Overview & Reviews

The Volkswagen Tiguan provides a different take on the compact crossover segment. Really, how could it not with a name like Tiguan, the result of VW's marketing department apparently melding the words "tiger" and "iguana" together? The car itself isn't quite so head-scratching, but it's definitely outside the norm. Whereas many competitors are utilitarian in nature, with an emphasis on practicality, the Tiguan's refined driving manners and upscale interior lend it a distinctly European flavor that you won't find elsewhere.

So while it may not be the best choice for families or those who prioritize maximum cargo space, a new or used Tiguan will still satisfy the basic SUV needs of others looking for an elevated seating height and the all-weather assurance of all-wheel drive. Plus, if you're familiar with the Volkswagen brand, the Tiguan's numerous similarities to the previous-generation Jetta and Golf will make the switch to an SUV that much easier.

Current Volkswagen Tiguan
The Volkswagen Tiguan is a four-door, five-passenger compact crossover. It's powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that generates 200 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. The base front-wheel-drive version comes with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission, but all others are automatic-only. All-wheel drive can be specified on all but the base, manual-equipped Tiguan.

Five trim levels are available: S, SE, SE with Appearance, SEL and R-Line. All come standard with plenty of features, including eight-way manual front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 40/20/40-split-folding and reclining rear seat, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity and an audio system with an auxiliary audio jack and a CD player. Moving up through the trims adds features such as the Car-Net telematics system, keyless ignition and entry, xenon headlamps, heated power seats, leather seating, a rearview camera and a navigation system. The R-Line trim takes a sporty tack with its 19-inch alloy wheels, sport-tuned suspension and body styling tweaks.

In reviews, we've noted that the Volkswagen Tiguan stands apart thanks to its sleek European design and high-quality interior. Controls are large and well-placed, and the cabin is adorned with genuine aluminum trim. These virtues are matched with equally solid driving dynamics. Unfortunately, the Tiguan lacks the cargo space of some of its competitors. With 23.8 cubic feet in the rear, the Tiguan offers less space than a Jetta wagon. With the second row folded down, maximum capacity grows to 56.1 cubic feet, which is still well shy of class leaders such as the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4. The Tiguan can also command a hefty price premium over other compact utes.

Used Volkswagen Tiguan Models
The Volkswagen Tiguan was introduced for 2009. Until 2012, changes consisted chiefly of trim level and equipment shuffling. For 2012, however, the front-end styling was refreshed and fuel mileage was slightly improved. Other than lacking the R-Line trim level and the Car-Net telematics service, these latter Tiguans are similar to today's lineup.

User Reviews:

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  Losing the love - 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By ray85158 - July 6 - 10:49 pm

  When I first got my Tiguan, I really loved it. However, that is beginning to wear off. My biggest concern on buying a VW is slowly coming true. Electrical gremlins. All of these are intermittent issues so this is going to be fun with the dealer. The back lighting on the right side of the gauge cluster is out sometimes. The radio/nav has now frozen up about 10 different times. The keyless system is flaky. About one out of 10 start ups it says the key is out of range. About 50% of the time I cannot open the rear hatch with the key in my pocket.

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  Almost perfect - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Tim - July 1 - 10:00 am

  This is my first VW after owning over 25 new cars. Like quality of body build, feels solid. Interior is like Audi quality without the price. Seating is excellent as well as visibility. I am getting consistent 25 mpg combo hwy/city taking it easy with 6K miles to date. Only complaint is brake squeal when backing up after car sits a couple of hours. VW cant or wont resolve and it appears this is common with the brand. Talked with dealership and customer care -say brakes are to specifications so have a nice day. I told them how come I never had this problem with any other vehicles in the past. They say because you never owned a VW before. They make a nice product except for this issue.

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  Wish it was from Germany! - 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By SignDoc - June 10 - 9:27 am

  I bought one of the first Tiguans (SEL Premium 4 Motion) in July. I have owned many other VWs (Touareg, Jetta, etc) and many other German makes. I wanted a more simple car though, one not to worry about as much as my last (Porsche Cayenne Diesel). I like the styling of the new Tiguan but have some concerns. Below is the good and the bad: GOOD: Nice styling and lots of room, safety technology on the SEL Premium is excellent it can almost drive itself with the adaptive cruise and lane departure capability, the digital cockpit is very cool, MPG is at 30mpg combined with actual calculation (hope VW isnt cheating somehow as its much better than the window sticker and I have the 4 motion too), very quite ride, relaxing to drive. NOT SO GOOD: Build quality is concerning. I feel Audi / VW is making a huge mistake producing these cars out of Puebla. It is clearly evident in this vehicle and the new Q5 as well. There are loose trim pieces on the exterior, some pieces dont line up. The leather seat quality is inconsistent. My driver seat leather looks great, the passenger seat is all wrinkled. I noticed this in the Audi Q5 too, you would never see this out of Germany. I am amazed how they left all the part stickers and identification throughout the vehicle. As for other areas that are concerning, the engine power and noise is not good, it feels cheap and under powered and its loud inside the car....not a good loud either. The steering is light and the handling is OK, but it doesnt have a VW personality or feel at all. The seats are comfortable, but not as comfortable as the seats on my sons previous Jetta....they dont have enough thigh support. The electronics are spotty, sometimes it takes a few minutes for the satellite radio to connect and sometimes the Android Auto freezes up the entire infotainment. Perhaps some of the issues are a result of the first model year of the new design, but I dont know if I will continue to buy anything that comes out of Pueblo, the quality just isnt there.

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  On the Mark - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By dman - May 9 - 10:13 pm

  We owned a 2008 Toure for 1.5 years and we love the Tiguan even more ... here are the reasons: 1) Practicality - smaller but not to small to hold 5 adults and luggage! Great gas mileage for SUV 2) Free 3 year maintenance program 3) Overall fun to drive and cost of ownership

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  2011 VW Tiguan SE - Fits the big and tall! - 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By thegrick - April 29 - 9:04 am

  I just leased my 2011 Tiguan SE last week after many months of deliberation. First off, I am 65", so that basically eliminates 40% of all cars right off the bat. The Tiguan has more than enough leg and head room for me, and someone can realistically fit behind me when my seat is all the way back. That puts the car at an A for driver and passenger comfort. Also, when you are in the Tiguan, you absolutely know that you are driving a European auto...the way it handles, the solid build quality all around, and the feel of complete control over the road. Overall, VW put a huge emphasis on attention to detail with this vehicle; every function is useful and well thought out. Great interior!

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  2012 Tiguan - Early Signs All Very Positive - 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By gobuffs2 - February 10 - 9:45 pm

  Purchased this SE model with FWD after about 5 months on the car hunt. AWD not necessary IMO & saved $2K. Looked at Hyundai, Nissan, Ford, Toyota even Audi & Merc. Benz. The car has good zip, the turbo kicks in when asked, and it rides smooth - suspension can feel a bit stiff though, so you feel some road bumps. Fit and finish are outstanding as are the ergonomics. It is very fun to drive, the navigation and audio package is very nice - IMO, no need to bump up to the next level of audio or trim. The leather-ette interior is very nice; most people think it to be real leather and I like the idea that it will clean up easier since I haul kids. Overall, very very pleased so far.

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  Fine car - 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By balaji - January 23 - 12:03 pm

  Top class car. Refined, precise and hi tech. Options may add up the price. Very powerful, fast and agile. 4 motion is awesome. Interior is incredibly classy. There is simply no comparison to this car at this time.

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  Most unreliable car ever!! - 2010 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By usavp1 - January 14 - 11:00 am

  We have owned more than 5 cars over the last 10 years - a mix of German and Japanese makes. This 2010 vw Tiguan has been the most unreliable car we have ever owned or driven. This includes the notoriously unreliable Italian cars I grew up driving in the 1980s. We bought this car new. Over the last 6 months (out of warranty of course), we have had the following issues 1. Water pump failure 2. Fuel pump failure 3. Turbo repair 4. A variety of electrical faults 5. Turbo replacement, costing a total $5000 in repairs. Now the 6. EPC light and check engine light just came on - headed to dealer. LAST VW WE EVER BUY. WOULD HIGHLY DISCOURAGE ANYONE FROM PURCHASING THIS CAR. We were helping some friends with car shopping this weekend. Steered them clear of the vw Tiguan, their top choice before we talked to them.

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  2012 Tiguan exceeds my expectations - 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By bill95gl - January 4 - 2:08 am

  Ive owned VWs for over forty years and never really liked the Tiguan. I saw it as a too-small overweight, overpriced, gas-wasting SUV. However, my wife has always wanted a Tiguan and when a used 2012 white Tiguan SE with nav, pano roof and 6K miles showed up at a nearby Mazda Hyundai dealer, we traded her 2007 Passat 2.0T in on it. Ill have to admit that Im really impressed with the Tiguan. Its much quieter and has a much smoother ride than the Passat. It handles well, has plenty of power and is a pleasure to drive. The automatic transmission has no problems...however, I think the transmission programming was fixed before we bought the Tiguan.

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  Look at something else - 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
  By Brian - December 15 - 1:46 pm

  The car has a great look and smooth ride down the road. Thats where it stops. The 8 speed transmission feels like riding with someone the first time they drive a manual transmission. They told me thats normal for the new 8 speed transmissions....except its not. I have since driven most of the competitors and the shifting is smooth in all the rest. The biggest issue is the noise in the B pillar (support post between the front and rear drivers side doors.) Also, rattles in the front passenger door persist. They tried fixing the problems and tore out the entire interior but with no luck. They said it was a manufacturing issue with not enough tack welds between the seven layers of metal in the pillar so when the car flexes they rub. Needless to say, I dropped it off October 4th and havent seen it back. Ive been in a loaner car for 3 months. I gave them an opportunity to make it right rather than file lemon law paperwork as they said it would be quicker and they could do more for me. I should have filed. I opted not to do another Tiguan and to get into an Atlas. My latest update is my replacement its due mid January. Communication was lacking between VW corporate customer care and my dealership. I have been stuck in the middle. After over 30 emails and numerous calls over the last three months hopefully Im about 3 weeks away from being in a new vehicle. They are finally talking to each other. Hopefully the Atlas is a better build. The people are nice but the process is horrible and vehicle defective.