2013 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN Owners Manual

WARNING
Inadequate experience and knowledge of the demands of off-road driving can lead to critical
situations and cause serious personal injury.
x Never take routes or risks that could put you or your passengers in danger. If you cannot
go on, or have doubts about the safety of your route, turn back and take a new route.
x The intelligent technology of the vehicle cannot change the laws of physics. Despite the
ABS, adverse terrain can cause instability through blocked wheels – for example, if you brake
hard when driving on a loose gravel road. Difficult terrain may also prevent the ESC from
doing its job.
x Never operate the vehicle at the limit of its performance ability. Always leave a good safety
margin.
x To reduce the risk of loss of control and serious personal injury, never use the cruise
control when driving off-road.
x Even terrain that looks easy can be difficult and dangerous, putting you and your
passengers in a critical situation. It is often best to check an area out on foot first.
x Drive with special care and think ahead in off-road terrain. If you drive too fast, or fail to
maneuver the vehicle properly, you could cause personal injury and damage the vehicle.
x Never drive faster than is appropriate for the prevailing terrain and the road, traffic, and
weather conditions.
x Never drive too fast across embankments, ramps, or slopes. The vehicle could become
airborne. If that happens, you will not be able to steer and can lose control.
x If your vehicle becomes airborne, always keep the front wheels pointing straight ahead. If
the wheels are not pointing straight ahead when the vehicle lands, it could roll over.
x Never allow people to stand in front of or behind the vehicle if you have put items such as
stones or pieces of wood under the wheels to improve traction on slippery ground. Spinning
wheels can turn these items into dangerous flying objects causing serious personal injury.
x Even areas that look harmless can be dangerous. Potholes, ditches, trenches, drop-offs,
different kinds of obstacles, and soft or swampy ground often cannot be seen and can be
partially or fully covered by water, grass, branches, or other things. Driving over such terrain
can cause accidents and severe injuries. Before crossing an unknown area, carefully explore
the route you plan to take on foot.
WARNING
Never drive off-road if you are low on fuel. Too little fuel in the tank can cause an accident
and serious injuries. You can also run out of fuel in a remote area where getting help is
difficult or impossible.
x When the fuel tank is almost empty, fuel supply to the engine can be interrupted,
especially when driving over bumps, across slopes, and up and down hills. The interruption
in fuel flow could stall the engine during a maneuver in difficult terrain and make you lose
control of the vehicle.
x Steering and braking assistance as well as ESC and related systems will not work if the
engine “sputters” or stalls due to lack of fuel. This can cause loss of vehicle control,
especially in difficult terrain.
x Always refuel when the tank is 1/4 full to reduce the risk of running out of fuel.
NOTICE
If the power sunroof or the windows are open when it rains or snows, the interior of the vehicle
will get wet and the vehicle may be damaged. Always keep the windows and the power sunroof
closed when driving off-road.

Rollover warning

¥ Check the vehicle tool kit. Add tools and other gear based on the special requirements of the trip
you will be taking
¥ Stow luggage as low and flat as possible in the vehicle. Safely secure all loose objects.
Before driving off-road the first time
Before you drive your vehicle off-road, we urge you to take an appropriate off-road driving course.
Taking a course is especially important if you have little or no experience driving off-road. Even more
experienced off-roaders can benefit from an off-road driving course.
A good course can show you how to handle the vehicle in a wide range of off-road situations and how
to more safely deal with difficult terrain Driving off-road demands a different attitude and very different
skills compared with highway driving. Your safety and that of your passengers will depend on your
knowledge, skill, and caution as a driver ⇒ .
WARNING
Disregarding the safety-related checklist may lead to accidents and serious personal injuries.
x Always review and follow the checklist above. Follow commonly accepted safety practices
and use common sense.
x All occupants must sit properly and wear safety belts whenever the vehicle is moving.
General rules and good driving practices

WARNING
Off-road driving can be dangerous, can lead to accidents, vehicle damage, stranding in
remote areas, and serious personal injury.
x Never drive too fast or for terrain and weather conditions.
x Always adjust your speed and driving style to road, terrain, traffic, and weather
conditions.
x Always avoid sudden, sharp maneuvers that increase the risk of loss of vehicle control or
getting stuck.
x When driving off-road look and think ahead, expect the unexpected.
x To reduce the risk of loss of control and serious personal injury, never use the cruise
control when driving off-road. Cruise control is designed for highway use. It is completely
unsuitable for off-road situations and can even be dangerous when used off-road.
NOTICE
Always make sure the vehicle has enough ground clearance. Severe damage to the underbody
can occur if the vehicle bottoms out. The damage could disable the vehicle and leave you
stranded.
x While driving off-road do not drag the clutch or rest one foot on the clutch pedal. Otherwise,
in bumpy terrain you might press the clutch accidentally, resulting in loss of vehicle control. In
addition, the frictional connection between the engine and transmission is lost. Further, driving
while dragging the clutch causes fast wear of the clutch lining.
“Tread lightly” is an educational program designed to increase public awareness of land use
regulations and responsibilities in our nation's wilderness areas. Volkswagen supports the U.S. Forest
Service and the Bureau of Land Management in encouraging you to preserve our national forests and
other public and private lands by “treading lightly”.
Technical terms explained

Fig. Illustration of A: ascent angle. B: lateral gradient.

be lower on hard, firm surfaces if ideal conditions do not exist. As the driver, you are always
responsible for deciding whether your vehicle is able to handle a particular situation ⇒ .

Term Explanation Technical data
Ground clearance This is the vertical distance between the
level ground and the lowest part on the
vehicle.
maximum 7.6 in ( mm).
Gradient angle The number of feet (meters) in altitude
gained when traveling ft (30.48 m) is
given as a percentage or in degrees ⇒ fig.
A.
Information on the maximum slope the
vehicle can climb unassisted (depends on
road surface and engine power).
Maximum permissible 31 degrees
(corresponds to 60 %).
Lateral angle
(vehicle slope)
The maximum angle the vehicle may be
driven across terrain without the vehicle
rolling over (depends on height of center of
gravity) B.
Maximum permissible
27 degrees.
Breakover angle Maximum permitted angle given in
degrees that a vehicle driven at low speed
can clear a ramp without the underbody of
the vehicle scraping the ramp.
maximum 21.3 degrees.
Approach/departure
angle
Transition from horizontal plane to a slope,
or from a slope to flat ground.
Maximum angle in degrees the vehicle can
be driven at low speed along an
embankment without the bumper or
underbody scraping.
Approach angle for off-road front
end:
maximum 28 degrees.
Departure angle:
maximum 25 degrees.
Fall line This is the vertical drop route.
Articulation Articulation capability of the vehicle while driving on one side over an object.

WARNING
Never exceed the recommended maximum values in the above table. Exceeding these values
will result in serious personal injury and/or damage to your vehicle.
x All values listed above are for ideal conditions and assume firm, even surfaces that are
dry and not slippery.
x Off-road conditions will always be less than ideal. Always reduce the maximum values
listed in the table above to allow an adequate margin of safety between the ideal maximum
value and your vehicle's actual off-road situation.
Useful off-road driving equipment

Checklist
Checklist: Useful off-road driving equipment ⇒ :
¥ Water, compass, maps, flashlight and spare batteries.
¥ Cable winch, tow rod or tow rope strong enough for your vehicle.
¥ Cell phone, shovel, blankets, and rubber boots, tape measure, and yardstick.
¥ Electric air compressor to connect to the 12 volt outlet in the vehicle for inflating the tires.
¥ A wooden plank about 2 inches thick and 3 feet long or similar aluminum frame as traction aid for a
stuck vehicle or as a base for the vehicle jack.
¥ Snow chains for all 4 tires, additional spare tires.
WARNING
Accidents and severe personal injury can result from the improper use of tools or equipment
as well as from the use of tools or equipment that are damaged or not right for the job to be
done.
Safety and off-road driving

WARNING
Not wearing safety belts, or wearing them improperly will increase the risk of serious injuries
when driving off-road. Holding the steering wheel improperly will reduce your ability to
control the vehicle and can also increase the risk of injury when driving off-road.
x Properly worn safety belts are the single most effective means of reducing the risk of
serious injury and death during sudden braking or driving maneuvers and in automobile
accidents. For this reason, always wear your safety belt properly and make sure all
passengers wear their safety belts properly as well whenever the vehicle is moving.
x Never wrap your thumbs around the steering wheel rim. When driving off-road, obstacles
in front of the wheels can make the steering wheel jerk suddenly in your hands and cause
personal injury. Rest your thumbs pointing up on the on the surface of the steering wheel at
the 3 and 9 o'clock positions.

Off-road driving situations