Leggy Tiguan vs. Newer Qashai

[C.A.R.]

I'm doing a lot of reading up on the former - a 2012> vintage VW Tiguan (with the square headlights). My wife has seen one and really, really likes them.

We have been looking to replace the ageing family car for a while now but have put it off for one reason or another. At one stage it was 100% going to be some form of Nissan Qashqai.

Now, however, spoilt by my company / hire cars (typically VW) she wants something more premium, and I'll be honest I'd like to treat her to something nicer if we can make the numbers work.

Our budget will be around £8k - less if we can help it. This gets you a top-spec Nissan Qashqai from about 2013 with around 50-70k miles.

Alternatively this buys you a much leggier VW Tiguan 2.0 TDi (Facelift) with typically 100k+

She's saying this wouldn't bother her much, she just wants a more premium SUV.

At this price point there isn't much in it in terms of 2WD vs. 4Motion, but I'm lead to believe the latter is more complicated and needs servicing - the difference in VED - for now - is only about £20/pa. Are there any other reasons to go for one over the other?

She does around 8,000 miles per year, her commute whilst only 8 miles away does involve going on the motorway so I'm less worried that it won't heat up properly, that said, I think any 2.0 TDi is going to have potential DPF problems?

I've been warned away from the - frankly rare - 1.4TSi version, which is also quite pricey on tax.

Thanks for any advice...

[ZX10R NIN]

If it was me I'd be going for the Kuga in Titanium/Titanium X (these are better built than the Qashqai) trim, with your 8k average I'd be tempted to go for a petrol:

2.5T Titanium Auto

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Gen2 1.6T Kuga Titanium (this would be my pick)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Now you could go for a diesel as you OH's journey seems to be okay in that it should trigger the DPF regen but it's close.

Gen2 2.0d Kuga Titanium 4x4

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2WD Titanium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[MXRod]

[quote=ZX10R NIN]If it was me I'd be going for the Kuga in Titanium/Titanium X (these are better built than the Qashqai) trim, with your 8k average I'd be tempted to go for a petrol:

2.5T Titanium Auto

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Gen2 1.6T Kuga Titanium (this would be my pick)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Now you could go for a diesel as you OH's journey seems to be okay in that it should trigger the DPF regen but it's close.

Gen2 2.0d Kuga Titanium 4x4

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2WD Titanium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...


[/quote
The OP asked about a Tiguan not a Ford as his OH likes a Tiguan

[manracer]

Q: Tiguan or Qashqai?
A: Kuga!

Haha

I vote Tiguan, my parents have had both and i wouldn't entertain a Qashqai, I can still hear that 1.5 renault diesel lump haunting me now.

[anonymous-user]

Mazda CX-5 is a better car than both

[ZX10R NIN]

I didn't realise giving an option was a crime OP in my experience when given the option of a QQ or Kuga 8-10 take the Ford.
So I'll clarify given the choice out of the above & your two options I'd again recommend the Kuga.

Out of your two I'd take the car with lower miles as a 100k+ will as a minimum need a suspension refresh.

[MXRod]

ZX10R NIN said:

I didn't realise giving an option was a crime OP in my experience when given the option of a QQ or Kuga 8-10 take the Ford.
So I'll clarify given the choice out of the above & your two options I'd again recommend the Kuga.

Out of your two I'd take the car with lower miles as a 100k+ will as a minimum need a suspension refresh.

"
And if you add the Tiguan to the mix ,how many would take the VW
It appears the OP has already considered other cars and is asking about comparing the QQ with a VW
For my part I find the Tiguan better quality over either the Ford or the QQ

[TeamBigfoot]

manracer said:

Q: Tiguan or Qashqai?
A: Kuga!

Haha

I vote Tiguan, my parents have had both and i wouldn't entertain a Qashqai, I can still hear that 1.5 renault diesel lump haunting me now.

Granted it wasn't exactly what the OP asked for, but a suitable alternative was suggested by ZX10.

[ZX10R NIN]

Add the Tiguan & I take the Ford out of the two I take the QQ as low miles & less bork potential win, as I said I have clients view these cars regularly & if they're looking at this size vehicle I'll show them the Tig QQ CX-5 (I didn't include the CX-5 initially asI thought the OP was mainly looking for petrols) & Kuga, at which point the Ford is picked more times than the other three with the CX-5 coming second & Tig third. the deciding factor being mileage age spec reliability & of course price .

Most comment that although the Tig is a has a nicer feel plastics the Ford normally has better spec & is as good a drive with similar NVH with both having good reliability (at which point the spec normally swings it) whilst the QQ isn't better than either at any point.

CX-5

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[C.A.R.]

Thanks for the replies folks.

The original list did include both CX-5 and Kuga, as well as the Honda CRV. I liked the CX-5, I've had the 2.2d in a Mazda6 company car and it was decent, if a little noisy. Unfortunately they seem to hold their value really well and my wife was more keen on a Tiguan at our price point. What makes you say the CX-5 is better? Certainly the £30 tax bill is nice!

Kuga was discounted by my wife because of the interior. Both pre- and post facelift models have an awkward cockpit. The earlier ones look really low-rent and the facelift ones are just a bit strange and she didn't like the ergonomics.

I think I'm still firmly in the Tiguan camp for now - unless a cheaper CX-5 becomes an option with similar / less miles.

One thing I've explained is that we simply can't afford a car with "All the latest gadgets" like my company car; by this she means the Apple Carplay / Android Auto. I'm therefore looking at cars which have less integration with the factory head unit, as an aftermarket one could be added for 300 quid. Some of the Tiguans have parking sensors and such controlled through the infotainment screen; I wouldn't want to lose that functionality.

Or I could see whether it's better to lease like everyone else seems to these days!

[Trevor555]

C.A.R. said:

One thing I've explained is that we simply can't afford a car with "All the latest gadgets" like my company car; by this she means the Apple Carplay / Android Auto.

Kenwood do a replacement unit for the Tiguan, it's got all the mod cons.

[AlexS_LDN]

C.A.R. said:

Thanks for the replies folks.

The original list did include both CX-5 and Kuga, as well as the Honda CRV. I liked the CX-5, I've had the 2.2d in a Mazda6 company car and it was decent, if a little noisy. Unfortunately they seem to hold their value really well and my wife was more keen on a Tiguan at our price point. What makes you say the CX-5 is better? Certainly the £30 tax bill is nice!

Kuga was discounted by my wife because of the interior. Both pre- and post facelift models have an awkward cockpit. The earlier ones look really low-rent and the facelift ones are just a bit strange and she didn't like the ergonomics.

I think I'm still firmly in the Tiguan camp for now - unless a cheaper CX-5 becomes an option with similar / less miles.

One thing I've explained is that we simply can't afford a car with "All the latest gadgets" like my company car; by this she means the Apple Carplay / Android Auto. I'm therefore looking at cars which have less integration with the factory head unit, as an aftermarket one could be added for 300 quid. Some of the Tiguans have parking sensors and such controlled through the infotainment screen; I wouldn't want to lose that functionality.

Or I could see whether it's better to lease like everyone else seems to these days!

For kit levels, the Nissan, in Tekna trim. Cameras, sat nav, heated leather seats, pan roof... I have had VWs in the past but the trim levels can be basic in anything pre 2013. Audi Q5 is worth a look too, or get something newer, and put most of the £8k toward finance

[Terzo123]

I've ran both a Tiguan and a Qq for three years each. The Tiguan was a poverty spec 2ltr Diesel SE 4motion, the QQ was a 1.6 petrol and had pretty much all the toys.

But if I had my choice I'd take the Tiguan every time over the QQ.

Even the wife hated the QQ compared to the Tiguan.

[Deerfoot]

Yeti?

In Elegance spec they're nice and you'll get a newer / lower mileage car than a Tiguan for your budget..

[C.A.R.]

Looking at them more and more now, you have to consider her current car has been our family hack for the last 5 years, it's a Nissan Note Tekna, so that's supposed to be "top spec" but it's still rather basic. I worry a Qashqai will just be like a bigger version!

Will look into that Kenwood unit.

[Sheepshanks]

C.A.R. said:

At this price point there isn't much in it in terms of 2WD vs. 4Motion, but I'm lead to believe the latter is more complicated and needs servicing - the difference in VED - for now - is only about £20/pa. Are there any other reasons to go for one over the other?

There's a good chance 4Motion won't be working - the pump screen gets clogged up and the pump burns out. You can only tell by trying to spin the wheels, or by getting the car scanned.

The Haldex fluid change used to be 4yrs/40K but VW recently reduced it to 3yrs - but the filter isn't changed and really the pump needs to removed to have its screen cleaned.

C.A.R. said:

She does around 8,000 miles per year, her commute whilst only 8 miles away does involve going on the motorway so I'm less worried that it won't heat up properly, that said, I think any 2.0 TDi is going to have potential DPF problems?

Wife has one of the last of the previous gen Tiguans so it's got the later engine. However I did some research and there were no reports of issues by people who did short journeys. On ours (and I think they're the same) it never passive regens, and it does an active regen about evey 300 miles. It needs time (10-15 mins) to do this, rather than any specific type of journey. 8 miles won't fully heat the car up, by they way - the dash shows oil temp and you're into teens of miles before the oil is up to temp.


We looked at Qashqai before we bought ours and it just felt crap in comparison. I don't know how they do it, but VW does manage to make ordinary cars feel more premium.

[Jag_NE]

I’m not sure 8 miles, even with a bit of motorway will get a diesel properly hot.

[Jag_NE]

The SUV premium is significant. If her primary motivation is having something swish I’d go for a circa 2012 BMW 3 series petrol, 8-9k asking price gets a low miler.

It will be better than the note and the other options in every way except boot space (Tiguan and QQ). But if she is coping ok with a note a 3er won’t be a compromise there. Probably some similar C class mercs out there. Both far better cars than a leggy golf on stilts or a Mackem chariot.

[dxg]

Trevor555 said:

C.A.R. said:

One thing I've explained is that we simply can't afford a car with "All the latest gadgets" like my company car; by this she means the Apple Carplay / Android Auto.

Kenwood do a replacement unit for the Tiguan, it's got all the mod cons.

The cx-5 can be upgraded for about £300. It's a combination of software and new, higher power usb sockets.

[manracer]

dxg said:

Trevor555 said:

C.A.R. said:

One thing I've explained is that we simply can't afford a car with "All the latest gadgets" like my company car; by this she means the Apple Carplay / Android Auto.

Kenwood do a replacement unit for the Tiguan, it's got all the mod cons.

The cx-5 can be upgraded for about £300. It's a combination of software and new, higher power usb sockets.

I'm also pretty sure you could replace the standard VW head unit with a newer vw unit that has android auto/car play. My parents 2014 model had at least some modern tech, park assist that automatically parked the car for example.