1 May 2008
The Tiguan was Volkswagen’s first compact SUV and for a minimal premium over the Japanese mainstream competitors it added European flair and plenty of standard features.
The Tiguan was a bit of a parts bin special - like many cars of its era - in that it borrowed the underpinnings of the Passat and Golf, as well as seats and switchgear from various Volkswagen Group cars.
The entry model, the 125TSI turbo petrol, developed 125kW at 4300rpm and 280Nm at 1700-4200rpm.
The 103TDI turbo-diesel produced 103kW at 4200rpm and 320Nm at 1750-2500rpm.
The 147TSI developed 147kW at 5100rpm and 280Nm at 1700-5000rpm.
Standard on 125TSI and 103TDI was a six-speed manual with six-speed auto optional. The 147TSI came standard with the six-speed auto.
The Tiguan was first released with a diesel engine only in May 2008, but in December 2008 the range was extended with two direct-injection turbo-charged petrol engine models, the 125TSI and 147TSI.
The Tiguan petrol models, like their diesel counterparts, were based on the B7 Passat front and mid-section floorpan and suspension and used the Golf V tail section floorpan.
The driveline consisted of a standard six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic with tiptronic mode (which was standard on 147TSI) hooked up to a 4Motion Haldex-clutch all-wheel drive system.
The 125TSI was fitted with the petrol turbo-charged EA888 2.0-litre engine that developed 125kW at 4300rpm and 280Nm at 1700-4200rpm.
The 147TSI, with the same engine used in the Golf V GTI, had maximum outputs of 147kW at 5100rpm and 280Nm at 1700-5000rpm and came with the six-speed auto transmission only.
A seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission was added in September 2010.
