insideKENT Magazine Issue 38 - May 2015 | Page 136

MOTORS VOLKSWAGEN tiguan Volkswagen is a word that epitomises a solid and reliable, non-precocious brand of motoring. People who tend to own VWs are usually people who want a car that does exactly what it says on the tin; that allows you to live your life in comfort, with a bonus of style and luxury thrown in for good measure. The VW Tiguan does exactly that. WORDS AND PHOTOS BY LUKE YATES Volkswagen Tiguan2.0TDI (140ps) 4Motion R Line BlueMotion DSG Price as tested: £29,995 / Top Speed: 126 MPH Economy: Combined 33.2 MPG / / 0-62 MPH: 8.3 SECONDS Performance: 208 BHP Combined CO2: 199 G/KM / Understandably, the Volkswagen Tiguan is popular with UK car buyers, combining the usability of the Golf with desirable SUV features, four-wheel drive, and all that lovely extra space! It is a highly good-looking car on the outside; chunkier than previous versions, and feels really rugged and sturdy looking, with its sleek front bumper, more intricate headlight design with daytime running lights, and LED tail lights. You're given the impression that this is a car that's ready for anything. Inside the cockpit, things get spacious and comfy. The seats are well sculpted and the driving stance is excellent, with easily adjustable electric seats aiding the perfect position even for a shorty like me. The central touchscreen console is intuitive and easy to operate, and provides excellent in-car information and entertainment. The sat nav worked perfectly for us as we wound our way to the Chatham dockyard, while the voice-guide was very dulcet, and never got irritating! The auto gearbox is smooth and effortless to use, the brakes are sharp and responsive, and the Tiguan handles beautifully on all road types, giving you confidence on fast motorways, but also a bit of enjoyment on the smaller, windier roads. There's plenty of power too, and the Tiguan has a towing weight capacity of 2,200 kgs, making this an attractive option for those of you who like to tow caravans and suchlike and, of course, this is aid ed further in the four-wheel drive option. JCB Volkswagen Ashford The Parade Orbital Park Ashford TN24 0HT 01233 210236 JCB Volkswagen Medway Bailey Drive Gillingham Business Park Gillingham ME8 0PZ 01634 871345 www.thejcbgroup.co.uk I really loved the Tiguan. It was comfortable, extremely pleasant and enjoyable to drive; it just worked, as it should. It is definitely not a car for the more ostentatious show offs and attention seekers out there, but I think that's probably one of its strongest selling points. This is a car for people who already know who they are. The Volkswagen Tiguan comes in four-wheel and front-wheel drive versions, and is comfortable and enjoyable to drive. I very quickly adjusted to it, and found myself confidently striking out into the busy bypasses and town road traffic, without worrying. The Tiguan's 2.0-litre TSI engine delivers 208 bph, and takes the car from 0-60 mph in 8.3 seconds, with a top speed of 126 mph. With regards to economy, the Tiguan boasts an average of 33.2 mpg, and emissions of 199 g/km, which for a 'larger' car are pretty impressive stats. 136 @jcbgroupautos /jcbgroup