Volkswagen Tiguan

Outside

Volkswagen says it has given the Tiguan a “bold and expressive” look with a “higher, more powerful nose” and a “more athletic” profile. We think the rounded hood edges, slim LED headlights, and front light bar give it a look very similar to the ID.4 EV. The length between the wheels is longer, and the rear wheels are closer to the rear bumper, which should improve interior space. If you’ve traveled outside the U.S. recently, you might recognize its look—a version of the new Tiguan is already on sale in Europe and Asia, where it’s called the Tayron.

The Tiguan has 17-inch wheels as standard equipment, but most trim levels will get 19- or 20-inch wheels. Larger wheels and tires may look better, but we tend to find they can make for a harsher ride, and replacement tires are more expensive.

Inside

If you’ve driven a newer Volkswagen Taos or ID.4, you’ll recognize the new Tiguan’s interior and controls. The gear selector is no longer a traditional “PRNDL” setup, and it has been moved from the center console to behind the steering wheel. On the model we saw, buttons and knobs for climate control have all been replaced by a single touchscreen. Changing the temperature requires moving a finger across a touch-sensitive slider at the bottom of the infotainment screen, and many common features are hidden away in menus. Defroster and defogger controls have been moved to the left of the steering wheel—we’ve found this arrangement difficult to see and use while driving in other VWs.

At least the Tiguan appears to retain its physical controls on the steering wheel. Other VWs suffer from touch-sensitive sliders that are hard to differentiate while driving. Volkswagen says the new Tiguan also offers “Atmospheres”—preset and custom ambient lighting and sound settings that change the feel of the vehicle’s interior.

Where the shifter used to be, the center console now offers more storage and a single multifunction knob for changing volume, selecting driving modes, and—on vehicles equipped with the feature—choosing different atmospheres. When we buy our own Tiguan, we’ll get a sense of how easy it is to switch between these functions.

In addition to the technology, VW now offers standard wireless charging and seat heaters. Massaging front seats, a heated steering wheel, three-zone climate control, a 12-speaker upgraded sound system, genuine wood and leather trim, and a head-up display are optional.

What Drives It

The new Tiguan is built on the MQB Evo platform (a “platform” is a set of shared designs and technologies that underpin multiple models). Volkswagen says it has upgraded the venerable EA888 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that powered the previous Tiguan, bumping horsepower up to 201 from 184. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard. According to the automaker, the Tiguan also shed 170 pounds, largely thanks to the use of aluminum in the suspension and high-strength hot-formed steel in the vehicle’s structure.

Unlike the Ford Escape, Honda CR–V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-50, Mitsubishi Outlander, and Toyota RAV4, there’s no hybrid or plug-in hybrid version of the Tiguan. Hybrid versions of compact SUVs usually get between 31 and 37 mpg overall in our tests.

Active Safety and Driver Assistance

We’re glad to hear that every Tiguan will come standard with automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning (BSW), rear cross traffic warning (RCTW), and adaptive cruise control (ACC). It also features Volkswagen’s Emergency Assist, which slows a vehicle to a stop and turns on the hazard lights if the driver becomes unresponsive. The IQ.Drive active driving assistance system, which combines lane centering assistance (LCA) and ACC to potentially reduce stress during highway driving, is also standard.

In terms of crash protection, the Tiguan now has standard driver knee, center, and rear side airbags.