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VW Tiguan named IIHS Top Safety Pick

Since its release during the summer the new 2018 VW Tiguan has drawn lots of praise. Now, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has recognized Tiguan's many qualities and has named it a Top Safety Pick.
2018 VW Tiguan

The Volkswagen Tiguan has come a long way quickly. Though popular with buyers in its former incarnation, the crossover has become even more popular with its new, longer skin. It is more in tune with the U.S. market which expects its crossovers to be long and wide enough to support three seats if needed.

New Tiguan is longer, roomier

Using the automaker’s MQB design language and platform, engineers remade the Tiguan for the U.S. Its wheelbase is about 11 inches longer, and it is slightly wider which enhances not only ride and handling, but also overall interior comfort. Overall, the Tiguan is now nearly 200 inches long, up from the older model’s 174.

Interestingly, Volkswagen is selling Tiguan briskly to its two markets segments, the family market and among singles. For 2017, the former standard Tiguan – shorter – has been renamed the Tiguan LTD, while the new, three-row version carries the name Tiguan.

Meantime, the 2018 Tiguan, when equipped with Forward Collision warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking (Front Assist), has been awarded a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. (IIHS).

Areas where vehicles must do well

Vehicles named Top Safety Picks must have earned “Good” ratings in the five test categories IIHS puts cars through. The tests are:

  • Frontal impact moderate overlap
  • Frontal impact small overlap
  • Side impact
  • Roof strength
  • Head restraints

The 2017 TOP SAFETY candidates must also offer an autonomous emergency braking system (AEB) that brings the vehicle for front crash prevention. Tiguan earned a “Superior” rating on the AEB test.

VW is pleased with the rating

Addressing the award, Derrick Hatami, told an interviewer: “We are so pleased to receive the IIHS Top Safety Pick award for the all-new Tiguan. Hatami is executive vice president of sales, marketing and aftersales, Volkswagen of America. “This award demonstrates Volkswagen’s long-standing commitment to vehicle safety and the development of innovative technologies,” he said.

The 2018 is the only vehicle in its class to offer VW’s Automatic Post-Collision Braking System. It is standard on all trims.

The innovative system uses the notion that crashes are seldom single events. Instead, crashes are made up of a series of events that follow the initial impact. The Automatic Post-Collision Braking System applies the brakes when a primary collision is detected by the airbag sensors. This helps cut residual kinetic energy and, in doing so, lessens the chance of additional damage.

Tiguan’s extensive driver-assistance features list

Also, the Tiguan offers some driver-assistance features that include:

  • Forward Collision Warning
  • Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring (Front Assist)
  • Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert
  • Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
  • Lane Departure Warning (Lane Assist)
  • Front and rear Park Distance Control with Maneuver Braking (ParkPilot)
  • High Beam Control (Light Assist)
  • Overhead view camera (Area View)

Now four years old, IIHS launched its crash prevention rating program to help consumers sort through the maze of available technologies and focus on the most effective systems.

For more information, contact the IIHS at the IIHS website. If you are interested in seeking all of the IIHS ratings so far this year, look at Look here to find all IIHS ratings.

Sources: Volkswagen, IIHS

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