Volkswagen Tiguan Owners Manual:  Introduction to the subject

In this chapter you will find information on the following subjects:

⇒ Rollover warning 

⇒ Before driving off-road 

⇒ General rules and good driving practices 

⇒ Vehicle front end 

⇒ Technical terms explained 

⇒ Useful off-road driving equipment 

⇒ Safety and off-road driving 

Your vehicle can be driven on and off-road. In this chapter “Off-road driving” you will find important information on driving your vehicle. It is very important to review this chapter before taking your vehicle off-road.

Driving off the beaten path is challenging - for the driver, the passengers, and the vehicle itself.

It requires special knowledge and skills different from those needed for highway driving. Successful off-roading comes from a combination of theory and practice. This includes knowing the right way to handle the expected and the unexpected ⇒ .

Safety must always have top priority. Never overestimate your own abilities or underestimate the difficulties that come with driving off-road. Never let determination get the better of your common sense. If the going gets too difficult, turn back and find a better route to your destination.

The wide range of terrain you can come up against, and the many risks and dangers the terrain may hide, make it impossible to foresee and deal in this Manual with every conceivable off-road situation you may face. For this reason, it is vital for you to know what lies ahead and evaluate possible dangers before trying to drive over difficult or unfamiliar terrain.

The vehicle is not designed for trips with an expedition-like character.

More information:

• Driving instructions ⇒ Driving checklists and warnings 

• Adjusting the seating position ⇒ Adjusting the seating position 

• Safety belts ⇒ Safety belts 

• Off-road driving situations ⇒ Off-road driving situations 

Warning

Inadequate experience and knowledge of the demands of off-road driving can lead to critical situations and cause serious personal injury.

• 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.

• 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.

• Never operate the vehicle at the limit of its performance ability. Always leave a good safety margin.

• To reduce the risk of loss of control and serious personal injury, never use the cruise control when driving off-road.

• 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.

• 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.

• Never drive faster than is appropriate for the prevailing terrain and the road, traffic, and weather conditions.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Always refuel when the tank is 1/4 full to reduce the risk of running out of fuel.

Note

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.