Introduction
What Car? says...
The Volkswagen Tiguan family SUV is the German brand's best-selling model worldwide, and it's a popular car here in Britain too.
It's not hard to grasp why – the Tiguan combines family-friendly practicality with a relatively upmarket image. Crucially, it's also cheaper than premium-badged alternatives including the BMW X1 and Volvo XC40 (especially if you get a good discount, which isn't too difficult).
Once you've decided what you want under the bonnet, Volkswagen gives you five trims to choose from. There's entry-level Tiguan, generously equipped Life, lifestyle-based Active, luxurious Elegance and sporty-looking R Line.
The Tiguan is designed more for the road than challenging terrain, but VW’s 4Motion four-wheel drive system is available with certain engines, and there are adjustable drive modes to help you tackle trickier conditions.
So is this latest, second generation Volkswagen Tiguan a great buy or would you be better off with one of the many alternatives in the family SUV category?
Over the next few pages of this review, we'll tell you how it compares with its rivals for performance, interior quality, running costs and more, and also reveal our favourite engine and trim combination. And if you're interested in the super-sized version, which is longer and has two more seats, we also have a full VW Tiguan Allspace review.
The easiest way to get a great price is by searching for the make and model you want to buy on our free What Car? New Car Deals service. You don't have to do any haggling, and it features lots of the best new family SUV deals.
FAQs
It’s about average: in the 2022 What Car? Reliability Survey, the Tiguan placed near the middle of the family SUVs table. Read more here
Yes – there’s a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Tiguan, called the eHybrid. It's the best choice for company car drivers because of tax benefits compared with other versions. There’s no fully electric Tiguan, though. Read more here
Our chosen version of the Tiguan for most buyers is the entry-level 1.5 TSI 150 petrol engine with the cheapest trim, called Life. Company car users are likely to be better off with the eHybrid version, which is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Read more here
The Tiguan in R-Line trim is slightly more expensive than Elegance, and is sportier, with larger 20in alloy wheels and more dynamic styling. Elegance is all about comfort and tech, and includes matrix LED headlights, a powered tailgate and a rear-view camera system. Read more here
When it was tested by Euro NCAP, the Tiguan scored the full five stars for safety. That was back in 2016, though, and the testing has become far more stringent since then so comparing it with rival models is difficult. Read more here
The Tiguan’s boot is very impressive by the standards of the family SUV class, with up to 615 litres of space, and the lip at the entrance is very small, making loading larger items easier. Read more here
| RRP price range | £29,550 - £48,540 |
|---|---|
| Number of trims (see all) | 4 |
| Number of engines (see all) | 8 |
| Available fuel types (which is best for you?) | diesel, petrol, hybrid |
| MPG range across all versions | 148.7 - 54.3 |
| Available doors options | 5 |
| Warranty | 3 years / 60000 miles |
| Company car tax at 20% (min/max) | £871 / £3,483 |
| Company car tax at 40% (min/max) | £1,742 / £6,966 |
| Available colours |
