Volkswagen Tiguan plug-in hybrid long-term test: report 3

This recently refreshed plug-in hybrid SUV can travel up to 30 miles on a charge. We're living with one to see if the Tiguan should be on your new car shortlist...

Volkswagen Tiguan with games console

The car Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 eHybrid Elegance

Why it’s here To show that going green doesn’t mean compromising on longer journeys, even if you can’t charge at home

Needs to Be economical, both around town and on a motorway, offer a comfortable and refined experience, and function as a mobile office when needed


Mileage 1988 List price £39,640 Target Price £39,056 Price as tested £40,695 Test economy 93.5mpg Official economy 153.2mpg


4 June 2022 – Easy on the eye

The Nintendo Switch games console revolutionised gaming when it arrived in 2017, largely because it offered the kind of graphics usually only seen in far larger and more expensive systems. Five years after its launch, it still amazes me that it offers that kind of power in a package just 6.8in across.

It also illustrates a criticism over my Volkswagen Tiguan. You see, while there’s nothing inherently wrong with my car’s infotainment system – it responds fairly quickly to my inputs, and offers all the features I like – it isn’t what I’d call impressive to look at. 

Volkswagen Tiguan infotainment system

On most menus, for example, the screen is largely black save for its icons, and even the sat-nav map looks a bit bland. While I’m not looking for games console levels of graphics, I’d appreciate something that’s easier on the eye. The system in the rival BMW X1, for example, looks a lot better.

The Nintendo Switch has shown we can package great graphics into small spaces, but my Tiguan feels behind the times in this respect.

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