I have heard that one should get a diesel variant for big SUVs and not consider diesel cars when the usage is very low.

BHPian vikeva027 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I am after a pre-owned (>2019 and around 25-30L budget) automatic Volkswagen Tiguan or Skoda Kodiaq but not sure if I should go with a diesel or petrol variant.

My usage is around 1000 km per month. I have heard that one should not have a diesel car when the usage is very low. At the same time, I have heard/read that one should get a diesel variant for big SUVs.

I have not been able to get my hands on a Diesel Kodiaq or Petrol Tiguan.

My test drives so far:

• Skoda Kodiaq Petrol 2021: Good to drive
• Volkswagen Tiguan Diesel 2019: Awesome to drive. It is a little stiff and had body roll but pickup was amazing.

Here's what GTO had to say about the matter:

Your running is just 1000 km a month, so either one will do. Plus, the diesels of those times didn't have the BS6 complexity.

Pick based on the specific car available (price, condition, which you like more).

Between the '19 Tiguan Diesel & '21 Kodiaq Petrol, I would pick the Skoda.

Reasons:

• 2.0L turbo-petrol is a jewel of a motor. Tiguan diesel's power delivery is adequate, but nowhere as fun as the 2.0L turbo-petrol.
• That Kodiaq has adaptive driving modes, where comfort does soften the suspension, and sport noticeably firms things up.
• That 3rd row of seats is small, but it can come in handy when friends & family need to be carried. Something is better than nothing.
• I find the Tiguan to be too bland from the outside, very boring from the inside, but more than anything… I'd never be able to live with that kind of stiff ride quality in a premium SUV. My sister owns it and everyone in her family hates the ride quality on broken roads (all the more so since they have a holiday home in Pawna village).

And "one should get a diesel variant for big SUVs" applies more to big, burly body-on-frame SUVs like the Fortuner, rather than car-based crossovers like the Kodiaq, Tiguan, CR-V etc.

Here's what BHPian Asoon had to say about the matter:

1000 Kms / month is not less, generally, if your usage is < 8K Kms/yr then diesel should be avoided, anything above 10K kms annual diesel comes into play. Kodiaq is large, has more utility, has better road presence compared to Tiguan.

Both engine options (petrol / diesel) are great, I would prioritise service history, vehicle condition over the choice of engines, one has to be extra careful with the evaluation, service record, past body works, or any other issues when it comes to getting preowned German cars.

Here's what BHPian AnandRed had to say about the matter:

My experience says never buy a petrol VW Tiguan. Our average mileage with the petrol 2L engine within the city is very low - 7 kmpl to a max of 8 kmpl only. The Diesel Tiguan is best, as we own both of them.

Here's what BHPian anjan_c2007 had to say about the matter:

These two models are almost CBUs and are assembled from semi-knocked-down (SKD) imported components. Hence as you are zeroing in on 2019 models of the two brands, I am sure that by now the OE must have refreshed both these. Hence, compared to those models of the same manufacturer that are manufactured here, the imported models (premium ones) are not manufactured here, due to the low sales these report. It is not good economics for the OE should they decide to manufacture these with low sales here.

It so happens that such imported components, assembled new cars/SUVs are the most contemporary ones from Germany / or from their country of origin. That's not a big advantage for those who like to buy these as used cars, many years later. The best customers for these in India are those who buy them new, use them for about five years and swap them for a new one.

The problems galore that arise when these slightly older ones are still used by owners include spares and repairs. Spares and repairs become difficult to come by for which only the ASC is to be almost fully depended upon. I know cases where such cars/SUVs were stuck up at the ASC for want of spares for a month or more.

Hyundai Tucson and Santa Fe are cases in point where owners are frustrated with ASCs for the not-so-readily available spares.

Hence, I would keep a safe distance from such slightly older, but premium used cars/SUVs.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Other SUVs in this comparison include the Mini Countryman, VW Tiguan, Skoda Kodiaq, Jeep Meridian, Citroen C5 Aircross and Hyundai Tucson.

BHPian Ripcord09 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

2024 Mercedes-Benz GLA Facelift

What you'll like:

• Good looking mini-SUV with a solid build quality
• Premium interiors, sorted ergonomics and supportive seats
• Diesel engine is fast (0-100 km/h in 7.5 seconds) and fuel-efficient too (18.9 km/l - ARAI)
• 8-speed DCT is smooth and quick. 4Matic AWD system will help you get out of some tricky situations
• AMG Line is fun to drive! Good handling, well-calibrated steering & excellent high-speed manners
• Loaded with features such as 360-degree camera, driver assistance, latest-gen MBUX, hands-free tailgate & lots more
• 5-star NCAP rating, top-notch safety kit & a suite of electronic aids to keep you safe

What you won't:

• Pricey! Top-end GLA 220d 4Matic AMG line would be ~67L on-road in Delhi
• Suspension has a firm edge to it. Also, the AMG line's 19-inch wheels further stiffen the ride quality
• Petrol engine only offered in a single variant and no AWD
• Back seat is more suitable for 2 healthy adults and a child. Not 3 healthy adults
• 425-litre boot - although adequate - is the smallest in the segment
• Missing features such as cooled seats, rear sunshade, head-up display, Level 2 ADAS, full-size spare tyre (has a space saver tyre) etc.
• Heavier adults will find the front seats too snug

Facelift Review Link

BMW X1

What you'll like:

• Solid build & top-notch quality, inside out. Looks smart too
• Modern and well-appointed interior feels good
• Refined and competent diesel engine mated to a smooth, responsive 7-speed dual-clutch transmission
• Excellent high-speed stability coupled with sorted handling and a precise steering. Mature ride quality at speed
• Accommodating 476-litre boot and multiple storage spaces in the cabin
• Loaded with features such as adaptive headlamps, electric front seats with extendable seat bases and massage function, 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, sliding & reclining rear seats, handsfree tailgate, panoramic sunroof, driving modes, etc.
• 5-star NCAP rating, top-notch safety kit and some ADAS features
• BMW's relatively strong reliability record along with decent after-sales service and maintenance packages

What you won't:

• Expensive! On-road price ranges between 55 - 63 lakhs
• 18-inch wheels give the ride a firm edge on bad roads at low speeds. It's totally liveable though
• The 3-cylinder 134 BHP petrol engine is a misfit in this segment
• Diesel motor offers just 148 BHP, which is even lesser than the older car. At this price, 190 - 200 BHP is a must! Furthermore, Diesel is available just in the M Sport variant (no AWD)
• No physical buttons for the climate control and idling start / stop systems is a useability failure
• Aggressively tuned idling start / stop system. Even if you slow down and stop at a traffic junction for a second, the engine switches off
• Back seat is more suitable for 2 healthy adults and a child. Not 3 healthy adults
• Missing features such as ventilated seats, head-up display, full-size spare tyre (has a space saver tyre), 360-degree camera, rear sunshade etc.

Review Link

Audi Q3

What you'll like:

• Evolved sporty styling, matched with solid build quality
• Increased cabin space, practicality and boot capacity (530 litres)
• Incredibly fun-to-drive 2.0L turbo-petrol with a quick 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
• Quattro all-wheel drive provides loads of grip & will help you get out of tricky situations (sand, mud etc.)
• Good road manners with sorted ride quality
• Well-equipped (panoramic sunroof, powered front seats, dual-zone climate control, virtual cockpit & more)
• 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating and equipment

What you won't:

• Efficient & punchy 2.0 turbo-diesel is no longer available. Heavy users will miss its low running costs
• Same 187 horses as the Kodiaq & Tiguan. We would've preferred a higher state of tune on a more expensive Audi
• Pricey! The Skoda Kodiaq and VW Tiguan are ~10-15 lakhs cheaper on-road
• Just two variants. No cheaper FWD entry-level variant available
• Should’ve gotten adaptive dampers, at least on the top-end 'Technology' variant
• Cabin is best suited for 4 adults, not 5
• Missing features like a 360-degree camera, ventilated seats, driving assist tech, auto-hold, connected car gizmos etc.

Review Link

Mini Countryman

Ownership Review

Volkswagen Tiguan

Facelift Launch Review

Skoda Kodiaq

What you'll like:

• The ultimate “value luxury” SUV! Classy styling, solid build & superb quality
• Cabin offers space, practicality and lots of intelligent features
• Impressive 2.0L turbo-petrol is mated to a quick 7-speed DSG automatic
• Cushy ride quality in “Comfort” mode (L&K variant)
• Sorted handling & road manners in “Sport” mode. Adjustable suspension is a USP of the L&K
• 3rd-row of seats is an advantage over some 5-seater competitors
• Massive boot with 3rd seat row down. Boot is useable even with the 3rd seat row up
• Impressive kit (12-speaker Canton ICE, panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, auto parking...)
• AWD available to get you out of tricky situations. Tourers will love it
• 5-star safety rating & equipment (9 airbags + a host of electronic aids)

What you won't:

• Workhorse 2.0L turbo-diesel is no longer available. Heavy users will miss its low running costs
• Single-digit fuel economy of the turbo-petrol AT in the city. Drops drastically if you drive aggressively
• Its sibling, the VW Tiguan, is priced a couple of lakhs cheaper
• Expensive! Worse still, Skoda increased the Kodiaq’s pricing within days of the launch
• Cramped 3rd row of seats is strictly for small children. A 5+2 SUV, not a 7-seater
• Styling does look Estate-ish from some angles. Doesn't have that much street cred or presence
• We feel that the “Sportline” variant should’ve been offered with the DCC & other L&K features
• Skoda’s ill-famed dealership network & after-sales horror stories
• Skoda’s patchy long-term reliability track record (including, but not limited to, the DSG)
• Silly feature deletions from older Kodiaq (rear door sills, 1 umbrella, 1 blanket, chrome tip on power window switches, removable torch in the boot, red warning lights on the front doors…)

Review Link

Jeep Meridian

What you'll like:

• Handsome unmistakably-Jeep styling & loads of character
• Robust build quality. Feels very solid, just as a Jeep should
• Classy cabin now boasts a versatile 5+2 seating configuration and better accommodation when compared to the Compass
• Competent 2.0L diesel. Good driveability in the city, quick on the open road
• Mature suspension setup, nicely-tuned EPS & rock-solid stability
• Capable AWD available, with 214 mm of ground clearance
• Feature packed: electric front seats (driver memory), panoramic sunroof, 360-degree camera, powered tailgate, LED projector headlights…
• Topnotch safety kit: Strong all-disc brakes, a plethora of electronic aids & 6 airbags

What you won't:

• Cabin has limited width, can feel snug for larger passengers. 5th passenger (in the 2nd row) will feel unwelcome
• 3rd row is strictly for children and small adults
• Should’ve had more power for the price. Same 2.0L diesel available in SUVs from a segment below
• No petrol engine in a market that is moving to petrols in a big way. Delhiites will be disappointed
• 9-speed Automatic gearbox is competent, but not brilliant
• We’d have liked to see front parking sensors, paddle shifters, gearbox ‘sport’ mode, a sliding middle row, more connected tech features (it’s very basic currently)
• At low speeds, the firm ride quality always keeps you aware of the road quality you’re driving on
• Jeep India’s dealer & service network coverage is still limited

Review Link

Citroen C5 Aircross

What you'll like:

• A superbly engineered & properly premium crossover
• Very stylish exteriors & interiors! We love the design. It's matched to solid build quality
• Good quality cabin with comfortable seats, lots of storage & fantastic insulation
• 2.0L diesel engine is quick, efficient & extremely refined
• Smooth 8-speed AT gearbox impresses
• Excellent ride comfort and mature road manners. High speed behaviour is sorted too
• Large, well-shaped 580 liter boot gobbles up holiday / airport luggage
• Loaded to the gills with features such as a panoramic sunroof, handsfree tailgate opening, customisable instrument cluster, double laminated front windows, terrain modes...
• 4-star rating in the Euro NCAP crash test. 3-point seatbelts for all five occupants, 6 airbags, blind spot monitoring system, ESP, hill hold, hill descent control and more

What you won't:

• Very expensive! We wish Citroen had priced-it-to-sell-it (aka penetration pricing)
• Rear legroom is strictly adequate. Two 5’10" adults can sit behind each other, but not two 6-footers
• No turbo-petrol engine (big miss), no AWD for tourers & no manual gearbox for MT fans
• Not really sporty to drive. Cars like the Compass & Tiguan are more fun
• Missing some features we expect today (connected car tech, ventilated seats, electrically adjustable passenger seat, ADAS, 360-degree camera, subwoofer…)
• The bolstering of the 3 individual rear seats is suitable for slim passengers, not heavier ones
• Audio sound quality is alright, but nothing special as you’d expect in a 40-lakh car
• Many competing crossovers & SUVs offer a 3rd-row of seats, which the C5 Aircross doesn't have
• Long-term reliability & after-sales service quality are still big unknowns

Review Link

Hyundai Tucson

What you'll like:

• A futuristic-looking, well-engineered premium SUV
• Complete urban package with comfortable suspension, light steering and a smooth automatic
• 2.0L diesel engine is not just refined, but punchy too
• 540 litres of boot space is enough to haul holiday luggage
• ADAS safety features like autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitor and lane-keep assist are cool & work reasonably well
• Loaded with features like a panoramic sunroof, multi-air mode AC, ventilated and heated front seats, connected car tech, wireless charging, boss control for the front seat etc.
• 5-star Euro NCAP rating. 6 airbags, ESC, VSM, downhill brake control, TPMS, 360-degree camera & more

What you won't:

• Edgy looks & funky styling may not be to everyone's liking
• At ~43 lakhs on road for the top-end variant, the Tucson is expensive!
• Not as engaging to drive as the Kodiaq or Tiguan
• Naturally-aspirated petrol isn't as punchy as the competitors' turbo-petrol units
• Other crossovers & SUVs offer a 3rd-row of seats. Tucson is a 5-seater only
• Some missing features such as paddle shifters, rear sunblinds...
• Hyundai badge lacks the snob value that many 40-lakh rupee customers are looking for

Review Link

Here's what GTO had to say about the matter:

Wouldn't buy any of the entry-level crossovers from the German marques. They suffer too many compromises, whether space or engine or features...

Among new cars, it would be a close call between the Tucson & Kodiaq. I love the Kodiaq, but it's now feeling old & outdated.

With 50 - 60 lakhs in my pocket, what I would really do is either get a high-end EV (e.g. Ioniq 5, BYD Seal) or go the pre-worshipped route for a really fast German sedan or SUV. That's really the only way to get some value for your 60 big ones. Everything new is grossly overpriced in that price band.

Here's what BHPian Axe77 had to say about the matter:

Reducing this consideration set to "petrol only", it comes down to the Countryman vs the Kodiaq for me.

Between those two, I'd likely pick the Kodiaq (L&K for the dynamic suspension). Handsome, well-built car, extremely spacious, comparably powerful as the entry-level big Germans and a whole lot cheaper than the Germans, which are also half a size smaller.

Great to drive, great to be chauffeured and a huge boot. It's the perfect all-rounder workhorse.

Here's what BHPian sjain2054 had to say about the matter:

I am sure I will be the only one voting for the C5 Aircross. So the "1" against that car will be me! haha!

I have driven only a few cars from this list and I found C5 Aircross perfect for Indian conditions. I voted for C5 Aircross for the following reasons:

• The fact that it drowns out all the street noise. Indian cities are loud.
• It gives the best comfort on Indian road conditions and that is good enough for me to choose it over others (I have a bad lower back... that darn L4-L5)
• The beautiful engine and transmission is obviously a major advantage of the Aircross
• For me, the icing on the cake is the after-sales service stories from owners. It's good to be treated like a prestigious owner of a great car. I remember a story where the fellow and his family got stranded in Leh due to some fault in the car and the company not only repaired the car and delivered it to their home in Mumbai but also paid for the entire family's air tickets to Mumbai. I mean c'mon, that is just fantastic.
• I always like to stand out in terms of owning a rare car. In a big group, there might be 7 Hyundai cars, 5 BMWs, 4 Mercs and maybe 3 Audis but there will only be 1 Citroen. Why? because no one buys it.., haha.
• Discounts. I would save money on C5 Aircross and purchase a sexy EV - Nexon/Punch for city use with the spare money from the total budget of 60 lacs or so.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

If you don’t have a problem, then this is a great car. But when you do get a problem, both spare parts and technical competence seem to be in short supply.

BHPian genghis_on_road recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I bought the VW Tiguan Allspace in March of 2021. Since then I have clocked over 30,000 km, driving in Bangalore city as well as road trips around Bangalore. I have thoroughly enjoyed driving this car but my experience has been marred by the persistent issues that I have faced from the first day itself.

Let me start with the driving experience of the car. This is the strongest point of the Tiguan for me.

• Pick-up - The pick-up of the car is very good and after a negligible turbo lag, the car is very responsive. I mostly drive in the ‘Econ’ mode and it works well for everyday use. The car is more responsive in the ‘Normal’ and ‘Sports’ modes. I don’t use the ‘Sports’ mode in Bangalore traffic because then the ride can feel jerky. But when the roads are open, sports mode is good fun.
• Braking – Braking is superb in this car. You will feel very safe driving at high speeds because the straight-line braking is excellent.
• Handling – I love the handling of the car. I have driven a lot in the Western Ghats and the power steering always gives me confidence. The car hugs the curves nicely and is always very stable. The ground clearance has also been more than adequate so far.
• Ride quality – I have found the ride quality to be quite good. It is a bit on the stiff side but very comfortable. A couple of back seat passengers have complimented me on the ride quality of the car. The cabin is very well insulated and noise levels are low.
• Auto Hold – At this point, I would like to talk about a very underrated feature of the car – the auto hold. While the vehicle is waiting at a signal, the driver can lift his foot off the brake pedal and the vehicle will stay in place. You don’t need to keep the brake pedal continuously pressed. You also don’t need to change the gear to ‘Parking’ when you stop at a light. You just bring the car to a halt and it stays like that till you press the accelerator. If you have the Auto Start feature on as well, then the engine will also switch off while you wait. It will also come on the moment you press the accelerator or turn the steering. This is a game-changing feature for city driving where you are constantly stopping and starting. It reduces your work significantly while driving in high-traffic areas. Once you get used to this, it is very painful to drive a car without this feature. I would gladly give the sunroof (and many other features) to get this feature in any car that I own.
• Mileage – City – 8-10 kmpl, highway – 12-13 kmpl (mostly on Econ mode)
• Interiors – The build quality of the interiors is very good. I have had no issues with anything in the last 3 years. There is ample storage in the front and back for bottles, cups, keys, phones and other things.

So far I have only raved about this car. But now let me come to some of the challenges that I have faced.

The day the car was delivered to me, the battery died. Volkswagen changed the battery at no cost but it set the tone for what was to follow. The batteries in the keys also died in the first year and had to be replaced. The wipers also needed to be replaced after 2 years. All of these lead me to believe the car was stored for a long time before selling. They are, however, all minor issues that could be sorted easily.

My larger issue has been with wrong warnings that flash regularly in the car when you turn it on or even while driving. When the warnings come, some of the dashboard icons light up and sometimes an emergency warning is sounded. A voice says “This is an emergency. Please contact the nearest service station’. These disappear if you keep driving. But this happens regularly and is very annoying. I have had Volkswagen look at this multiple times but they have not been able to solve this issue.

A recent issue that happened is even more distressing. I had an accident and needed to get the front bumper and a few other parts replaced. These parts were not available and it took a month to get them from elsewhere. The company’s supply chain is terrible (at least for this model) and I can expect this delay for any replacement part for the Tiguan.

All of these issues are of course specific to my car. I am very curious to know from other Tiguan owners if they have faced similar issues.

There are a couple of other issues that are design issues, and not specific to my car.

The ADAS feature can be very annoying in heavy traffic as all the sensors keep beeping frequently. Imagine stopping at a red light in India. Inevitably a two-wheeler will stop right next to you and because it is too close, the ADAS alarms will go off. There should be a way to turn this off when you are in heavy traffic.

There is an auto-brake feature in the car which is a great safety feature. It will brake the car if it feels you are going to slam into something in the front. Sometimes the feature gets triggered when it should not (especially when the traffic in front is slowing down at a speed breaker). When this feature gets triggered, the brakes slam suddenly and the car stops or slows down dramatically. Firstly this is very disconcerting for the driver and secondly, I fear one of these days it would cause a collision from the rear as the traffic behind me would not be expecting this hard brake.

Overall experience

I have loved driving this car and I look forward to our road trips on it. However, I feel the car is over-engineered for India. There are too many features, some are great, some are buggy in Indian conditions. I don’t think the technical competence required to handle this kind of car is there in the VW India technicians. If you don’t have a problem, then this is a great car. When you do get a problem, both spare parts and technical competence seem to be in short supply.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The car was bought in February 2022 as a replacement to my Vento.

BHPian mgastor2022grey recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hey guys, hope you are all doing good.

I have recently being thinking about doing a lateral upgrade / replacing my car, hence posting my queries here.

I know that I have posting about how I love driving my Astor 1.5L NA CVT and how the car has become really sporty and aggressive after 30K and how much I love driving it. But, as a petrolhead, the bug has bitten me  and I have been lately thinking of replacing it with another car.

Is it a viable option? The car has run 38K kms as of now. Immaculately maintained, no issues and drives just like how it drove on day 1. The car has been bought on February 2022 for a replacement of my Vento. Its just been 2 years (approx.) and I want to know your opinions on this.

I have come across certain used car examples:

• 2023 Skoda Octavia
• VW Tiguan Allspace
• BMW 3-series

Is it a good idea to upgrade to these machines instead?

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

The only way to soften the blow of selling a car early, is to swap it for another used car. That's the beauty of lateral upgrades. What you lose due to depreciation, you gain due to depreciation.

All the cars you have linked to (Octavia, Tiguan, 3-Series) are mighty upgrades to the Astor. Swap only if:

• You aren't losing too much money on the Astor. Demand for this car is poor.
• You are getting a great car at a good price.
• Financially, you aren't stretching yourself thin.
• This sounds like an impulsive buy, so sleep on it for a couple of weeks.

End of the day, the heart wants what the heart wants.

Here's what BHPian Sressh1009 had to say on the matter:

There are two ways of going about this conundrum:

1. Don't sell

You have the perfect car at your disposal with a good amount of features and more importantly a nice engine and gearbox that suit your needs.

Keep the car and invest the money to grow it for a bigger and better purchase.

2. Sell and YOLO

Sell it and buy one of the 3 options (after a proper evaluation). You only live once, after all.

If you're thinking on the lines of the Germans then keep the Astor as a city car. The NA+CVT will give better mileage and you can use the other car as a fun highway/long weekend drive car.

Hope this helps!

Here's what BHPian Axe77 had to say on the matter:

Financially you’ll always lose disproportionate money selling a 2 year old car and this doesn’t make sense in pure money terms. BUT, this is a huge jump you’re getting in sheer product terms. If financially it’s not a pinch, then all by means go ahead. It’s a lovely upgrade and being an ex Vento owner, one you will appreciate for a long time to come.

I’d veer towards something more recent like the 2021 Skoda Octavia as opposed to a 2017 BMW. I generally prefer crossovers / SUVs to sedans but from this list, the Octavia would be my pick. It’s a year newer, ground clearance isn’t really an issue for even the most rubbish city / touring conditions and it’ll feel sportier to drive than the VW.

PS: On a lighter side note, the handle ain’t going anywhere, even if the car moves on.

Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say on the matter:

Please reconsider.

It’s a bad decision in financial terms. The Astor is as good as new but has depreciated, you won’t get much for it.

Secondly, going for a used petrol car is not a wise decision. These cars were not E20 compliant, and you will be opening yourself up to major maintenance related headaches in the long term. As for that said BMW 320d, it’s a HR26 (Gurgaon) registered car. The 2017 model is 7+ years old now, and cars of that age go for half that what is being asked. 5+ year old diesels really have no resale in Delhi NCR anymore. If you really want to go down this road, please check up with multiple dealers or scout for personal owners to make a deal. Catch is that owners are now also aware that they will get nothing, so somewhere this starts reflecting on the maintenance. Especially with these premium brands that demand big bucks after 5-6 years. Inspect the car thoroughly.

Here's what BHPian OpenRoads had to say on the matter:

To begin with Astor with a peppy 1.5l engine and cvt gearbox is not a bad choice at all. Selling it at this point of time is kind of a mistake in terms of monetary value. I wouldn't trade my new vehicle maintained with utmost care for a second hand car.

If the itch is too much then buy another one but keep this as well. So that if it seems like a wrong decision then you can resale the used car and keep enjoying the Astor bought at the first place.

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

It's not something I would put my Tiguan through but was really great learning the limits of the car.

BHPian Maky recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I was invited to the Tiguan off-road experience arranged by Volkswagen India over the weekend at BKC, Bombay.

I did not take many pictures and only a few videos, but thought I'd share what I have with everyone here:

Location was easy to find with the provided near exact location in the created group chat. Timely slots were also created for better organisation.

The man-made track was a short 5-minute one, but wouldn't complain too much given the practical limitations when doing something like this within city limits.

Besides it covered most aspects of the off-road abilities of the soft-roader that is the Tiguan.

A short video showing the various Tiguans in action. They had about 5-6 demo cars, across about 3 dealers, so the waiting was very short for the approximate 25-30 people who were there at noon when I went. Let this also be a fine example of why not to buy dealer-used demo cars!

After an explanation lap. It was time for my run. The instructor did his best to hold my camera phone while doing his job.

The video doesn't fully capture the full tilt at one of the obstacles, where the car was completely in the air on one side and another where I was staring at the sky in my rearview, really fun experience!

It's not something I would put my Tiguan through but was really great learning the limits of the car.

I came away very very impressed by the vehicle's ability to tackle such extremes, I had gone expecting a very tame circuit given the AWD system. Volkswagens 4Motion is far more capable than I initially assumed.

Later on, I got to meet Mr. Ashish Gupta, Brand Director of Volkswagen India. Not blanking his face out as a public figure. Oh and T-BHP T-Shirt represent!

I had a good long conversation with him regarding the current gen Tiguan and what they could have done better when it came to equipped features and tuning of the car to Indian road conditions and weather conditions. Probably I was too direct than most people as usual.

Thoroughly enjoyed my short hour there. Hope VW considers more such events in the future.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

MID indicated mileage figures are 11-12 km/L in the city and a 460 km trip from Mumbai to Vadodara which took 8+ hours saw it display a rather impressive 19.8 km/L.

BHPian vishy76 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Brought home my 2019 VW Tiguan as an upgrade to my beloved Jetta. Prime reasons for upgrading were the heavy clutch on the Jetta and low ground clearance relative to most so called SUVs today.

I will randomly pour in with my observations here:

• Biggest upgrade is NVH. Gets a solid 9/10 from me where the Jetta only got 7/10. Wind and road noise is especially very well controlled

• Overall build and interior quality is also a notch above the Jetta. Though the doors don't have that solid thud the Jetta had, the car is well built nonetheless.

• Interiors are very understated in design, but I love it that way. One thing I am disappointed with though is that there are already a couple of squeaks from the centre console. Something the Jetta never had

• Exterior might pass off as very bland and boring to most people. Neither me, nor my dad could care less. Both of us share the same opinion when it comes to liking boring looking understated cars.

• The Comfortline seems to get everything one needs. Electric driver's seat with memory, 8 inch MIB-2 with 8 speakers (same as the Highline), lumbar support and height adjust for the passenger seat too (though manual ofcourse), reverse camera in the 2019 MFG cars (though it's mounted on the bumper), LED headlamps, TPMS, dual zone climate control and the likes

• 17 inch rims might not have the aesthetic appeal of the 18 inchers on the Highline, but ride is far more comfortable and tyre replacement costs are also 4-5k cheaper per tyre.

• Coming from a remapped Jetta, a 1.8 tonne Tiguan with 150 hp surely does feel like a minor downgrade. I won't call the car slow. The EA288 TDI has negligible turbo lag and revvs like a petrol, thanks to VVT. This coupled with the 7 speed DQ500 which offers fairly quick downshifts at highway speeds means the car can pull off most if not all overtaking manouvres very well

• Coming to fuel efficiency, the motor easily manages to beat it's petrol counterpart. MID indicated figures are 11-12 km/L in the city and a 460 km trip from Mumbai to Vadodara which took 8+ hours saw the MID display a rather impressive 19.8 km/L.

• The one issue I do have with the DSG is it's hesitancy in lower gears. The box is clearly confused in city traffic and also loves riding the clutch at speeds of 10-30 kmhr in 2nd and 3rd gear. It's an extremely irritating trait that most of these DSGs possess and I am yet to get used to it

• The suspension on the Comfortline is sublime. With 215/65 R17s, most of the small and medium sized potholes are rounded off very well. I do make it a habit to slow down for larger ones though, but the car doesn't exactly crash through those either like the 18 inch equipped Highline sometimes does.

• All 4 bass speakers on the car were faulty when I bought her. Went ahead and splurged on a set of JBL GTO 609C components for all 4 doors and don't regret it one bit so far.

• Another minor gremlin was that the battery installed on the car was a puny 60ah Amaron Black meant for 3 wheelers and CVs. For a 2.0 TDI DSG with AWD, I estimated a minimum of 70ah would be the norm considering even a Jetta DSG needs 65ah. My estimate was spot on. The car starts in half a crank on the 74ah Amaron Pro battery I procured and there's no annoying DMF shudder or flickering of lights as she does so.

With a mere 22K km on the odo, my mechanic has asked me to defer the DSG oil change and Haldex fluid change to next year.

I have been in touch with BHPian Lamborghini who has a Highline TDI DSG and he's been extremely responsive on DM too. It was thanks to him that I had the confidence to splurge on a 74ah battery since he did the same and solved the slow cranking issue.

Overall I am extremely satisfied with the car. I procured it for slightly less than the price of a brand new Seltos today. Yes, it's a 4 year old German end of the day, but I am banking heavily on my experience with the Jetta and the overall reliability and credibility of the EA288 2.0 TDI and DQ500 powertrain here.

The only minor gremlin I have noticed after driving close to 1000 km after taking delivery is that the front left tends to make a weird knock when the car tends to descend from a very large and steep speedbreaker. This happens exactly when the front left wheel lands on the ground. Would love to hear what other owners have to say on this.

Leaving you guys with a few pics for your viewing pleasure

Read BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I picked only those accessories to get from the dealer that I either couldn't get from outside.

BHPian Maky recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Sharing the list of accessories I got for my new Tiguan. I did not add this in the original thread post as one of the items was on backorder and just arrived the other day.

For my accessories choices, I picked only those accessories to get from the dealer that I either couldn't get an exact perfect fit for my car from outside or I simply couldn't procure from a third party at all.

Tiguan specific Car Cover

For this, I chose to get them from VW themselves to get an exact fit. First time I ever got a car cover, my car usually sits in my garage but due to renovation work the garage wouldn't be available for a few months, so went with these for the time being.

Magnetic Sunblinds for the Rear windows and Quarter panel

For similar reasons, I got them from VW officially to get a perfect fit. Would like to mention that for the door sunblind, the bottom does not have a metal surface to latch onto so they do wave around a bit when opening and closing the door.

The 'Sporty' Pedal caps

Worth mentioning, that all official VW accessories seem to be imported from Germany directly. Not a hint of localisation for this CKD even here.

Loading sill for the dickie

Another VW official accessory. The product seems to be a very very thin sheet of aluminium. In the accessory description, they mention 'Stainless steel look', very cleverly worded and placed so at first glance one might think It's a full Stainless Steel accessory.

Tiguan Door sill

This was a mistake. I thought I was buying the illuminated sill you see placed above. Turns out the car comes from the factory with it. The one I got was completely unnecessary... labelled 'Tiguan', placed below and is not illuminated.

The 'Dynamic' hubcaps

A bit of an indulgence. The logo will stay upright whether the wheels are in rotation or stationary.

The '7D' floor mats

People advised against this as It's difficult to maintain but I liked the design and pattern so I went with it. Picked a Black with Black piping, you can choose lighter Beige or Brown tones with the piping colour of your choice as I recall.

This was some 7.8k and I got this done from outside.

Jump starter and portable Tyre Inflator.

The above products were purchased from Amazon

• For the jump starter you simply hook up the Positive and Negative terminals to your dead battery and press the Start/Stop button as usual to jump start the vehicle. It also doubles up as a Power Bank for your phone with the provided type-C on the side.
• The Michelin tyre Inflator is the best choice among a sea of generic Chinese copies with uncertain lifespans. Very reasonable at some 3.5k in cost.

Carlinkit 5.0, a Wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto adapter

After watching numerous YouTube reviews and a week of heavy usage I can recommend this to anyone with a factory stock Wired Carplay/Android Auto looking to free themselves from the wire and forced charging heating & degrading your phone's battery. The phone connects in 15-20 seconds after starting the car, did not lose connection through some ~3-hour long highway runs, the phone does not heat up. The only negative I can think of is forward and reverse track is some 1.5-2 second delay from when you press the button on your steering to then the track being changed. As in the picture, you can tell it's very small, so stealthy enough to be stowed away below the dash where the Type-Cs are provided. The cost was 6k.

I think with this I've covered all things that I wanted to cover for my new Volkswagen Tiguan. I will update this thread with long-term usage as the time comes.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

I felt that the engine of the Skoda Kodiaq was not that responsive since I had already taken a test drive of the VW Tiguan by then.

BHPian cyakkr1709 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

The Tiguan - Buying Journey and first-month ownership review - totally worth it!

Background:

Having driven cars like Swift and Celerio, I upgraded to a Hyundai Elantra 4 years back. The purchase of the Elantra is also a story for another time when I had gone to buy the Creta in 2019 but without any test drive, got sold on the Elantra and booked it on the spot. In a span of 5 mins, I had moved on from a budget of 15 lacs to 21 lacs and from one segment to another.

I loved the Elantra and for me, it was the first taste of semi-premium cars which set the standards for me - the 2 Ltr Petrol engine, nice cabin isolation and supple suspension - it indeed was a great experience. But the one thing which I never accounted for was the low seating position in a sedan which would become a pain for me.

In hatchbacks which I owned earlier, one sits straight and high unlike in a sedan where you sit low-reclined and this created a new problem for me - backache! Over the last year this problem became quite prominent in the Mumbai traffic where any drive of more than 20-25 mins caused me discomfort and in Mumbai 20 mins is what it takes at times to just get out of parking, let alone go someplace 5 or 10 km away!

This got me thinking and while the inherent need for an SUV and comfortable seating position became stronger, the prospect of owning a new car in the semi-premium/premium segment also parallelly excited me - and while financially it was a stretch, the excitement pushed me onwards!

Buying journey:

I could only semi-convince my wife (You know what I mean as she looks at savings more than spending being from the Finance side!) and started scouting in May'23, the two most critical requirements being - a solid petrol motor and an SUV due to the aforementioned 'seat comfort' reason.

The cars I looked at with a planned budget of up to ~50 lacs:

• Hyundai Tucson - A good car, all-round package but two things I could never get my head around - the under-powered 2 ltr petrol, same as my earlier Elantra and build quality apprehensions (the CKD coming to India somehow did not inspire total confidence, dare I say, the Elantra felt a much better built car being a CKD as well)
• Hyundai Alcazar - Again a good car overall but two concerns - the weak-ish 1.5 petrol turbo and even in this car I could not find comfortable seating despite a TD which lasted ~40 minutes
• Toyota Hycross - never a serious contender as the waiting time was 24 months, the Toyota people also did not seem too interested in selling either the Hycross or the Fortuner
• Did not consider any Tata/Mahindra cars since I feel while they are great cars but will take at least another 4-5 years before they reach close to the finesse and reliability of Japanese/Korean/European manufacturers
• Audi Q3 - A superb car though the VFM equation did not work out for me - most of the features and space one could want you could get in a Tiguan or a Kodiaq - yes, agree you don't get the premium badge
• BMW X1/Merc GLA - the petrols on paper look underpowered (Another reason for not going with Marquee brands was the even higher cost of maintenance as well as the price-value equation) - I personally believe the value equation with Marquee brands makes good sense beyond models priced >70 lacs which for me was beyond budget - no offense to the current owners - these are all great cars and I envy whenever I see one!
• Skoda Kodiaq - Boy, what a car, the smile on my wife's face said it all in the TD (and she is not even a car buff), it made the shortlist, although I felt that the engine was not that responsive since I had already taken the TD of the Tiguan by then
• Tiguan - a car which at first was just another option for us, in fact, the first time we saw the car - our first impression was just about OK - the seats impressed me though - one of the few cases where I never needed to adjust the seat too much and it just worked! The car really does grow on you though - I took a couple of test drives apart from numerous showroom visits whenever I got a chance while traveling. Every time I saw/drove the car, it grew on me and made more and more sense + the super comfortable seats, it was shortlisted as well.

Deciding in favour of Tiguan:

In the end, the decision was between Kodiaq and Tiguan - and what tilted in favour of Tiguan was:

• Same platform - same engine - better tuned and more responsive
• Apt size and fun to drive, never really needed those 2 extra seats of Kodiaq
• A good ~9 lac cheaper compared to top-end Kodiaq (compared to Tiguan with 4 yr SVP, 4+2 yr EW)
• What I was foregoing in Kodiaq which was important to me - ventilated seats, 360 deg camera
• What I was getting additional in Tiguan - IQ Matrix LED Head Lights (One of the best I have seen), Not a 360 deg camera but yes it has 360 deg sensors (It is there in the newer OBD2 models from June onwards, god knows why VW is not publicizing it - it's a great feature and has been working great for me)

I bargained hard with the SA and booked the Dolphin Grey in Aug'23 with a delivery date fixed for Sep'23 first week. The SA was super prompt and helpful and since the car was in stock (June MFD), all timelines worked out and we took the delivery on 1st Sep'23. As a part of the deal, got 4 yrs SVP with 4+2 yrs EW and changed a few of the so-called default accessories to what I wanted.

First-month ownership experience:

Observations over the first month (~850 kms), I will also talk about some points from my experience which people have raised concerns about:

• Drive experience - The car is just amazing, in Sports Mode it shows its true colours and pushes you back into the seat, just too good
• Build Quality - top notch - feels built like a tank, not even a single niggle or cabin noise yet
• Handling - handles like a charm, brakes with aplomb, it makes you push the car hard - the confidence it inspires is just amazing
• Ride Comfort - This is where I was apprehensive reading about it online - my experience - it is fairly ok now after 850 kms of run-in. Point to note - when the car is new it rides a bit harsh but give it 500 kms or so on the odo and the ride does smoothen out. What also does not help the cause is that for some reason the showroom guys kept the tyre pressure at an insane 46 psi for the TD vehicle as well as in my car when it was delivered - again, god knows why. Keep TP at 34 psi and it rides much much better. Is it as good as Kodiaq or even my earlier Elantra - it is not - but it is 90% there for me - if one wants a car which is well-planted at high speeds then low speed ride comfort may have to be compromised a bit I feel.

Things which I miss/could be better:

• Ventilated seats - This for me was super-critical since my Elantra had it, but looking at the VFM, compromised here and ended up going for an after-market solution (the one I am using is only half effective though) - this is the biggest miss for me in an otherwise superb car
• Audio Mute Button - Don't know if the option exists but I have not found any button to mute the infotainment, it is a chore moving the volume knob/button all the way up/down every time
• Phone call controls - there is no dedicated button to accept/end calls - it is all controlled through either the ICE screen or the sub-menu within the instrument cluster - very tricky when you are driving and not at all user-friendly
• In Auto AC mode the air recirculation mode is switched on/off automatically by the system leading to unpleasant smells entering the cabin at times. As a result, I am regularly running the AC on manual mode with air recirculation switched on. On the same note, the cooling efficiency also is lesser than my erstwhile Elantra, I would rate it a 7.5/10, it is not bad, it is just ok.

Apprehensions:

• After Sales Service - Having read so much gloomy stuff about VW/Skoda after-sales, don’t know what to expect, only time will tell
• Long-term Reliability - Have parked in my mind additional expected spends over the course of ownership - I truly hope those parked funds remain parked and do not get used!! I am very happy with the car so far and plan to keep this for at least 6-7 years if not more
• Resale - My last car Elantra also did not have a very good resale value but I enjoyed it every bit for the duration I owned it. I believe that as your ownership crosses 7-8 years the percentage loss gap on resale also reduces a bit - I do understand for many it is quite important, but I am okay with that compromise as for me the ownership and drive experience over the time I own the car is more important than the resale value ~7-8 years down the line.

I hope my experience helps someone out there and adds value, thanks for reading!

Sharing a few images from the delivery day.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

The third-generation Volkswagen Tiguan is expected to debut in India by the end of 2024.

Volkswagen has taken the wraps off the third-generation Tiguan. The new model is based on the latest iteration of the MQB Evo platform and comes with an updated plug-in hybrid powertrain.

The 2024 Tiguan is 30 mm longer than the outgoing version. As a result, boot space has increased to 652 litres. Volkswagen has made several changes to the exterior design of the Tiguan. The SUV gets a sleeker front fascia, courtesy of a slimmer grille and gloss black surfaces. The dual-pod LED headlamps also have a smoked effect.

The rear end of the Tiguan is based on VW's newest design philosophy. It features Taigun-like wraparound tail lamps housed inside a single continuous unit. It also features an LED light bar.

The interior of the Tiguan gets a major upgrade over the old model. The centre console houses a massive 15-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The dashboard has a minimalistic look thanks to the lack of physical buttons. The SUV gets a 3-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel and a digital instrument cluster, with the front seats getting massage, heating and ventilation functions.

The 2024 VW Tiguan comes with two PHEV powertrain options, with either 201 BHP or 265 BHP. The PHEV version is equipped with a 19.7 kWh battery that offers an all-electric range of 100 km.

VW also offers the Tiguan with a 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. It also gets cylinder deactivation tech. Customers also get the option of a 2.0-litre engine producing 201 BHP or 261 BHP.

Volkswagen has carried over the 2.0-litre diesel engine. It is available in two states of tune - 148 BHP and 190 BHP.

The third-generation Volkswagen Tiguan is expected to debut in India by the end of 2024.

I also drove the Audi Q3 which has left me totally confused.

BHPian biplab3110 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I booked the GLA 220d 4M two weeks back, after extensive test drives of the GLA 220d, GLA 220d 4M, BMW18d and the Volvo XC40. I couldn't drive the Q3 as I did not get any response to my request for a test drive and the nearest Audi dealership is almost 40 km from my place in Thane.

Audi suddenly woke up from slumber this week and I ended up taking a test drive of the Q3 yesterday. I really liked the drive. The car is very engaging and can be driven hard, and the Quattro system is fantastic. However, it misses out on some very basic features of modern cars (Though new to India, the model is actually five years old).

Just for the heck of it, I ended up driving the Tiguan today. Apart from a very complicated user interface and lack of physical buttons for the AC, it is more feature-loaded than the Q3 and drives just as well. I am not sure if Quattro and 4Motion are the same, but I did not feel any difference in the drive.

I am now totally confused and would appreciate some dose of sense from the more experienced BHPians.

What, in your opinion, is a sensible buy?

1. The GLA 220d 4M at Rs 62.3L OTR with 3 + 3 years extended warranty. The uncertainty around Diesel vehicles is also looming large on my mind. But my heart keeps tugging at the GLA!!
2. The Audi Q3 Technology. Though I have not received a quote yet, I expect it to be between Rs 55L to Rs 57L OTR with a 2+3 years extended warranty and a 5-year comprehensive service package.
3. The VW Tiguan at Rs 43L OTR with 4+2 years Extended Warranty, and a 5 years comprehensive service package.

Kindly advise!

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Most of the cars in the 35 - 50 lakh price range punch well above their weight. Whether it's the Tiguan, Hycross, Camry, Tucson or Ioniq 5.

The GLA isn't my kind of car. If you have a budget of 60 lakhs, check on discounts for the Q5. A childhood friend bought one earlier in 2023 for Rs 63 lakhs OTR.

If I were in your shoes, my top choices would be the Q5 & Kia EV6 or at a lower price band, the Ioniq 5 & Kodiaq. The Tiguan is also a wonderful SUV if you can live with its firmer ride, but I love the Kodiaq more due to its adaptive suspension. A true luxury car feature.

Here's what BHPian androdev had to say on the matter:

Given that the usage is primarily office commute, take a look at EVs from Hyundai and Kia just to see how they fare compared to your shortlist. They may lack the badge value but certainty not lacking in the wow factor and exclusivity. Driving an EV for office commute would be fantastic - you will not go back to ICE cars again. Give it a shot before rejecting this option.

I would say drop VW from your list - the combination of below-average reliability and lousy customer service is not something you would want to deal with at this budget.

Mercedes offers an 8-year warranty on the drivetrain. Everything is a tad more expensive but overall sales experience will be better compared to other luxury brands. This would be a safe bet if you want to keep it simple.

Q3 should be a good choice as well but nobody starts with Q3 as their first choice.

Here's what BHPian Maverick1977 had to say on the matter:

My immediate family was in the same situation. Here is my simple analysis:

Having a minimum budget of 60+L OTR, the X1 and GLA diesel is the best option. I felt the X1 diesel drove better on Mumbai roads, compared to the Mercedes. Both the test drives were on Western Express Highway (both sides) so we got an experience of driving in traffic and in a little less traffic. Drove on SV road to understand how it tracked potholes and my SIL and I both preferred the X1 over the GLA.

However, if you are on a tight budget and want a hefty discount, the Q3 is your best choice. A discount of 11+L from Audi South tilted the balance in its favour. The Quattro was another thing that went in its favour.

We also liked the Tiguan and considered the Kodiaq, but both don't have the same badge value.

If budget is not an issue the battle is between the Mercedes and BMW. Hope you find your winner!!

Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say on the matter:

Don’t bother with the Tiguan or Q3. VW’s 2.0 TSi engine is not E20 rated. They are very fine cars otherwise, but the petrol compatibility issue is a deal breaker. Your heart is anyway set on the Mercedes.

Here's what BHPian CarsAndDrives had to say on the matter:

I can quite relate to your situation. Have driven all these cars and here are my thoughts - Both Tiguan and Q3 are old models and are due for a refresh - in a year or so. Was not sure if it was worth putting money on an end-of-life model. But both from a driver's car perspective tick all the right boxes. Tiguan more so given the space and relatively low pricing.

X1 - was good, but not appealing - especially cannot get my head around 62 lakh for a 136 bhp engine. In addition, the driver display is much smaller compared to others.

XC40 was a great looker and drives fine but not premium enough inside.

Coming to the last one - GLA is probably the best of the lot. The diesel was amazing and for the pricing, it offers much more - both luxury and performance. But the boot I felt was quite small and overall the vehicle does not have a good road presence from a style perspective - from some angles, it looked like a larger hatchback. And again there is the question about the long-term diesel vehicle future. Petol GLA is pretty dull again.

Given this conundrum, I have decided to wait it out until next year and revisit it.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.