The first-generation Volkswagen Tiguan (Type 5N) marked VW's successful entry into the compact SUV segment. Based on a hybrid platform derived from the Golf V/VI and Passat (PQ35/PQ46), it offers precise road handling and a high level of finish. Restyled in 2011 (phase 2), it modernized its front end and updated its engines. While the model is generally very well built, the gasoline engines (TSI) of this generation were affected by serious design flaws (timing chains, excessive oil consumption), making the purchase of a used model particularly risky without a clear service history. Overall generation rating: 6.5/10 (penalized by pre-2013 TSI engines).
The Volkswagen Tiguan I is an excellent SUV on paper, but a minefield on the used market if you're looking for a gasoline engine. The 1.4 TSI and 2.0 TSI blocks produced between 2007 and 2012 accumulate serious design flaws (chains, pistons, excessive oil consumption) whose repairs often exceed the vehicle's value. Buying advice: If you absolutely want a gasoline Tiguan, imperatively aim for a model from after mid-2013 (advanced phase 2) where the EA888 engines have been made more reliable, or demand a file of invoices proving that the engine has been rebuilt (revised chain tensioner, re-segmented). Paradoxically, although you are looking for a gasoline engine, the 2.0 TDI versions (especially the post-2015 EA288) are by far the safest and most durable choices for this generation.