Tiguan 1.5 Petrol 150 or 2.0 Diesel 150

I’ve just ordered another ex demo kodiaq and was debating the 190 diesel with the dsg or the similar power petrol engine. I went for the diesel again as we’ve had one for 3 yrs thats now 4 yrs old and had no real issues with it. The real world mpg is better on the diesel and the 190 Diesel engine with the dsg is nice to drive, plenty of torque.

We’ve loved the kodiaq. Great amount of room in it and really comfy even on long journeys. The flexible rear seat that splits/ reclines and slides on rails independently each side means the car just swallows stuff up and is adaptable wether loaded with kids, gear, adults or any combo. I’m often off the road network on gravel tracks and grass rides with work so the extra clearance of the kodiaq helps. The taller height also means a less stressful time on the road as you can see more ahead.

I think it’ll be our last ice vehicle. I don’t think the value for money and the infrastructure is quite there yet and we’ve struggled to get a decent value large car so far. I’m hoping things have developed by the time we need to change this one.

Little update..

So after disappearing down a couple of rabbit holes, I picked up a new Skoda Karoq 1.5 petrol DSG at the weekend.

Obviously it’s fantastic because I chose it.

Spec is on a par with the Tiguan in Karoq Sportsline spec, and rather usefully it was cheaper than both used Tiguans and used Karoqs.

Having only ever had 2.0 diesels this thing is whisper quiet engine wise and the DSG is mostly seemless. Almost electric car like in both.

The drive from the West Country to London today was an average of 52mpg at legalish speeds.

I’ve got the 1.0 DSG petrol Karoq in Se-L trim. It’s a very nice car – although the 1.0 engine should be too small for the size of car, it seems to manage most of the time.

Coming from a diesel BMW X3, the DSG gearbox is a bit hesitant when setting off, especially when the engine has decided to do its stop/start thing. Can also be very slow after it’s set off, but easily fixed with the flippy shifters. Whisper quiet though compared with the diesels I’ve had over the last 15 or so years.
42 mpg overall, about the same as the X3, but as petrol is a few pence cheaper, works out cheaper per mile. Smaller tank though so won’t go anywhere near as far between full-ups

Good choice. Love my Karoq, (1.5 manual) it goes back at the end of this month and will be missed.

Opting out of having a company car and just going to buy a little Fabia as a run around. Will miss the space and flexibility of “Kelly Karoq” (yes I name my cars).

I’d be wary of TSIs having read a bit. Direct injection petrol cars suffer greatly from the inlet valves gumming up. The crank case is ventilated into the intake as usual but the fuel’s not injected into the intake so they don’t get washed with fuel. This leads to some nasty gumming and coking.

^ Says the world’s best car purchaser 😉

I got the Skoda Kodiaq 2 years ago with the 2.0 diesel DSG, which I think is the VW Tiguan Allspace – so half a size larger.  Not sure I’d choose a VW over a Skoda these days.

Quick for what it is, though the economy and standard settings on the gear box have a bit of initial lag so use sport if getting away quickly matters (once accelerating I can’t tell the difference).

Around 40mpg normality though we did get that down to 23mpg cruising at 130kmph with MTBs on the tow bar rack and road bikes on the roof.

Very composed handling and quick up the passes into the alps – but it’s not a sports saloon by any stretch.

Against that last point, spacious and 7 seats when it needs them. And quiet (save the bikes on the roof at 130k of course).

Fit and finish walk all over the Fords I’ve had over recent.

Dealers willing to deal if you’re willing to travel – a £60 rail ticket (and 4 hours on the train) saved me over £4K and got a better finance rate. Though that is was 2 years ago.

A colleague of mine who I used to lift share with has a Seat Ateca with the 150 TSi engine, which I think is very similar in size to the Kodiaq (& Tiguan). It’s pretty nice. He’s had it for ~2.5 years now with no problems.
It did have a recall; something to do with the idle when engaging reverse – he used to regularly stall it when reversing which I unmercifully ripped the piss out of him about, but it turned out to be a software fault that was fixed with a recall.