2013 TIGUAN PRESS KIT
08/10/2012
Volkswagen
Comprehensively re-designed and updated for 2012, the 2013 Tiguan brings new standards of design aesthetics, driving dynamics, safety features, and precision German engineering to one of the fastest-growing segments of the market.
New for 2013
The Tiguan sees minor changes for the 2013 model year. All Tiguans receive an electronic parking brake, a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, and a leather shift knob. The SE trim receives a partial power passenger seat, while the SEL gets a full power passenger seat with memory and a rearview camera.
Exterior
The 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan combines the style and sophistication of a sporty, urban compact SUV that caters to an active lifestyle. At 174.3 inches nose-to-tail, 71.2 inches wide and 66.3 inches tall, it's the perfect size for city dwelling and country living.
In profile, the 2013 Tiguan is distinguished by its raked-back windscreen, rising waistline, large side windows, and an unmistakable, trademark C-pillar at the rear. On SE and SEL trims, a distinctive ring of chrome around the side windows, coupled with black-painted window frames, works to visually enhance the car.
Engineered to accommodate 4Motion all-wheel drive, the Tiguan's design reflects its ability to conquer all weather conditions. The squared-off wheelarches feature plastic surrounds to protect the paintwork, while the short overhang at the front allows a 28-degree approach angle.
Always ready for an active lifestyle, the 2013 Tiguan is designed to be a carry-all for fun gear. The robust roof rails can accommodate an array of accessories such as bike holders, or kayak and surfboard carriers. The available towing hitch accepts an attachment to carry up to four bikes, or can be used to pull 2200 pounds of jet skis, dirt bikes or ATVs.
Interior
Cabin designs don't come much more flexible than the 2013 Tiguan's. There is spacious seating for five adults, easy step-in through the wide-opening doors, and generous legroom and headroom.
But the versatility of the Tiguan's seating sets it apart and makes it the perfect lifestyle vehicle. The rear seat has a 40/20/40 split to fit an owner's load-carrying needs. Fold down the wide center section and it can accommodate skis, or fishing gear, or rugs, while still having space for passengers on either side. With the rear seats in place, there is still an impressive 23.8 cubic feet of space in the load area. Fold the seats forward and it increases to no less than 56.1 cubic feet. And for the ultimate in load carrying, the available folding front passenger seatback also folds forward and flat to accommodate loads up to 98 inches long. The rear seat can also slide forward six inches to increase luggage space in the back, and for a little extra comfort on road trips, each of the rear seatbacks can be adjusted.
With the press of a button on the keyfob or on the switch located beneath the rear tailgate, the high-lifting rear door can be opened wide to accommodate large objects. In the cargo area, there are five tie-down hooks to keep stuff in place and a 12-volt outlet to power coolers or air pumps.
To let the outside into the Tiguan's cabin, there's an available huge panoramic glass tilt/slide sunroof. This aerodynamically and acoustically optimized panoramic roof comprises one glass segment for opening, and one fixed glass panel at the rear. It features pinch protection and an electrically-operated sunshade that covers the inside of the entire glass area. The sunroof comes standard with the 2.0T S with Sunroof model, the SE with Sunroof and Navigation, and as part of the long list of standard equipment on the Tiguan SEL model.
Inside, the speedometer and tachometer are oversized and have clear markings that can be read at a glance. Between them is a multi-function trip computer that monitors everything from fuel consumption, to trip distance, to setting the clock.
The 2013 Tiguan also features standard Bluetooth(R) connectivity, aux-in for portable audio players, and an eight-speaker audio system with an MP3 and WMA-compatible in-dash CD player. The mid-range SE model features Volkswagen's acclaimed Premium VIII touchscreen audio system with a six-disc CD changer, SD memory-card reader, and Media Device Interface (MDI) with an iPod(R) cable.
For a so-called utility vehicle, there is little that's plain-old utilitarian about the 2013 Tiguan. The interior features rich, soft-touch plastics on the fascia, beautifully-stitched cloth on the seats, and crisp, brushed-metal-style trim surrounding the eight dash-mounted air vents and gear shift.
The Tiguan S offers high-quality cloth seating surfaces in black; the Tiguan SE features Volkswagen's perforated V-Tex leatherette, available in black or beige; and the Tiguan SEL offers rich leather seating surfaces in black or beige.
Engine and Transmission
The 2013 Tiguan comes with the soul of the iconic Volkswagen GTI-the award-winning 2.0-liter TSI(R) turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This technically-sophisticated powerplant features double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, direct fuel injection, and variable intake timing. Turbocharged and intercooled, the compact four-cylinder engine produces an impressive 200 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque from just 1700 rpm.
As in the GTI, the 2.0T is mated to a precise-shifting six-speed manual transmission, which is standard on the Tiguan S model. The rest of the Tiguan line-up comes standard with a six-speed automatic with Tiptronic(R) manual shifting, Sport mode, and Dynamic Shift Program (DSP).
The six-speed automatic transmission includes a second overdrive gear to reduce engine revs at cruising speeds. The transmission in non-Sport mode shifts at slightly lower revs, making greater use of the turbo engine's considerable torque. And the idle speed of the 2.0T engine has been lowered to 600 rpm.
To provide added traction for the 2013 Tiguan, Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel-drive system is offered on all models with the six-speed automatic transmission. The electro-hydraulic system delivers drive to all four wheels without any buttons to press or levers to pull. A Haldex(R) center differential can continuously vary the driveforce between the front and rear axles, depending on the traction available.
In most driving conditions, 90 percent of the drive goes to the front wheels, which saves fuel. But when accelerating hard from standstill, for example, front-wheel slip is controlled by the Haldex(R) coupling's ability to progressively direct nearly 100 percent of the drive torque to the rear wheels.
The 4Motion system also offers a high standard of active safety, providing sure-footed traction over virtually all surfaces-that rough road to the lake or a snow-covered driveway in winter-as well as optimum straight-line stability, even in crosswinds.
Suspension
Mounted in a lightweight, one-piece aluminum subframe, the Tiguan's strut-type front suspension has lower control arms and long-travel coil springs. At the rear, the robust four-link system was designed to cope with the rigors of off-roading and to accommodate the Tiguan's available 4Motion all-wheel drive. So it is mounted in a high-strength steel subframe and features a broad lower control arm on each side, located by a trailing link, with the coil spring bearing directly on the trailing link and the damper on the wheel hub assembly. Among the benefits of this almost neutral layout are excellent straight-running stability on highly-uneven surfaces and reduced tire wear.
For the driver looking for even sportier handling, the Tiguan SEL model features a sport-tuned suspension with firmer settings together with 19-inch "Savannah" wheels shod with lower-profile 255/40 R19 all-season tires.
Electro-mechanical power steering with variable assistance contributes to the Tiguan's fun-to-drive character. At speed, the steering becomes firm and direct, increasing its assistance at parking speeds. Between curbs, the Tiguan has a turning radius of 39 feet with 2.7 turns lock to lock.
To match the Tiguan's athletic performance is an impressive braking system. At the front there are 12.3-inch vented discs, with 11.3-inch solid discs at the rear. The system features a brake disc drying feature to remove water from the rotors to optimize wet-weather braking, as well as Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD), and Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA).
All Tiguan models also feature an electronic parking brake to help when starting off on an incline.
Safety and Security
The Tiguan's suite of active and passive safety features earned it a coveted Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick rating for 2012. The annual rating recognizes those vehicles that perform best in protecting passengers in the Institute's front, side and rear crash test evaluations, and the newly-required roof-strength test evaluations.
Safety and security in the 2013 Tiguan starts with a strong, rigid laser-seam-welded bodyshell, crash-optimized, energy-absorbing front end, and features like heat-formed steel center B-pillars for added roll-over protection.
The driver and front-seat passenger are protected by front, and side-thorax airbags, while must-have Side Curtain Protection(R) head airbags protect those in the front and rear seats. And pyrotechnic safety belt pretensions cinch-tight the safety belts of the front-seat and rear-outboard-seat occupants in a collision.
Electronic guardian angels include Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Tire Pressure Monitor (TPS).
And all Tiguan models features the advanced Volkswagen Intelligent Crash Response System that automatically shuts off the fuel pump, unlocks the doors, and even switches on the hazard warning lights if the vehicle is involved in certain types of collision.
For real peace of mind, the Tiguan, like every Volkswagen, is covered under the no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program. All scheduled maintenance is covered for the length of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty-three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Model Line-up
There are five models in the 2013 Tiguan model line-up, powered by the 2.0T turbocharged four-cylinder engine. All models with an automatic transmission have the option of 4Motion all-wheel drive. The six-speed manual transmission is only offered on the front-wheel drive Tiguan S.
S
With a starting MSRP of $22,995, the 2.0T Tiguan S provides entry to the Tiguan range. Key standard features include a six-speed manual transmission; 16-inch wheels ("Portland" aluminum-alloys with 215/65 R16 98H all-season tires for the automatic model and steel wheels for manual model); electronic parking brake; hill-hold control; power-adjustable, heated side mirrors; Bluetooth(R); trailer hitch prep; cloth seating; front manual lumbar support; split-folding rear seats with recline and center armrest; carpeted floor mats; cruise control; leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel; leather shift knob; speed-sensitive power steering; intermittent front windshield wipers; 40/20/40-split folding rear seat; and an eight-speaker sound system with in-dash CD player.
S with Sunroof
Priced at $26,500, it adds a power tilt/sliding panoramic glass sunroof and privacy glass to the S automatic.
SE
Priced from $29,160, the SE takes the S automatic features and adds 18-inch "New York" alloy wheels with 235/50 R18 97H all-season tires; V-Tex leatherette seating; heated front seats; front-seat manual height adjust; driver seat power recline; partial power passenger seat; silver roof rails; chrome trim; heated front washer nozzles; front fog and cornering lights; Premium VIII radio with satellite radio; multi-function display; and MDI with iPod(R) adapter.
SE with Sunroof and Navigation
Priced from $31,100, it adds the power tilt/sliding panoramic glass sunroof, and the RNS 315 navigation system with five-inch color touchscreen and SD memory card reader.
SEL
The most dynamic and sport-focused of the Tiguan line-up has a starting MSRP of $34,865. Its comprehensive list of standard features includes, in addition to the SE with Sunroof and Navigation: 19-inch "Savannah" aluminum-alloy wheels with 255/40 R19 96H all-season tires; sport suspension; leather seating surfaces; silver-metallic interior trim; power adjustable front seats with memory and power lumbar; Climatronic(R) air conditioning; intermittent front windshield wipers with rain sensor; keyless entry with push-button start; rearview camera; power foldable/adjustable/heated exterior mirrors; Bi-Xenon headlights with AFS and LED daytime running lights, low-beam assist and "coming home" function.
Competitive Set
Ford Escape
Honda CR-V
Kia Sportage
Nissan Rogue
Subaru Forester
Toyota RAV4