Volkswagen Tiguan review

Moving up a league doesn’t always bring success; the rewards may be greater, but the competition will be tougher. With the Volkswagen Tiguan, that was a risk that VW thought worth taking back in 2016.

That year, this one-time rival to the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage was reinvented as a ‘premium SUV’, and it was a gamble that soon paid off. Sales hit record highs, with a rapid rise in the Tiguan’s reputation as a sensible, practical family SUV that could hold its own against premium competitors such as the BMW X1 and Audi Q3. Even the arrival of new challengers, such as the Volvo XC40 and Range Rover Evoque, didn’t stop the Tiguan from going on to become the best-selling SUV in the whole of Europe. 

Engines range from a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol with either 128bhp (TSI 130) or 148bhp (TSI 150). There’s also a plug-in eHybrid with a decent electric-only range, as well as a hot Tiguan R version with a mighty 316bhp. Finally, there's a pair of 2.0-litre diesels with either 148bhp or 197bhp. The petrol models get cylinder deactivation, which can shut off two of the engine’s four cylinders to save fuel, while TDI diesels benefit from clever technology to reduce emissions.

The Tiguan is designed more for the road than for challenging terrain, but Volkswagen’s 4Motion four-wheel-drive system is available with certain engines, and there are adjustable drive modes that help tackle challenging conditions.

So, is the latest Tiguan still a car that’s at the top of its game? Read on over the next few pages to find out. And, should this be the right car for you, don't forget that you could save hundreds on a Volkswagen Tiguan if you use our New Car Buying service, and all without the hassle of haggling.