CardinaleWay Volkswagen

The Tiguan name comes from combining the German words for "Tiger" and "Iguana", and it works for America too. As various car writers have said before us, we get the "tiger" part - athletic, and even a bit exotic. But how the lazy iguana fits in, we're all still scratching our heads.

Nevertheless, the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan is on the hunt for sales in the expanding compact utility population. Based on the Rabbit/Golf/Jetta platform, the Tiguan measures a tidy 174.3 inches from stem to stern, with a short 102.5 inch wheelbase. Both measures are shorter than a Honda CR-V.

But the Tiguan's look is closer to its hefty Touareg brother - clean, with more than a hint of ruggedness. The front-end wears a chrome two-bar grille flanked by our uplevel SEL model's bi-xenon steerable headlamps and well protected fog lamps.

The concise length of the Tiguan gives the profile a tall appearance, accentuated by roof rails and plenty of glass. The rear has the sporty look of a spry hatchback, with a roof spoiler as an exclamation point - and, this little crossover rolls on 16, 17, or our Tiguan's 18-inch alloy wheels.

Inside is a comfortably tall, and smartly-configured cabin. What you would expect from Volkswagen. The dash has a refined appearance, blending artful lines with good quality materials. Gauges and controls are straightforward, yet just sophisticated enough to both dazzle and please.

The SEL has standard 12-way power adjustable front seats with heat, and the tilt telescopic steering wheel came with audio controls which commandeds Tiguan's 300-watt Dynaudio stereo system. An optional navigation system uses a bright 6.5-inch screen. The system includes a 30-gig hard drive, DVD playback, and Sirius Traffic.

A nearly full length sunroof, with power sunshade is optional on the SE and SEL models, and safety comes from six standard airbags, plus rear side airbags as an option.

The rear seat area is roomier than most rivals. Six footers love the fore and aft seat adjustments, as well as the recline. It also is 60/40 split with a fold flat feature. The front passenger seat folds flat for long hauls.

To match its lively looks, the Tiguan in the U.S. is outfitted with a 2.0 liter turbocharged 4 rated at 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. Max towing capacity is 2,200 pounds.

Transmissions are 6-speed manual or the 6-speed Tiptronic manual-mode automatic. Traction control is standard while all-wheel drive is an option with Tiptronic.

On the track, the Tiguan runs from 0 to 60 in a nicely quick 7.7 seconds and finishes the quarter-mile in 15.9 seconds at 91 miles-per-hour. It launched strong, with the sound and fury more akin to a diesel.

Ride and handling are Euro taut and come from an all-independent suspension with McPherson struts up front, a four-link geometry in the rear, and Electronic Stability Program.

Through the cones the Tiguan feels solid and smooth, if a little heavy on the steering. To its credit, Tiguan drives more like a mid-size car than an SUV. While no GTI, we were able to push it pretty hard, and it never felt tipsy as body roll was very mild.

Halts come from 4-wheel discs with ABS and Brake Assist. Stops were stable and fade-free, averaging a status quo 129 feet from 60 to 0.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings for our front-wheel drive Tiguan with automatic are 18 city/24 highway on premium gas. We managed a very good 23.8 miles-per-gallon in normal driving. The Tiguan's Energy Impact Score is a moderate 16.3 barrels of oil consumed per year.

A compact utility from Volkswagen has been long time coming. But now that it's here, it's pretty impressive. The 2009 Tiguan should easily survive with its bevy of features, refined drivability, and even a touch of wildness to garner the 'Tiger' in its name. 

Our new 2009 Routan is available for pre order NOW


Come in and order your Routan and you can qualify for a $1500.00 UPromise voucher good towards your childs future education!

The VW CC is ALMOST HERE!!



One of the most anticipated debuts in Volkswagen history has almost arrived! The new Volkswagen CC is one exceptionally beautiful car and couldn't come a better time.

The fluid lines and flawless stance of the new CC make it one of the most beautiful cars in the Volkswagen stable and with the proven and popular engine combinations available it's sure to be a hit!

The base engine for the CC is our proven 200HP 2.0T mated to either a 6 speed manual or a 6 speed Tiptronic Automatic transmission. And as if this potent combination wasn't enough the CC is also available with our 3.6L 280HP VR6 and our Haldex 4 Motion all wheel drive system.




The Automotive press has been VERY complimentary to our new CC and I very much look forward to the delivery of our first CCs!

If you have any questions about any of the news articles here or any of our product feel free to call me or email me.

Chris Kelly
Fleet and Internet Manager
ckelly@cardinaleway.com
951-279-1220