The 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan, not to be confused with its beefier older brother the Touareg, offers a fine option for those in the market for a smaller SUV. The Tiguan gets impressive marks for the sporty way its turbocharged engine gets the vehicle around.

It handles well and provides a nice, car-like ride, too. Reviewers and drivers find the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan, which competes with the likes of the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, stylish as well.

But yes, Volkswagen does come up with some strange-sounding names for its vehicles. A naming contest came up with this one, a combination of Tiger and Iguana and, truth be told, Tiguan is not a bad fit with the Touareg.

A 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder (I4) engine that produces 200 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque powers all trims - the S, SE, and SEL - of the Tiguan. All trims come standard with front-wheel drive (FWD), and VW’s all-wheel-drive (AWD) system is available in the SE and SEL versions. The Tiguan S has a six-speed manual transmission, and a six-speed automatic transmission that can be run manually is also available. That automatic-manual mix is standard in the upper trims. The SE and SEL trims with AWD use Volkswagen’s 4Motion six-speed automatic transmission.

The Tiguan, introduced in 2008, changes little beyond some cosmetics, with a redesigned front grille and new bumpers, for 2011. VW hopes the 2011 Tiguan’s fuel numbers improve a bit from the 2010's 19 mpg city and 26 highway for the manual and 18/24 for the automatic.

Rear seats in the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan slide 6 inches forward or back, which gives the vehicle some flexibility in providing legroom for passengers or more storage area in the back. That may help somewhat resolve a complaint that the Tiguan does not have a whole lot of storage room. Interior controls are clearly marked and easy to use.

Standard features for the Tiguan S include a single-CD player with eight speakers, Bluetooth communications technology, a front storage console with chilled storage compartment, heated mirrors, and 16-inch wheels. The SE adds a trip computer, heated front seats, two-way powered driver’s seat, privacy glass, and a 6-CD changer, satellite radio, and 17-inch wheels. The SEL gets rain-sensing wipers, power retractable mirrors, and 600 watts of audio power with 10 speakers and rides on 18-inch wheels.

The Tiguan, like most of Volkswagen’s offerings, scores well in crash safety tests with its full array of airbags, standard four-wheel antilock brakes, and traction and stability control.