With the first Volkswagen Tiguan you could choose the front yourself

Okay, there is also quite a bit to choose from when it comes to the front of the new Volkswagen Tiguan. After all, it is available in a ‘normal’ version and as an R-Line, with the latter in particular causing some discussion with its abundant, shiny ‘fake mesh’. However, we dare to say that the choice for the original Tiguan was even more pronounced.

The first Volkswagen Tiguan appeared in 2007, but not before Volkswagen went extensively in Namibia with lightly camouflaged examples. That camouflage is interesting enough in itself, because Volkswagen tried to distract attention with Hyundai-like logos and pasted-on ‘taillights’ that had nothing to do with the actual light units (photos 9 and 10). Actually for nothing, because at the time we had of course already seen the bright orange Tiguan Concept from 2006 (photos 15, 16, 17). Looking back, that show model may be a bit tougher than the final Tiguan, but it still delivers on its design – also on the inside! – already ninety percent free.

The dashboard of the 2006 concept car above, that of the production model below.

Anyway, in 2007 the curtain finally lifted from the Tiguan. Quite a ‘big deal’, because Volkswagen had been looking at the SUV problem for a long time. Although the luxurious, expensive and large Touareg had been available since 2002, the South Korean and Japanese competition in particular had had free rein in lower segments for years. The Tiguan was presented as a ‘midi-SUV’ and the tall brother of the Golf, which was the Golf V at the time. Based on that Golf, there was another high variant since 2004: the Golf Plus. That car, which is also jokingly given the number ’65’ for the ‘Plus’, borrowed its dashboard from the Tiguan. Both cars therefore had a rather frivolous interior by Volkswagen standards, with a striking number of round ventilation grilles: two on the left, two on the right and four in the middle, for a total of no fewer than eight visible ones.

‘Track & Field’

On the outside, such an early Tiguan is certainly not too remarkable or daring in shape, although a compact SUV from Volkswagen was a novelty sixteen years ago. Perhaps the most interesting visual aspect was that Volkswagen decided to offer two different noses on this new model. The first was the ‘normal’ nose, which was already predicted by the concept car from 2006 and shone on the Trend & Fun, Comfort & Design and Sport & Style. The corporate Trendline, Comfortline and Sportline of the Golf was not interested in this hip flutter and because the marketing department was busy, it came up with a fourth Tiguan variant: the Track & Field. That is an extra rugged, extra tough version, intended for off-road use.

Volkswagen Tiguan with the ‘normal’ nose

Volkswagen Tiguan with the Track & Field nose. Note the much higher bottom of the bumper, which as a whole is also completely different in shape.

Yes, yes, we have heard that before, we hear you think. With such a ‘tough’ version, it usually remains with plastic that identifies itself as an underbody protection plate, without actually tinkering with the off-road capabilities. However, that was a bit different with the first Tiguan. The striking Track & Field nose rose so much at the bottom that the approach angle was significantly increased. To be precise, in this version it is 28 instead of 18 degrees, which enables the Tiguan to take a much sharper bump. Combined with four-wheel drive, this resulted in a ‘capable off-roader’, according to our first test at the time. We devoted a complete test round and an entire paragraph to it at the time, because the realization that no one would go into the mud with a compact SUV had apparently not yet fully sunk in. This Tiguan proves that function often took precedence over form, because with its high ‘chin’ the Track & Field certainly does not look tougher than the other variants. Not that, but he was.