News & Reviews- Make: Volkswagen

If you want a nice little compact crossover SUV, there's a lot to choose from these days. In fact, pretty well every volume manufacturer has this segment filled, not to mention most premium players, so if you show up with something substandard you're going to get sidelined quickly.

Lucky for Volkswagen the Tiguan is an impressive little ute, with pleasant styling, strong performance, good fuel economy, ample roominess, better than average refinement, plenty of features and genuine German-built goodness that makes it feel a full notch above much of its competition. That I was given a Tiguan tester in mid-grade Comfortline trim with both available packages didn't hurt matters, the $1,750 Appearance Package adding 18-inch Pasadena five-spoke alloy wheels, adaptive HID headlights, LED signature DRLs, and silver roof rails for a decidedly more upscale look, and the $2,075 Technology Package including proximity sensing remote access with pushbutton ignition, touchscreen navigation Read Full Story

My partner and I stepped up into our Volkswagen Touareg TDI test vehicle and both breathed out a collective "Whew!" It's beautifully finished inside. This is nothing new for the Touareg, however. It shares underpinnings with the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne after all, a platform architecture that will soon host ultra-premium marque Bentley's upcoming SUV and may also bear the weight of an off-road capable Lamborghini. That's quite the fraternity to belong too, but humble VW wears its pin well.

For all points and purposes the Touareg is Volkswagen's flagship model in North America, the six-figure Phaeton (which incidentally shares its undercarriage and more with the Audi A7 along with the Bentley Continental and Flying Spur) long since eliminated from this market. Starting at $50,975 plus $1,600 for freight and pre-delivery prep, the Touareg's base price nudges up against the Volkswagen CC's full-load price of just under $52k. The little Tiguan, which starts at a hair under $25,000, Read Full Story

In an automotive marketplace that's chock full of compact CUVs and gawky tall wagons, consumers might reasonably argue that they're awash in selection but starved of real choice. After all, what's the real difference between a Toyota RAV4, a Honda CRV and a Hyundai Tucson? There is, however, one genuinely unique entry in the marketplace: a commodious carry-all that stands out by hunkering down low to the road and remaining the sole holdout in a once ubiquitous segment. We're talking about the family wagon segment, represented here by the Volkswagen Golf Wagon.

For car shoppers seeking a compact, decent-handling family hauler that still retains a sporty, hip attitude there's really nothing else out there quite like the Volkswagen Golf Wagon. It has as much (or more) room inside than most compact crossovers, but it sits lower and handles with much of the taut competence of its famous GTI hot-hatch sibling. Order up the Golf Wagon with the available TDI diesel engine and it offers Read Full Story

Four-door coupe. While the term is somewhat self-contradictory, it evokes a rich image: Mercedes-Benz CLS; BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe; Aston Martin Rapide; Porsche Panamera; Volkswagen CC. Wait, Volkswagen CC? That's right. In the rarified territory of four-door coupes, one of the contenders is a Volkswagen.

The CC was introduced in 2008 as the Passat CC, and was given a midlife refresh for the 2013 model year with a new front fascia and grille, new taillights, new LED accent lights, upgraded interior materials and a more practical three-across back seat to replace the original twin rear buckets. As part of this refresh it also dropped the Passat portion of its name, becoming simply the CC. Model year 2014 saw essentially no changes to the CC, and for 2015 it carries over with only minor updates in the form of some good looking new wheel styles.

The 2015 CC is available in three trim levels - Sportline, Highline, and Execline. The Sportline and Highline models feature Read Full Story