AJC CAR NEWS
Tiguan: Volkswagen’s new compact SUV
Associated Press
Friday, November 14, 2008
VW finally adds a smaller SUV than its Touareg.
The 2009 Tiguan is compact yet can seat five people. It’s powered by a 200-horsepower, 2-liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder engine that’s available with either a six-speed automatic transmission or six-speed manual. Torque peaks at 207 foot-pounds.
Associated Press
Although it’s compact, the 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan seats five passengers. It gets its 200 horsepower from a 2-liter, four-cyclinder, turbocharged engine, and the Tiguan comes with either a six-speed automatic or manual transmission.
The Jetta wagon is back and now called the SportWagen.
The SportWagen as well as Jetta sedan for 2009 are offered with a 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter, five-cylinder engine, a 200-horsepower, 2-liter, turbocharged, gasoline four cylinder and a fuel-thrifty, 140-horsepower, 2-liter, direct-injection, turbo-diesel four cylinder.
The latter powerplant, with manual transmission, is compliant with emissions requirements of all 50 states and is rated at a combined city/highway mileage of 34 in the SportWagen.
The Passat adds a CC model with subtle styling changes, such as frameless doors, that give it a more coupe-like appearance.
The CC’s power comes from a 200-horsepower, 2-liter, turbocharged four cylinder or a 280-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6.
VW adds a minivan this year called the Routan. It’s actually a revised Dodge Grand Caravan and is built for VW by Dodge’s parent company, Chrysler.
Capable of carrying seven people, the Routan is offered with 197-horsepower, 3.8-liter V-6 with 230 foot-pounds of torque and a 253-horsepower, 4-liter V-6 with 262 foot-pounds of torque. Pricing starts in the mid $20,000s.
