Tiguan: odd name for competent SUV

In fact, the Tiguan combines the attributes of a VW Rabbit, the compact runabout with which it shares its platform, and the larger Passat. (That would make it a "Rabat," wouldn't it? Isn't that a city in Morocco?) Fractionally smaller than the Honda CR-V, the Saturn Vue, and Toyota RAV4, the Tiguan is an urban-friendly, ski resort-capable wee truck with optional all-wheel drive, backed up by VW's great 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Outdoorsy and athletic, the Tiguan looks like it could handle itself on a muddy infield.

Truly, though, the Tiguan's saving grace is its fortuitous slowness. Several years late to the cute-ute party, the Tiguan hits the market precisely as buyers are leaping out of mid-to-large utes and crossovers. This broad-based impulse of car buyers to go smaller and thriftier - call it demisizing - can only help the Tiguan. It's the fresh face in a crowd of mini-utes, so it feels like the car of the moment.

An aside: What I've noticed about demisizing in readers' e-mails is the desire not to find incrementally better fuel economy - say, 5 miles per gallon better or 7 miles per gallon - than their current car, but to double their fuel economy. I've probably gotten 50 e-mails from people saying they won't buy any vehicle that offers less than 40 miles per gallon. I had previously discounted the theory of peak demand - which argues that a fundamental shift in Americans' love of petroleum has occurred, irrespective of the price at the pump, but now I'm not so sure.

In any event, the Tiguan doesn't get anywhere near 40 miles per gallon. The Environmental Protection Agency figures the vehicle can wring 19/26 miles per gallon out of its turbocharged, 200-hp motor. This raises the first of a couple of caveats with the Tiguan. No diesel engine.