Volkswagen Tiguan Estate boot space, practicality and safety
- Large and flexible loadspace trumps key rivals
- Enormous array of cubbies to hide valuables in
- Will paler interior trims stand the test of time?
How much space is there?
A large part of any SUV’s appeal is its practicality and the second-generation Volkswagen Tiguan is no exception in this respect. Depending on the specification you choose you’ll find an assortment of storage pockets and cubbies from dash-top lidded ones to drawers under the front seats.
It’s not only where you can carry things, but how they’re stowed. Many Tiguans have a front passenger seat which folds completely over to enable longer items to be swallowed with ease. It’s a really useful feature and complements the 40:20:40 split-folding rear-seat arrangement.
Rear seat space is better than in the related Seat Ateca and Skoda Karoq because the Tiguan is a little longer. Leg and head room is good for the class, although we’d also suggest looking at the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson if that’s important to you. Regular Tiguans are five-seat only, although a seven seat Tiguan Allspace is available.
Boot space and storage
That’s not the back seat’s only trick: in a 60:40 split, the seat base slides forwards and back, increasing the Tiguan’s boot volume from 520 litres to 615 litres in the process. Those figures outrank the BMW X1, Ateca, Karoq and Nissan Qashqai, but the Sportage and Tucson get awfully close without having to slide the rear bench forward.
It’s worth noting, however, that models fitted with the eHybrid powertrain lose a large chunk of boot space – bringing that load area down to 476 litres. That’s because the location of the batteries under the rear seats has necessitated the re-siting of the petrol tank below the boot floor. That’s fairly typical of the class, although the Sportage and Tucson aren’t anywhere near as negatively impacted.
Fold the seats over, creating a near-flat load area, and the VW is still at the pointy end of the class. In fact, there’s precious-little we can fault the Tiguan on, practicality-wise, save for how fresh some of the lighter-hued fabric interior trims might remain once they’ve spent a few months running the gauntlet of family life.
Is it easy to park?
The Tiguan falls into the mid-sized SUV category. Front and rear parking sensors are standard on Life models and up, while a rear view camera is standard on Elegance and above.
It can also be specced with Volkswagen’s Parking Assistant. This can autonomously park the car for you. It’s pretty slick and effortless. Press the button, pull forwards, let the sensors do their work, then sit back and marvel at the steering wheel moving on its own. It’s quicker to parallel park yourself, but where’s the fun in that?
Safety
- Five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating
- Pop-up bonnet for pedestrian protection
- Raft of additional safety gear available
Safety is a key consideration when buying an SUV as a family car and the Volkswagen Tiguan is packed with a wealth of standard features, as well as several optional ones, to maintain the security of its occupants. It received a full five-star rating from Euro NCAP when it was tested in 2016, although it’s worth pointing out that the tests have got tougher since then.
All Tiguans come complete with seven airbags – including one for the driver’s knee – as well as a raft of electronic safety aids, such as autonomous emergency braking, reducing the likelihood of you having to experience any of them being deployed.
Pedestrians are offered a further degree of protection thanks to active bonnet mounts which lift the body panel up and away from the engine in the event of a frontal collision.
Depending on the specification chosen, additional safety kit will either be standard or optional at extra cost, including a very effective adaptive cruise control system, a head-up display pod which is a paragon of clarity, matrix LED headlamps and various alerts for changing lanes without indicating or reversing out into oncoming traffic.
Euro NCAP rating
What is Euro NCAP? ⓘ | |
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Adult Occupant: | 96% |
Child Occupant: | 84% |
Vulnerable Road User: | 72% |
Safety Assist: | 68% |
Equipment and options
- 3x3 point rear seat belts
- Alarm
- Cloth seat trim
- Driver`s airbag
- Isofix child seat anchor points
- Passenger`s airbag
- Air conditioning
- Body coloured bumpers
- Central locking
- Electric mirrors
- Heated mirrors
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- PAS
- Side airbags
- ABS
- Alloy wheels
- Climate control
- Front electric windows
- Rear electric windows
- Remote locking
- Roof rails
- Sat Nav
- Service indicator
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Steering wheel reach adjustment
- Traction control
- ABS
- Alloy wheels
- Audio remote
- Body coloured bumpers
- Central locking
- Climate control
- Electric mirrors
- Front electric windows
- Heated mirrors
- Heated seats
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Lumbar support
- Parking sensors
- PAS
- Rear electric windows
- Remote locking
- Roof rails
- Sat Nav
- Service indicator
- Side airbags
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Steering wheel reach adjustment
- Traction control
- n/a
- ABS
- Body coloured bumpers
- Climate control
- Electric mirrors
- Front electric windows
- Heated seats
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Lumbar support
- Metallic Paint
- Parking sensors
- PAS
- Rear electric windows
- Remote locking
- Roof rails
- Sat Nav
- Service indicator
- Side airbags
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Steering wheel reach adjustment
- Traction control
- n/a
- Body coloured bumpers
- Climate control
- Heated seats
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Parking sensors
- PAS
- Roof rails
- Sat Nav
- Side airbags
- ABS
- Air conditioning
- Central locking
- Electric mirrors
- Front electric windows
- Front fog lights
- Heated mirrors
- Lumbar support
- Rear electric windows
- Remote locking
- Service indicator
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Steering wheel reach adjustment
- Traction control
- Body coloured bumpers
- Climate control
- Electric mirrors
- Front electric windows
- Heated seats
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Parking sensors
- PAS
- Rear electric windows
- Roof rails
- Sat Nav
- Service indicator
- Sports seats
- ABS
- Air conditioning
- Central locking
- Front fog lights
- Heated mirrors
- Lumbar support
- Remote locking
- Side airbags
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Steering wheel reach adjustment
- Traction control
- Body coloured bumpers
- Central locking
- Climate control
- Electric mirrors
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Parking sensors
- PAS
- Roof rails
- Sat Nav
- Side airbags
- ABS
- Air conditioning
- Front electric windows
- Front fog lights
- Heated mirrors
- Lumbar support
- Rear electric windows
- Remote locking
- Service indicator
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Steering wheel reach adjustment
- Traction control
- Body coloured bumpers
- Central locking
- Climate control
- Electric mirrors
- Front electric windows
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Parking sensors
- PAS
- Rear electric windows
- Roof rails
- Sat Nav
- Service indicator
- ABS
- Air conditioning
- Front fog lights
- Heated mirrors
- Lumbar support
- Remote locking
- Side airbags
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Steering wheel reach adjustment
- Traction control
- Body coloured bumpers
- Climate control
- Electric mirrors
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Parking sensors
- PAS
- Roof rails
- Sat Nav
- Side airbags
- ABS
- Air conditioning
- Alloy wheels
- Audio remote
- CD
- Central locking
- Cruise control
- Front electric windows
- Front fog lights
- Heated mirrors
- Lumbar support
- Metallic Paint
- Rear electric windows
- Remote locking
- Service indicator
- Space saver spare wheel
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Steering wheel reach adjustment
- Traction control
- ABS
- Air conditioning
- Alloy wheels
- Body coloured bumpers
- CD
- Cruise control
- Electric mirrors
- Front electric windows
- Front fog lights
- Headlight washers
- Heated mirrors
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Lumbar support
- PAS
- Rear electric windows
- Remote locking
- Service indicator
- Side airbags
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Steering wheel reach adjustment
- Traction control
- n/a
- ABS
- Central locking
- Climate control
- Electric mirrors
- Front electric windows
- Front fog lights
- Heated seats
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Lumbar support
- Parking sensors
- PAS
- Rear electric windows
- Remote locking
- Roof rails
- Sat Nav
- Service indicator
- Side airbags
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Steering wheel reach adjustment
- Traction control
- n/a
- ABS
- Body coloured bumpers
- Climate control
- Electric mirrors
- Front electric windows
- Heated seats
- Lumbar support
- PAS
- Rear electric windows
- Remote locking
- Roof rails
- Sat Nav
- Service indicator
- Side airbags
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Steering wheel reach adjustment
- Traction control
- Alloy wheels
- Audio remote
- CD
- Electric sunroof
- Front fog lights
- Heated mirrors
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Parking sensors
- Space saver spare wheel
- ABS
- Alloy wheels
- Audio remote
- Body coloured bumpers
- CD
- Climate control
- Electric mirrors
- Electric sunroof
- Front electric windows
- Front fog lights
- Heated mirrors
- Heated seats
- Lumbar support
- Parking sensors
- PAS
- Rear electric windows
- Remote locking
- Roof rails
- Sat Nav
- Service indicator
- Side airbags
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Steering wheel reach adjustment
- Traction control
- Space saver spare wheel
- Body coloured bumpers
- Climate control
- Electric mirrors
- Heated seats
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Roof rails
- Sat Nav
- Side airbags
- ABS
- Air conditioning
- Alloy wheels
- Audio remote
- CD
- Central locking
- Electric driver`s seat
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Electric sunroof
- Folding rear seats
- Front electric windows
- Front fog lights
- Heated mirrors
- Lumbar support
- Parking sensors
- Partial leather seat trim
- PAS
- Rear electric windows
- Remote locking
- Service indicator
- Space saver spare wheel
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Steering wheel reach adjustment
- Traction control
- ABS
- Body coloured bumpers
- Climate control
- Electric mirrors
- Front electric windows
- Heated seats
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Lumbar support
- Parking sensors
- PAS
- Rear electric windows
- Remote locking
- Sat Nav
- Service indicator
- Side airbags
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Steering wheel reach adjustment
- Traction control
- n/a
- Climate control
- Electric mirrors
- Front electric windows
- Heated seats
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Parking sensors
- PAS
- Rear electric windows
- Roof rails
- Sat Nav
- Service indicator
- Sports seats
- ABS
- Air conditioning
- Alloy wheels
- Audio remote
- Body coloured bumpers
- CD
- Central locking
- Electric driver`s seat
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Electric sunroof
- Folding rear seats
- Front fog lights
- Heated mirrors
- Lumbar support
- Partial leather seat trim
- Remote locking
- Side airbags
- Space saver spare wheel
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Steering wheel reach adjustment
- Traction control
- ABS
- Air conditioning
- Alloy wheels
- Body coloured bumpers
- Electric mirrors
- Front electric windows
- Heated mirrors
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Lumbar support
- PAS
- Rear electric windows
- Remote locking
- Roof rails
- Service indicator
- Side airbags
- Space saver spare wheel
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Steering wheel reach adjustment
- Traction control
- CD
- ABS
- Alloy wheels
- Audio remote
- Body coloured bumpers
- Climate control
- Electric mirrors
- Front electric windows
- Front fog lights
- Heated mirrors
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Lumbar support
- PAS
- Rear electric windows
- Remote locking
- Roof rails
- Service indicator
- Side airbags
- Space saver spare wheel
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Steering wheel reach adjustment
- Traction control
- CD
- Cruise control
- Electric driver`s seat
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Folding rear seats
- ABS
- Alloy wheels
- Audio remote
- Body coloured bumpers
- CD
- Climate control
- Electric mirrors
- Front electric windows
- Front fog lights
- Heated mirrors
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Lumbar support
- PAS
- Rear electric windows
- Remote locking
- Roof rails
- Sat Nav
- Service indicator
- Side airbags
- Space saver spare wheel
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Steering wheel reach adjustment
- Traction control
- Cruise control
- Electric driver`s seat
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Folding rear seats
- ABS
- Alloy wheels
- Audio remote
- Body coloured bumpers
- CD
- Climate control
- Electric mirrors
- Electric sunroof
- Front electric windows
- Front fog lights
- Heated mirrors
- Heated seats
- Height adjustable drivers seat
- Lumbar support
- Rear electric windows
- Remote locking
- Roof rails
- Sat Nav
- Service indicator
- Side airbags
- Space saver spare wheel
- Steering wheel rake adjustment
- Steering wheel reach adjustment
- Traction control
- Electric driver`s seat
- Electric passenger`s seat
- Folding rear seats
- PAS
Dimensions
Length | 4426mm - 4514mm |
---|---|
Width | 1836mm - 2099mm |
Height | 1703mm |