{"id":479,"date":"2016-01-23T10:11:10","date_gmt":"2016-01-23T10:11:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.malaysianmotoring.com\/web\/?p=479"},"modified":"2016-01-23T10:14:15","modified_gmt":"2016-01-23T10:14:15","slug":"volkswagen-tiguan-1-4tsi-you-saw-it-coming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.malaysianmotoring.com\/web\/volkswagen-tiguan-1-4tsi-you-saw-it-coming\/","title":{"rendered":"Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4TSI: You saw it coming"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cCongratulations,\u201d your boss said. You\u2019ve just been given a promotion. In your late twenties, this new exec job is what you\u2019ve been eyeing since you joined your company. You envied the lifestyle it afforded your precedessors. But envy it no more, because you\u2019ve made it.<\/p>\n

Of course, things have changed since you joined the work force oh so long ago. You got married, and now you\u2019ve got two little ones at home. You ferry around your in-laws from time to time, and your wife regularly fills the car with groceries for the family. The small sedan you bought when you first started work doesn\u2019t really quite do it anymore, does it?<\/p>\n

This litte scenario was playing in my head as I was dropped off at Menara Volkswagen in Bangsar, to collect my chariot for a long weekend. Unlocking the white example in the dark basement carpark revealed it had been fitted with some kit, as the optional HID-LED headlights greeted me. The solid white bodywork helped to give the car the illusion of heft, as the Tiguan is far from large. Despite competing on the same price point as cars like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5, to this writer, it seems more at home in a sea of HR-V\u2019s and CX-3\u2019s. Hyphenated names out of the way, the Tiguan is a handsome thing, with all the right features in all the right places. Sharp rear lights, decently-sized alloy wheels, and a smattering of grey body cladding made it look the part of an SUV, although I knew full-well that very, very few Tiguan owners would ever take it off road.<\/p>\n

Stepping inside, I was welcomed by the all too familiar grayscale architecture that is a Volkswagen interior. Very logical, very well engineered, but lacking visual flair in every aspect. Those who read my reviews will know that I\u2019m not a fan of Volkswagen interiors, and this base-model Tiguan is certainly no exception. Sure, if you\u2019re stepping up from an Asian car, you\u2019ll welcome the plush materials and tactile feel of the switchgear. But if you drive something European already (I am guilty of owning an E36 BMW), you\u2019ll get over the tactility of things rather quickly.<\/p>\n

Sinking into the Alcantara seats, the Tiguan\u2019s main objective becomes rather clear: Comfort. The seats are more pliant than most sofas, and the driving position they afford is brilliant. Leaving Bangsar, the Tiguan\u2019s drivetrain (a 1.4 twin-charged engine with a 6-speed DSG auto, sending power to the front wheels) seemed a little off in the city. A little jerky at slow speeds, the overly sensitive throttle and brake pedal left me wanting in the way of smooth progress. That aside, the engine seemed very eager off the line, masking its relatively small displacement well. The start\/stop system was a marvel too, with a much wider range in operating temperature (these systems disengage during hot weather) than some of its rivals, allowing it to be truly useful to Malaysian drivers.<\/p>\n

Leaving town the Tiguan managed to stretch its legs a little. The peppy little mill never felt too hurried, even when keeping up with the more rushed traffic on the motorway. Wind and road noise was kept to a minimum, with plenty of thought also going into ensuring there were no rattles or squeaks when we ventured past the speed limit. In the twisty bits, the Tiguan exhibited excellent body control, with minimal lean through corners. Although far from inspiring, that\u2019s not really what this car is about anyway. Designed as a family SUV, the Tiguan does its job well. It even has foldaway tables behind the front seats, perfect for when little ones get hungry. And you know all that clutter that family life brings with it? The Tiguan accommodates for that, too. There are cupholders everywhere, <\/em>and when you need to stow stuff, there are cubbies and spaces to hide all your every day nonsense. And when the kids need new bikes, there\u2019s plenty of room for that in the boot.<\/p>\n

Of course, the Tiguan makes sense. It\u2019s a German car, from one of the most typically-German manufacturers you\u2019ll ever encounter. So of course it\u2019s practical, and reliable, and refined and so on. You\u2019d expect a Volkswagen to be just that, and that\u2019s exactly what the Tiguan is. It\u2019s also very much a premium offering in its segment, which is where Volkswagens always have been in the Malaysian market.<\/p>\n

So the big question is, do you want a Tiguan in your life? Sure. But considering its upmarket pricetag, we\u2019d suggest forgoing having that third tyke until your next big raise.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>

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