It’s been a long time coming, but the little brother of Volkswagen's Touareg has arrived — it's the Tiguan compact SUV.

The name (derived from a combination of Tiger and Iguana) is a bit odd, but for that you can blame the readers of the AutoBild magazine who chose it.

It's not really important, anyway. What matters is the car itself.

Billed as a "typical, trusted, friendly Volkswagen", everything is new, everything different on the crossover that measures 1.81m wide and 1.67m tall. Like the distinctive headlights that form an integral unit with the grille and bumper.

The 4.43m-long Tiguan comes in three specification levels: “Trend&Fun”, “Track&Field”, and “Sport&Style”. The front end of the Tiguan Track&Field is designed for off-road duty. To boost the entry angle (28° instead of 18°), it doesn't have the pronounced front spoiler with matching air inlets that's found on the other two styles. Rather, an integrated engine underbody protection plate extends diagonally from a line between the tyres up to the radiator grille.

But let's have a look at all the models a bit more carefully.

Trend & Fun

With an emphasis on comfort, the base version of the Tiguan has six airbags, the electronic stabilization programme (ESP), trailer stabilization integrated in ESP (for vehicles with trailer hitch), Isofix child seat anchorages on the rear bench and electronic parking brake with Auto-Hold function.

Standard modcons also include the RCD 300 radio with integrated CD/MP3 player. Climatornic control system, four electric window lifts, electrically adjustable and heated outside mirrors, Multifunctional Display Plus (trip computer), RF remote control of central locking and various storage compartments and bins.

Entry angle is 18°.

Sport & Style

As the name implies, this version is billed as a sport and lifestyle package. So it gets, in addition to the "Trend & Fun" features, 17-inch “Los Angeles” alloy wheels with size 235/55R17 tyres, chrome roof rails, protective radiator screen with chrome accent strips and window graphics in chrome, tinted windows starting at the B-pillars (up to 65 percent light absorbing)and sport seats with height-adjustable lumbar supports. There's also the centre console with folding and height-adjustable armrest; folding front passenger seat; drawers under the front seats; folding table and storage pockets on the backs of the front seats; leather for steering wheel, gear shift knob and gear shift boot; leather seats; cruise control system; and tyre pressure indicator.

The Sport& Style also has a dynamic sport suspension which is not lowered but stiffer to reduce body-roll. Entry angle, again, is 18°.

Track & Field

The Tiguan Track & Field is configured for off-road duty with its 28° front module. Standard equipment includes an off-road switch which activates the hill descent assistant (optimal control in descents), modified driving pedal characteristic (finer metering of engine torque), EDS adaptation (electronic differential locks are activated at the slightest slip), ABS adaptation (improved braking on loose substrates), hill ascent assistance (support in ascents and clutch protection) and – together with an automatic transmission – gear level preselect (including optimal engine braking effect).

The compass in the vehicle instrument cluster for all Track & Field models, as well as black roof rails as standard, complete the off-road styling.

Out and about

The SUV is powered by one of two engines. With an output of 110kW and 240Nm of torque is the 1.4-litre twin-charger TSI (Turbo Stratified Injection), while the 2.0 TDI engine comes with 103kW and torque of 320Nm.

the engines are coupled with either a six-speed manual gearbox or the six-speed Tiptronic. The automatic transmission has a gear level preselect in off-road use, which prevents shifting to the next higher gear.

In conjunction with the 4Motion permanent all-wheel drive, engine power can be distributed to all four wheels, while the electronic differential lock (EDL) makes it easy to drive off with the wheels on two different road surfaces.

The panoramic glass roof is three times the size of a conventional sliding roof with 40 percent larger opening; front half functional and electric interior blind. The manually folding tow bar, which folds under the rear-bumper, is complemented by the ESP system which features trailer stabilisation. It senses through the electrical connection provided, that a trailer is connected and modulates vehicle stability when conditions arise that cause instability of the towed vehicle. Trailer stabilization prevents dangerous snaking of towed trailers.

The RNS-510 Satellite Navigation system offers multimedia playback, 30GB hard drive, touch-screen functionality and a specially developed off-road navigation system that makes it possible to record up to 500 route points during a journey, even in non-digitised areas (and includes compass).

“Park Assist” parallel parking assistant offers scans parking bays for a suitably sized space. Once selected, all that is required is the selection of reverse gear and the Tiguan will steer itself into the space. Control of the foot pedals is required.