Volkswagen Tiguan review

Our opinion on the Volkswagen Tiguan

If you’re looking for a practical, nicely finished, efficient and refined mid-sized SUV, then the Volkswagen Tiguan ticks all of those boxes. And if you require low company car tax costs, but an EV doesn’t suit your lifestyle, then the excellent eHybrid PHEV model ticks yet another box.

Do you get what you pay for? We think so, but we’d be wary of going too high up the range when you could consider genuinely premium alternatives for the same price. However, the Tiguan still offers a compelling combination of space, efficiency and practicality, with plenty of modern tech and a high-quality cabin. 

About the Volkswagen Tiguan

It’s difficult to overstate the importance of the Tiguan, and not just for Volkswagen but for the entire empire it heads. This is the highest-selling VW model across its global markets, and forms a technical basis for many more, so the stakes are high. 

When the time came to completely reimagine it for the third generation, VW zeroed in on giving its customers more of what they want – such as interior space, powertrain options and tech – while reducing complexity along the way. The car is now longer than it was in its first two generations, and those in need of even more space have the option of the Tayron, which also includes a third row of seats. 

Used - available now

2020 Volkswagen

Tiguan

70,218 milesManualPetrol1.5L

Cash £13,197

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2023 Volkswagen

Tiguan

8,949 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £28,251

View Tiguan

2024 Volkswagen

Tiguan

2,950 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £21,200

View Tiguan

2020 Volkswagen

Tiguan

18,100 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £20,400

View Tiguan

All Tiguan models feature a combustion engine, because the full-EV option is in effect taken care of by the Volkswagen ID.4 in the brand’s range. However, there’s a new and exceptionally efficient plug-in hybrid model that acts as a bridge between internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric vehicle (EV), and there’s even a diesel that will suit high-mileage drivers. 

Volkswagen Tiguan  prices and latest deals

Volkswagen has revised the Tiguan line-up since its 2024 introduction, binning the entry-level model, which brings the entry price up to just over £37,000. Opening the range is now Life trim, which is available exclusively with a 128bhp 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. 

Match trim introduces more engine options for an extra £200, and is expected to be the preferred starting point in the range for private buyers. You can upgrade to a 148bhp variant of the same engine, plus there’s a 2.0 TDI with the same 148bhp for an extra £2,000. Match trim is also the entry level for the 201bhp 1.5 TSI eHybrid, which has a price tag of around £43,000. 

For those looking for 4MOTION four-wheel drive, then a 2.0 TSI petrol is offered with 201bhp or 261bhp, and prices of around £45,500 and £48,500, respectively. If you think these prices seem quite high compared to the previous generation, you’d be right, but you could save some cash by using the Auto Express Buy a Car service, where you can sell your old one too. 

Petrol power for the Volkswagen Tiguan comes from the company’s 1.5 TSI turbo four-cylinder in 128bhp or 148bhp forms. Further up the range, a 2.0 TSI is available in R-Line and Black Edition models, with 201bhp or 261bhp and 4MOTION four-wheel drive as standard for both engines. 

Diesel fans have access to a 148bhp 2.0 TDI in the majority of specs, while the eHybrid uses a 1.5 TSI petrol engine combined with an electric motor and a 25.7kWh battery. The engine is largely the same as the petrol model’s, except it runs slightly differently to boost efficiency, while the electric motor is integrated into a bespoke six-speed twin-clutch gearbox. 

Two power outputs are offered – 201bhp or 268bhp – although unlike the similarly powerful 2.0 TSI models, the eHybrids are front-wheel drive, as with the rest of the range. All versions of the Tiguan come with automatic gearboxes; there are no manual options 

Ultimately, the Tiguan is never going to be a car for keen drivers, but clever software means it’s safe and secure even if you take a corner a little too quickly. It’ll satisfy the needs of the majority of drivers in everyday use, providing a grippy chassis and precise steering. There’s perhaps a little more body lean in bends than you’ll find in a Ford Kuga or SEAT Ateca, while the ride could do with being a bit more comfortable.

Performance, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed

The Volkswagen Tiguan’s acceleration times start with the 128bhp 1.5 eTSI, which manages 0-62mph in 10.6 seconds and has a top speed of 123mph. Our preferred engine is the 148bhp 1.5 eTSI, and its extra power and torque (250Nm versus 220Nm) trims the benchmark acceleration time to 9.1 seconds, while the top speed rises to 130mph. It’s a responsive engine, and it works well with the standard seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox.

The 2.0 TDI diesel develops 148bhp too, but it also has 360Nm of torque. However, it isn’t as responsive as the petrol, so 0-62mph takes 9.4 seconds. This engine’s talents lie in offering low-rev grunt (maximum torque arrives at 1,600rpm) and the ability to tow heavier trailers or caravans. Top speed is 129mph. 

Town driving, visibility and parking

Responsive controls and sure-footed handling mean that the Tiguan is easy to drive in urban areas, although bumps do tend to thump into the cabin – smaller wheels make things smoother. All versions come with front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera, while higher-spec variants add kit such as a 360-degree camera and remote parking tech.

The eHybrid offers quiet and refined running when the hybrid system’s battery is fully charged, and it’s responsive to inputs without resorting to petrol power if there’s enough capacity left in the battery. But once the engine does cut in, the experience isn’t quite so smooth. The transition between electric and combustion drive is jerky, and at low speeds (when exiting a junction, for example) the VW can hesitate as it decides which power source to use.

The auto-hold handbrake adds to the jerkiness, because it needs a firm prod of the accelerator to disengage, which causes the Tiguan to lurch forward as the power comes in. We’d recommend leaving the system off for a smoother drive.

Country road driving and handling

At higher speeds the Tiguan’s firm ride softens off, and the car offers positive responses, with direct steering that is short on feedback but has decent weight. There’s a stiffer suspension set-up with R-Line trim that feels a bit harsher than the standard car’s, but for the best experience we would recommend upgrading to the £1,025 Dynamic Driving Package. 

This includes Adaptive Chassis Control with adjustable dampers, which can be set from soft to firm and deliver better comfort than the standard set-up, although overall it’s still on the firm side.

The eHybrid favours electric drive as often as possible, but when the engine does cut in, it’s by no means harsh. The extra weight of the hybrid system doesn’t have much of a detrimental effect on the car’s handling, either. 

With a fairly even split in power delivery from the electric motor and engine, the Tiguan will favour electric drive even at higher speeds. It’s only when accelerating on slip roads that the engine is at its most vocal, but even then, it’s far from being harsh. 

Motorway driving and long-distance comfort

The firm edge to the VW’s ride is still present at motorway speeds. Higher-spec cars on larger wheels suffer from a bit of road noise, too, although it’s not loud enough to make conversation with passengers difficult.

“There’s a polish to the Tiguan’s powertrain that elevates it above many mainstream rivals, and even some premium options too. Yet the surprise package is the top-spec 265 petrol variant, which has more than a whiff of Golf GTI about it – which isn’t surprising considering it uses exactly the same engine.” – Jordan Katsianis, Senior staff writer.

Premium aspirations mean that Volkswagen Tiguan prices are steeper than they are for some mainstream rivals, although they’re still below those of the likes of the BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC. 

Economy figures for the engine range start with a combined figure of 46.3mpg for the 1.5 eTSI 130, while the more powerful 1.5 eTSI 150 has a slightly poorer quoted figure of 45.3mpg. These economy figures beat those of the rival Ford Kuga, Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage when equipped with similarly sized petrol engines.

The larger 2.0 TSI petrol is thirstier and has the added drain of 4MOTION four-wheel drive. The 201bhp version manages 36.4mpg, while the more powerful model has a combined figure of only 33.2mpg. The 148bhp 2.0 TDI diesel is the most efficient non-plug-in Tiguan, returning up to 52.2mpg combined. As with all the other engines, the precise figures vary depending on trim level and wheel size.

The eHybrid version costs more because of its plug-in technology, but everyday running costs should be decent. VW quotes astronomical figures ranging from 647-715mpg for the plug-in hybrid Tiguans, but what you achieve in the real world will depend entirely on how often you charge the battery. 

Run it down, and once the pack is below 15 per cent capacity, the PHEV’s electronics will favour petrol power to save the charge. Driving the Tiguan eHybrid like this, we found it achieved fuel economy of around 35mpg. A small 45-litre fuel tank means the range using petrol power is short, which further emphasises the need to charge the battery on a regular basis.

Electric range, battery life and charge time

Keep the 25.7kWh pack (19.7kWh usable) topped up, and according to VW you should see an all-electric range of 77 miles from the 201bhp model, or 75 miles for the faster 268bhp car. When we tested the more powerful model in cold conditions, we saw a maximum range of 55 miles from the car’s trip computer, although this will change according to the type of driving that you do. That’s quite a lot further than the maximum of 42 miles you can get out of a 2.5 PHEV plug-in Ford Kuga.

Volkswagen equips its eHybrid powertrain with fast DC charging of up to 50kW, and from a powerful enough source the battery can go from 10-80 per cent capacity in 26 minutes. The latest-generation PHEV system also has 11kW AC charging (up from 3.7kW before), which can take the battery from flat to full in two and a half hours.

Exclusively rapid charging your plug-in hybrid would be costly in the long run, so most people will likely utilise a 7.4kW wallbox charger at home. The official charging time at 7.4kW has yet to be released, but we expect it to be around four hours, a figure we’ve been given for the eHybrid Volkswagen Passat, which uses the same battery.

The pack in the eHybrid model is covered by a separate warranty, which guarantees that the battery will maintain above 70 per cent capacity over five years or 100,000 miles. However, it only applies to the first owner of the car and is non-transferable to subsequent owners.

Insurance groups

Adding a complex hybrid powertrain to the Tiguan sees insurance groups for the eHybrid variant rise to the 27-31 bracket, which is six or seven groups higher than the less powerful petrol and diesel models. The highest-ranked model is the most powerful 2.0 TSI, in Group 32.

For comparison, a Ford Kuga starts in group 16, and goes up to 26, while the Hyundai Tucson starts in group 18, going up to group 24 for a top-of-the-range Ultimate PHEV with four-wheel drive.

Tax

Official emissions figures of 9-10g/km for the Tiguan eHybrid mean it’s competitive as a company car thanks to being in a competitively low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) company car tax band. The more powerful model has similar figures to the 201bhp version, although high list prices counter that.

All eHybrid models cost in excess of £40,000, as do the higher-powered 2.0 TSI petrol and the higher-spec diesels, so the luxury car tax premium is applied.

Depreciation

Residual values in the 55 per cent bracket mean that the Tiguan eHybrid is a better performer than the combustion-engined versions of the car, which fall in the region of 50 to 53 per cent – the attraction of low company car costs is sure to help the eHybrid’s higher figures.

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The latest Volkswagen Tiguan doesn’t exactly push the envelope in terms of looks – at first glance, you might even mistake it for the outgoing model. But playing it safe with the Tiguan’s styling makes a bit more sense when you factor in that this is VW’s best-selling model globally. 

Jump inside, and the first thing that strikes you is that the interior is almost a carbon copy of the Volkswagen Passat’s, with a 12.9-inch central touchscreen screen and a 10.25-inch ‘Digital Cockpit Pro’ driver’s display provided as standard (although the car featured in our pictures has the optional Infotainment package (£1,100), which is available from Life trim and above and comes with a larger 15-inch screen).

We know Volkswagen is reverting to more physical controls in its cabins after years of heavy criticism of its touch-sensitive sliders, but the latest Tiguan has arrived too soon for this change of heart. The slider beneath the screen is at least backlit, and the revised set-up allows you to skip to a certain volume or temperature by using two fingers on the panel. We approve of having physical buttons on the steering wheel once again compared with the touch-sensitive ones that you could accidentally hit while turning the wheel.

Interior and dashboard design

The now-discontinued entry-level ‘Tiguan’ trim looked a little dull inside, but Life has a 10-colour ambient lighting system, while mid-range Match trim has laminated rear privacy glass. The plush Elegance trim has a 30-colour ambient lighting system as well as heated and massaging front seats and a 360-degree camera set-up. Finally, R-Line gains more heavily contoured sports seats, and some sportier-looking exterior and interior styling tweaks.

Materials and build quality

The fit and finish are decent inside, with soft-touch plastics and gloss-black trim around the cabin, and flock lining for the door bins to stop items rattling around. Higher-spec cars feature LED ambient lighting across the dashboard and doors that can be changed to different colours.

This generation of Tiguan is the first to introduce VW’s driving experience switch. You get a rotary dial on the centre console, and this has various functions, including toggling between some pre-configured ‘atmospheres’. These presets combine ambient lighting (part of which comes from a patterned finish on the dashboard panel) and audio functions to offer different moods, whether they be calm, energetic, or something in between. We found the dial more useful for one of its other functions, which is as a simple volume control.

Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The Tiguan’s dashboard layout makes use of the touchscreen for most of its operations, with a 12.9-inch display as standard and a large 15-inch screen offered as an option. Both look sharp, with high-resolution graphics, while the standard-fit 10.25-inch digital dial cluster adds to the hi-tech feel of the cabin. The larger screen also comes with a helpful head-up display, which projects important information, such as speed onto the windscreen within the driver’s line of sight.

Whether you stick with the standard display or upgrade, the Tiguan’s logical layout and menu system are easy to use, with climate shortcuts at the bottom and a strip across the top for quick access to common functions.

The sliding temperature and volume controls still need a knack to get them to work properly, though, while VW’s always-listening “Hey Ida” voice control prompt is too easy to activate accidentally when in conversation with passengers – you could be talking just for the car’s voice system to butt in and ask what you want when you’ve done nothing of the sort.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone connectivity are standard, but you’ll need the Infotainment package to get wireless charging pad on the entry-level trim, or step up to Life trim. An eight-speaker audio setup is standard, but for around £1,400 you can add a 700-watt, 10-speaker Harman Kardon system.

“The Tiguan’s cabin isn’t going to win any design awards, but it’s a practical and well built space to spend a lot of time. We love the soft-touch plastics and added physical controls, but there’s still too much gloss-black trim that attracts dust and fingerprints” – Jordan Katsianis, Senior Staff Writer

The Volkswagen Tiguan continues as a spacious five-seat mid-size SUV, but if you're looking for the stretched seven-seat version, you’ll have to go for the Volkswagen Tayron – the replacement for the Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace.

The Tiguan is one of the most spacious cars in its class, for both passengers and their belongings. A pair of adults should find plenty of space up front in the Tiguan, while visibility is better than the class average thanks to a relatively straight bonnet, which gives a decent clue about where the front end stops, and large side windows mean respectable over-the-shoulder visibility. A blind-spot monitoring system is standard to warn you of vehicles lurking where you can’t see them. 

All versions come with front and rear parking sensors, plus a reversing camera, while Elegance trim (and cars equipped with the optional Driver assistance package from Life trim and above) have a 360-degree camera system. All Tiguans have LED headlights, but to improve night driving, you can specify the optional IQ.Light Matrix LED headlights, which will avoid dazzling oncoming traffic while outputting the maximum amount of light. The system will also do tricks such as project warnings onto the road surface ahead of the car, just like the Mercedes Digital Light system. It costs an eye-watering £2,400, and you have to have the £950 Driver assistance pack with it, too. 

Dimensions and size

The Tiguan comes in at 4,539mm long, 1,660mm tall (1,658mm for the eHybrid), and 1,842mm wide (1,859mm for the R-Line), which puts it between the Hyundai Tucson and Ford Kuga in terms of size.

Seats & passenger space

There’s plenty of steering wheel and seat adjustment to find a decent driving position, while some versions of the Tiguan feature ergoActive seats that boost long-distance comfort.

Storage is reasonable, although there’s no stowage room beneath the centre armrest – the space is open but features movable dividers that can be used as cup-holders and also feature a bottle opener. The front door bins are a decent size, as is the glovebox.

In the second row, the raised seating boosts the view forwards for back-seat passengers, but while the outer rear seats are roomy, the middle chair is a little cramped. It’s not helped by the transmission tunnel getting in the way, but at least there’s decent foot space under the front seats. Plus the seat backs can be reclined slightly for added comfort.

Three-zone climate control means those in the back can set their own temperature, while a pair of USB-C sockets is also included. There are three sets of Isofix points for fitting child seats, two in the rear and one on the front passenger seat. The Tiguan comes with Isofix child seat mounting points on the outer positions of the rear bench, plus another on the front passenger seat, making it a little more flexible in terms of where you can fit car seats.

Boot space

There’s a 652-litre boot in the back of the Tiguan, which isn’t far off of the brand’s practical Volkswagen Passat estate car, and is a bit more than you’ll find in a Ford Kuga, Renault Austral or Toyota RAV4. Handy release levers just inside the boot drop all the seats easily, and the capacity increases to 1,650 litres, which is still more than in a Kuga.

The Tiguan has a sliding and reclining rear seat, and 40:20:40-split folding means there’s flexibility when carrying people and longer items. A selection of side cubbies can hold smaller items, and there’s plenty of under-floor storage space in the petrol and diesel variants.

Compromises have been made to fit the eHybrid system into the Tiguan, and it’s the boot that bears the brunt of this. A cargo capacity of 490 litres is well down on the 652 litres offered in the standard model, but that’s still one of the better figures among its PHEV rivals – for example, the PHEV-only BYD Seal U has a capacity of only 425 litres. The VW’s floor is level with the low load lip, too, which improves access. A maximum capacity of 1,486 litres with the back seats folded isn’t bad, but it is 164 litres down on the non-hybrid Tiguan.

Towing

The best Tiguan for towing is the 2.0 TSI petrol with 4MOTION, which can haul a braked trailer or caravan of up to 2,200kg, irrespective of which power output you choose. Both the 2.0 TDI and 272 eHybrid have the next highest towing capacity of 2,000kg. The 1.5 eTSI 150 and 204 eHybrid can pull a braked trailer or caravan of up to 1,800kg, while the 1.5 eTSI 130 is the least capable at 1,600kg, but that’s still enough for a decent-sized caravan.

In comparison, the revised Ford Kuga can manage up to 2,100kg in 2.5 PHEV plug-in hybrid form, or in the four-wheel drive version of the 2.5 FHEV. Fitting a tow bar to the Tiguan costs more than £1,000.

A full-size spare wheel is available for £350.

“The Tiguan hits all the right notes when it comes to the interior storage solutions that you’d expect, but there’s not much in the way of surprises as you’ll find in some Japanese or Korean alternatives” – Jordan Katsianis, Senior Staff Writer

VW’s eHybrid system is in its second generation, so any teething troubles with the original set-up should have been ironed out. The system is also used in a number of VW Group PHEVs, so there should be strength in numbers in terms of dependability.

It’s too early for this latest Tiguan to have appeared in the Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, but VW as a brand needs to do more to keep its customers happy. It has placed a little higher than its 2024 score to come in 27th out of 31 manufacturers in the 2025 results, but that's still a disappointing score. It only just beat fellow stablemate Cupra (28th), and was outperformed by SEAT (24th), Ford (23rd), Hyundai (20th), Nissan (15th), Skoda (12rd), and was a long way behind Peugeot (7th).

The Tiguan earned a full five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2024, with high scores in all categories. Every model features adaptive cruise control, driver-fatigue detection, road-sign recognition, automatic main beam, lane-change assist, oncoming vehicle braking and rear cross-traffic alert.

Best buy: Volkswagen Tiguan 1.5 eTSI 150 Match

The beauty of having so many different variants across the one model type means it’s easy to find a combination of trim and powertrain that suits your specific needs. If you’re a private buyer and don’t do huge mileage, one of the mild-hybrid petrols in a mid-range spec balances great tech, good space and fine handling without straying too high up the pricing spectrum. 

If you’re buying through a company, or have to take CO2 into consideration, the eHybrid models offer excellent cost-saving measures alongside good efficiency – if you plug them in. We’re not sure R-Line models really add much to the package, but if you’re willing to pay the extra, there’s no reason not to splurge. 

Volkswagen Tiguan alternatives

The Tiguan is Volkswagen’s best-selling model, but it’s far from a dominant force in the compact SUV sector, because there are scores of rivals to choose from. The latest Tiguan is priced towards the upper end of the sector, if not quite on a par with the likes of the BMW X3 and Mercedes GLC.

Rivals include staples of the class such as the Ford Kuga, Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, while slightly cheaper options such as the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai, Renault Austral and Vauxhall Grandland offer better value for money. Some of these rivals offer plug-in hybrid or all-electric options, while a newcomer to the class is the BYD Seal U, which is purely a plug-in hybrid.

If you’re waiting for the return of the seven-seat Tiguan Allspace, then you’re out of luck. Instead, the company has launched the Volkswagen Tayron as a separate model to rival the likes of the Skoda Kodiaq and Peugeot 5008.

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Volkswagen Tiguan pictures

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