Rather typically Volkswagen has taken a conservative approach to updating its baby SUV, the Tiguan, for 2012. It gets the getting-slightly-overused corporate face that makes every VW look like a Golf and a bit more standard equipment, but most importantly, it remains a throughly convincing and well-priced package.  The Tiguan pricelist starts at a very reasonable $53,250, placing it nicely among the top of the range offerings from the Japanese/Korean competition. It finishes there too, as a one-size-fits-all Tiguan is all we get in this country.  The sole offering in the Tiguan range gets the 103kW turbo diesel four-cylinder engine hooked up to a six-speed conventional automatic transmission (largely thanks to global demand for VW’s excellent dual clutch DSG transmissions exceeding the company’s ability to make ‘em) and is literally bristling with safety features and electronic niceties as standard.  Niceties like rain-sensing automatic wipers, automatic lights, fixed cornering lights, electric mirrors, a tyre pressure monitoring system, cruise control, a leather steering wheel with multifunction controls and dual-zone climate control all come as standard, as does the Tiguan’s party trick - the self-parking Park Assistant system that will steer the car into a parallel parking space with the driver only controlling the throttle and brake.
 The Tiguan’s interior is everything you would expect from Volkswagen, with a smartly laid out design that is logical and ergonomic, high quality materials and impeccable construction. The front seats are comfortable, with lots of adjustability for finding that perfect seating position.  Perhaps the only criticism of the Tiguan’s interior comes in the form of space - or rather, the lack of it. Being small and compact may make the Tiguan far more chuckable on the road and easier to maneuver around town, but it does come at a cost inside. Rear shoulder room is tight and the boot is not particularly capacious.  On the road the Tiguan remains pleasantly Volkswagen; confident, competent and surprisingly fun. The ride is comfortable, with handling remaining impressive. The engine is a bit vocal and coarse when pressed, but does a good job of supplying the power when needed. The transmission is noticeably sluggish compared to a lightening-fast DSG shift, but again does a decent enough job and generally manages to be in the right gear pretty much most of the time.  It’s a relatively frugal wee beast as well, with Volkswagen claiming a combined average consumption figure of 7.0L/100km. In reality this figure is easily achievable - and even beatable - without even really trying. In fact a week in the Tiguan spent largely commuting in an urban environment with a small amount of open road travel saw us match the claimed combined figure.  In all, the Tiguan is an extraordinarily convincing argument for considering a Euro badge when looking at the top end of the small SUV segment. Subtly handsome and remarkably competent, the Tiguan is typically Volkswagen in the sense that it does very few things wrong and most things very right indeed.  It is hard to really find anything to dislike about the Tiguan and if you find yourself having a look around the top end of the small SUV market then you could certainly do a lot worse than the Tiguan.