With the design of the Tiguan, Volkswagen has promised us a baby Touareg and, to be fair, it appears to have delivered precisely that.
There’s been no apologetic attempt to make it look like a hatchback or a tall estate, whatever the truth may be underneath. The Tiguan is an upright 4x4 with little to demonstrate its dynamism. Even though this version rides on 18-inch alloys, they don’t make the Tiguan’s long front overhang and square, Touareg-aping wheel arches look remotely sporting.
There’s even a version said to be more capable in the rough: the Escape (Track & Field in mainland Europe), which has a shorter front bumper to increase the Tiguan’s approach angle.
In truth this is a Golf-based SUV, but it’s not merely an upsized Golf Plus. Several floor and chassis pressings are from the Golf, but this is a bigger car overall. At the front it has MacPherson struts, while a four-link set-up from the Passat 4Motion makes up the rear.
The Tiguan’s 4Motion system, like the four-wheel drive hardware of most of its soft-roading rivals, isn’t split 50/50 all the time. Where the Tiguan differs is that it is full-time four-wheel drive. Most of the time only 10 per cent goes to the rear, and that’s because it’s dragged there by the Haldex clutch mounted in the rear axle.
Even until recently, Haldex clutches needed noticeable slip at either end before the clutch would engage and distribute power (up to 100 per cent at either end), but is now electronically controlled so requires less slip.
And it’s this that’s at the heart of the Tiguan’s ability off the highway. Its approach, departure and breakover angles will not win it any off-roading awards, but its usefulness as a tow car shouldn’t be ignored.