to a prima facie case of gross negligence. I was going to contact VW UK's press office, but as a non-journalist it is not straightforward, and I'm sure they are big enough anyway to look after themselves and their commercial interests. Last I'll say on this is, as someone who knows the German auto industry and had the misfortune of knowing the once UK-owned auto industry it doesn't surprise me in the least to see UK auto journalism mimicking the practices that led the UK auto industry's products into disrepute and commercial oblivion.

PS check your spelling of inadvertently. God help you!

My apologies: when I wrote "...some geyser from Autocar..." I had a mindblock or something. It was ...some geezer... .

Engine dealt with - But why open up a debate comparing Golf Plus & Tiguan without first examining sub-frame & suspension strength.  As a real estate developer, we have in our car park, H3 Hummer, Toyota Landcruiser, R-Rover Vogue, R-Rover Sport supercharged, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Mitsubishi Outlander & Honda CR-V cd-ti (2006).

we are now considering the Tiguan.

We put our vehicles through the toughest driving conditions, equipping our passengers with hard hats to protect their heads!

All of the above perform serious off-road duties including the Outlander & Honda.

Having been an Autocar reader for 45 yrs, we doubt your current assessment capabilities..

Spav:

It is interesting to note that when another manufacturer installs the old-tech 140 bhp pumpe duse engine in, for example the Jeep Patriot, harshness and noise are not considered to be an issue. Is VW just being too mean on sound insulation?

Look up the mitsubishi outlander with the 2.0 diesel engine from VW and everyone says its noisy, especially when compared with the PSA twins of the same car have the 2.2HDi.

Otherwise, what the heck is everyone getting their knickers in a twist for? I think the Tuigan is a pretty dull looking 4x4, and extremely pointless as are the rest of the cars in that class. I think the freelander would be a better (if a lot more expensive) car. Or why get a 4x4 in the first place? Ford X-Max is a much more appealing option to me!