2018 Volkswagen Tiguan

The Tiguan’s turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine has been updated and now uses a more efficient combustion process that’s a modified version of the Miller cycle. There’s a meaty torque plateau in the four-cylinder’s midrange, but the engine note is gritty, and its response off the line is sluggish due to some turbo lag and a long-travel accelerator pedal. With the caveat that we drove the Tiguan exclusively at high elevations in Colorado, the engine ran out of steam higher in the rev range and the eight-speed automatic is slow to downshift, making passing or merging a somewhat strained proposition. The new engine left us wishing for some sort of upgrade with more power, but this 2.0T is the only choice for now. And given the combustion tech, we’re disappointed that the turbo four isn’t able to deliver more competitive EPA numbers: The Tiguan’s 24-mpg combined rating falls 6 mpg short of the CR-V’s with its more enthusiastic and more powerful 1.5-liter turbo four.

All Grown Up

If the new Tiguan isn’t quite as fun loving as before, it is at least considerably more mature in its aesthetic. Its nicely creased, squared-off look is among the more pleasing designs in its class. The interior, too, rises to the top end of the segment: The dashboard looks and feels upscale, with clearly organized HVAC and audio controls and a large, crisp-looking 8.0-inch touchscreen display in all but the base S trim, which gets a 6.5-inch screen. The leatherette upholstery found in SE and SEL models is convincing, while the top SEL Premium gets real hides and a high-tech, configurable digital gauge cluster that’s not far off from Audi’s Virtual Cockpit system. The availability of active-safety features isn’t quite as widespread as in the CR-V, but VW does offer forward-collision warning and blind-spot monitoring as standard on SE models and above (and optional on the S).


While the base Tiguan S has an attractive base price of $26,245—that’s less than a three-row Rogue—the better-equipped trim levels can get pricey, especially when you add $1300 for 4Motion. The reasonably equipped SE model runs for $31,280 with all-wheel drive and two rows of seats; it’s probably the best value. But to get features such as a power liftgate, you have to pay $34,750 for the SEL. The SEL Premium model with all the options tops out at $43,585, at which point you might start looking at an Audi Q5 or the much larger Atlas. For those who can’t stomach those costs, or for those who want to have more fun in their VW crossover, the outgoing Tiguan will remain on sale for a few more years as the Tiguan Limited, presumably with a considerably discounted base price.
For others looking for a roomy compact crossover SUV, though, this full-figured Tiguan’s price premium will be offset by the sheer amount of car you get for the money. While we might lament the loss of a sense of driving pleasure, we understand why Volkswagen remade this small crossover into a spacious, comfortable cruiser. The Tiguan now meets the wants and needs of shoppers in the segment, most of whom will take space over pace any day.