The 2019 VW Tiguan has a spacious interior and a comfortable ride, but its price climbs quickly.
Pros Interior room to space Excellent infotainment software Decent value Good ride quality
Cons Third row’s a joke Expensive with options Not very fuel-efficient Transmission can be confused
The 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan ranked #8 in Compact SUVs. Currently the Volkswagen Tiguan has a score of 8.2 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 26 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Large cargo area Lengthy warranty Serene ride
Cons Lackluster engine power Poor fuel economy estimates
Revised trim levels and feature availability for 2019.
PROS Offers a lot of space for passengers and cargo Three-row seating is useful in a pinch Tech interface is intuitive to use Longer warranty period than most competitors
CONS Subpar acceleration and responsiveness Ranks low in fuel economy for the class Optional larger wheels make for a bumpy ride
Compact crossovers are seriously hot property right now, and the Mokka should find plenty of happy punters, who’ll appreciate the commanding driving position and rough-and-tumble looks, plus the distinctly un-SUV-like running costs.
But the Mokka isn’t a keen driver’s cup of tea, and its diesel engine, though frugal, is disappointingly coarse when you give it the beans. Still, if you’re after a well-equipped kid-friendly runabout that cuts a dash above simple supermini-dom, the Mokka should suit your daily grind. And look, we only made three coffee-themed jibes about the name in the end.
We’ll let the Mokka moniker lie – no coffee puns here, thank you. Styling-wise, the bluff little Mokka is appealing in the metal, marrying supermini cuteness with an air of chunky pugnaciousness, like a more grown-up Fiat Panda 4x4. Following the shamelessly trendy Adam city car, rakish Astra GTC and new soft-top Cascada, it’s good to see Vauxhall’s designers stringing together a run of handsome cars.
There are many good mini-SUVs on the market. The Mokka isn’t one of them. We advise a trip to a Skoda dealership.
Vauxhall’s first foray into the mini-SUV market, one currently dominated by the Skoda Yeti and Nissan’s Juke and Qashqai. The Mokka falls somewhere between the latter two in terms of size, and serves up a high-riding driving position and styling optimistically described as ‘chunky’.
Like the Qashqai, it’s available in two- and four-wheel drive, the latter offering enough off-road performance to conquer a muddy field or two, which we suspect will be about the extent of the Mokka’s non-tarmac follies. There’s an entry-level 1.6-litre petrol, a fizzier 1.4-litre turbo petrol and a single diesel offering: Vauxhall’s familiar 1.7-litre CDTi developing 130bhp.
A new engine can transform an ageing car, and while the Vauxhall Mokka diesel has improved, it hasn’t received the new lease of life it needed. The 1.6-litre is refined, punchy and efficient, but allied with a rather dull driving experience. It’s a safe and affordable family car, but one you’d choose with your head rather than your heart.
Look as hard as you like at the pictures, but you won’t identify any cosmetic changes to this Vauxhall Mokka from its predecessor. Peek beneath the bonnet, however, and you’ll find a new 135bhp 1.6-litre ‘whisper diesel’ engine borrowed from the Astra.
It replaces the current 1.7 CDTi and joins the two petrol units in the Mokka range, immediately making a strong case for itself as the engine of choice.
Not only is it quicker and more refined than the outgoing 1.7, it’s more flexible and considerably more economical than both petrol versions. Our Limited Edition model came with 19-inch alloy wheels as standard, which emphasise the mini-SUV proportions yet do nothing for ride comfort. They deliver unwelcome thuds through the cabin that could upset passengers. Around town, the light steering is welcome (most owners won’t worry that it relays no information back to the driver), while body roll is evident in slightly faster corners.
