- Tiguan’s first decade characterised by continuous sales increase
- Volkswagen’s compact SUV closes in on 150,000 UK sales
- Model sits at heart of Volkswagen’s broad SUV line-up
It was a decade ago today that Volkswagen’s first compact SUV went on sale in the United Kingdom. The Tiguan was a step into a new market sector for the German manufacturer, yet through a combination of urban elegance and rugged off-road ability the Tiguan has become a key member of the brand’s product portfolio here.
On sale across Volkswagen’s UK Retailer network from January 31 2008, the first generation Tiguan featured exterior styling that echoed that of its bigger brother, the Touareg. Distinctive elements, such as a clamshell bonnet, gave the Tiguan MkI its own character. The option of an off-road pack meant the model could be tailored to customer needs while the compact exterior dimensions masked generous interior space.
The Tiguan was initially offered with a choice of a 150 PS TSI petrol engine or a 140 PS TDI diesel engine. Four trims comprised the range and the car had an infotainment system that included a touchscreen, satellite navigation and MP3 playback. Tiguan SE models featured the luxury of a six-CD autochanger.
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the original Tiguan’s performance here is that the number of cars sold in the UK climbed ever higher with every passing year. In the model’s final full year on sale, 2015, a total of 21,889 Tiguan MkIs were sold in the UK. That’s nearly 5,000 more than in 2014 and more than 8,000 up on 2013. In total, 102,974 Tiguan MkIs have been sold here.
That impressive sales growth has accelerated with the second generation Tiguan. Last year, 2017, was the most successful in Tiguan’s 10-year history with 29,117 new Tiguans finding homes in the UK. The popularity of this SUV is underpinned by its generous list of standard features, with every model sold here now including key safety systems such as Lane Assist and Front Assist.
Other ubiquitous features in today’s Tiguan include electrically heated and adjustable door mirrors, automatic windscreen wipers and 17-inch alloy wheels. The infotainment system has developed significantly in the past decade, too, and all Tiguan’s now include a colour touchscreen of at least 8.0-inches in size. Two mobile smartphones can be paired to the car via Bluetooth, and music can be played from MP3, WMA or AAC files. Or, of course, from a compact disc.
Over the past 10 years Volkswagen has invested extensively in research and development and the results can be seen in the second generation Tiguan. At the top of the Tiguan range is the luxurious SEL and the sporty R-Line models. These include examples of this class-leading technology such as Active Info Display: a 12.3-inch high-resolution TFT display screen in front of the driver in lieu of traditional analogue instrumentation.
SEL and R-Line versions also include LED headlights with dynamic curve lighting. This turns an element of the Tiguan’s headlight setup so that it lights up the corner the vehicle is approaching. These models feature a panoramic sunroof and, from SE trim, there is Adaptive Cruise Control that takes the strain out of motorway driving.
Tiguan is closing in on its 150,000
th sale in the UK and through the past 10 years it has become established as one of the UK’s favourite SUVs. At the same time Volkswagen’s comprehensive SUV offering has grown around it.
The all-new Tiguan Allspace – launched to UK buyers only this month – has a wheelbase that’s 109 mm longer than the regular Tiguan, and that means a third row of seats can be easily accommodated. This third row of seats can be folded flat, too, opening up a vast luggage area when needed.
Below Tiguan Allspace and Tiguan is the new T-Roc. Launched in the UK at the end of 2017, T-Roc eloquently combines sporty handling with the spaciousness of an SUV. And later this year the luxurious new Touareg will make its world debut.
For more details on the popular Tiguan, and the other members of Volkswagen’s growing SUV line-up – together with brochures and pricing – and to use Volkswagen’s online configurator, please visit
www.volkswagen.co.uk.
