Once among the smallest compact SUVs, the current Volkswagen Tiguan has grown into one of the biggest in the category. It offers driver and passengers plenty of interior space and good outward visibility. It has lost a bit of the youthful demeanor of its predecessor with this newfound space, but it remains one of the better handling small SUVs. At the same time, VW was able to boost the Tiguan's fuel economy to 25 mpg overall on regular fuel, a strong showing for the class, especially considering its size. (The previous Tiguan required premium.)
At 185 inches long, the new Tiguan is a whopping 11 inches longer than the previous generation. That's also two inches longer than the Chevrolet Equinox and four inches longer than the Honda CR-V. The added length not only allows for an immense backseat and generous cargo area, but for an optional third-row seat as well (which comes standard on front-wheel-drive versions).