The SUV sector is getting crowded and Volkswagen's new Tiguan is more than just one extra on the list. This is an interesting new entry, with a high-end specification and more attractive pricing since this time last week. Michael Moroney reports on his Tiguan test drive.

Is the new Volkswagen Tiguan just another SUV for an already crowded sector of the market? The demand for smaller SUVs continues to grow; on my last count there were at least 15 different models to choose from, and that's before you add in the engine and specification options.

The new Volkswagen Tiguan is the latest SUV entry to a market that's getting crowded. It has great towing ability. Prices start at €39,350 for the entry diesel powered model.

That's why I was keen to drive the new Tiguan, Volkswagen's answer to the market, late and all as it is. The Tiguan is a kind of smaller Touareg and Volkswagen hopes that it shares some of it attributes.

So what makes the Tiguan special and what makes it the one that you want? For starters, it's a Volkswagen and usually that's appeal enough for many people. It also has some useful attributes. I had the Track & Field version for my test drive. This differs from the other models in that it has a shielded and higher sloping front and rear end to cope with off-road obstacles.

All Tiguan Track & Field models come with the Volkswagen 4MOTION 4x4 system as standard. This is an electro-mechanical system that ensures that when the wheels are under pressure, slipping that is, drive goes to the ones that can work best. It's a well-tried four wheel drive system and is effective on the Tiguan too.

It's a system that can be useful in slippery or frosty road conditions, but for general road work it will rarely come into use. It proves its worth in off-road situations and gives the Tiguan an off-road ability similar to that of the Land Rover Freelander and Nissan X-Trail, which are probably better in the rough than the likes of the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Ford's new Kuga will be a different matter, I suspect.

The Tiguan comes with three engine options, a 1.4-litre TSI or a 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine and a 2.0-litre TDI turbo-diesel option. I had the diesel-powered machine on the road and it's impressive. This is a new engine and develops 140bhp, which is about average for the sector. The torque levels are also a match for the popular competition, such as the Toyota RAV4 and Nissan X-Trail.

The Tiguan TDI can compete in acceleration terms, delivering a 0 to 100km/hr rating of 10.5 seconds. That's at the lively end of the performance spectrum in terms of the competition mainly because the Tiguan is relatively light weight at a little short of 1,600kg on the scales.

Normally TDI engines are good in terms of economy and CO2 emissions but the Tiguan does not score as well as some of the competition, which is surprising. With a CO2 emission level of 189g/km and an economy rating of 7.5 litres/100km (37.7mpg) it's less economical than the sectors new star the Ford Kuga. Both the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V with bigger 2.2-litre engines beat the Tiguan in terms of economy and emissions.

These figures push the Tiguan into VRT and Road Tax bands E, meaning an annual road tax cost of €600. VRT rates have come down a little giving the Tiguan a new entry price of €39,350 before delivery charges, from this week.

So the new Tiguan needs something other than engine performance and the Volkswagen name to appeal. The SUV has some neat features that give it 4x4 appeal. Like the Land Rover Freelander, it comes with a switch activated hill descent system to allow safe downhill driving in poor conditions. This combines with engine torque management, electronic differential locks and a hill climb assist system to give a sort of automatic control of the Tiguan when driving in challenging off-road conditions. I'm not convinced that these will be used or understood by most Tiguan drivers, who will tend to opt for the more road friendly Trend & Style or Sport & Style versions, all of which retain the 4x4 function.

In safety terms, the new Tiguan comes with a total of six airbags (twin front, side and curtain), ABS, Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP) and brake assist as standard. Three-point seatbelts on all seats are joined by belt force limiters to reduce the impact on the chest for both front seat passengers and the occupants of the outside rear seats. The front seat passengers gain electronic belt tensioners while in the rear ISOFIX child seat preparation is fitted.