Volkswagen Tiguan 2017 Problems

The upgrade to your navigation system can be done at a Volkswagen dealership and would be part of the work carried out at your next service (assuming you use a VW workshop). What most people tend to find, however, is that the Tiguan’s Apple CarPlay facility allows you to use the navigation services on your phone which, based on consumer feedback, are more accurate anyway since they’re updated in real time.

Your car’s sat-nav should be taking its data from an SD card that’s inserted in a slot inside the glove-box. So, the first thing to check is that the SD card is seated in the slot correctly. But there have been cases where the VW’s software seems to have a light-headed moment and loses the plot (it happens on plenty of other brands, too). One thing you can try is to press the on-off button for the infotainment screen and hold it down for at least 15 seconds. Sometimes, that will actually reboot the system and everything will come to life again, including the sat-nav.

Failing that, it’s a trip to the dealership to have the experts fix it. It may turn out that your data card or the software in the car needs an upgrade, which the dealership should be able to sort out for you.

It clearly needs deeper investigation to try and determine the cause. Take it to a panel beater who specialises in European cars and have them assess it.

The petrol engine has a chain, the diesel a belt.

It’s not something that has come to our attention. It’s a cosmetic issue; one I’m guessing VW is not going to be terribly interested in.

The updating of sat-nav systems in cars of all makes is a problem. My view is that the system should be updated to the latest status during pre-delivery at the dealer, then automatically updated as needed when the car is taken in for service. The cost for these updates should be minimal, but car companies seem to view as a way making money and they’ll charge whatever they can get away with. I also sometimes think Australians are taken for dummies as well.

A VW spokesman informed us that the voice function is standard on the Highline, but an accessory with the media unit on the Comfortline. It would explain it if yours is a Comfortline model.

All of the cars you name meet your criteria of size, economy, performance and handling.

You could also add the Mazda3 and 6 to the list.

Of all of those I would nominate the Camry as the great all-rounder.

Buying any car is a gamble when it comes to reliability; no brand is immune from problems.

VW has had some very high profile problems over the last few years that have affected people's perception of the brand. The current and on-going scandal about emissions cheating isn't a reliability problem; it's a corporate thing. The problem with the DSG gearbox was another that knocked the company's reputation, and that was a reliability issue.

It has to be said that the DSG problems were associated with earlier models and don't appear to affect current ones, like the Tiguan. I wouldn't be too concerned about the reliability of VW at the moment.

Honda, of course, has a reputation for quality engineering and reliability, which makes the CR-V a popular SUV. The CR-V gets plaudits for its roomy cabin, practicality, boot space, and dash.

Against that it's 2.4-litre engine is a tad thirsty, and the auto is a five-speed, both of which hold it back. Safety-wise it has five stars with pretty much everything you could want.

All of the vehicles are worthy choices, but you need to be careful about the towing ratings of them. The Kia Sorento, which would be my choice, is rated at 2000kg, which is right on your towing requirement. Others, such as the 2WD Everest, are rated to tow much more. Others, like the Mitsubishi Pajero and Toyota Prado, are full-on 4WDs, and would seem beyond your needs.