Volkswagen Tiguan Review & Prices

The Volkswagen Tiguan has one of the simplest recipes of any family SUV. It looks good without being too in-yer-face, is spacious without being intimidating to drive in town, and has a lovely interior without being so posh you’re scared to get your kids’ grubby figures anywhere near it.

It’s the spaghetti bolognese of the car world. It might be simple but there’s rarely a circumstance where it doesn’t hit the spot.

However, like your spaghetti is just one of a number of pasta dishes you could order, the Tiguan is one of numerous similarly sized, similarly priced SUVs. Go for a top-spec model and it’s an alternative to posh SUVs such as the Audi Q3 and BMW X1, though it does lack some of the badge appeal of those models. Or you could consider an entry-level version alongside a well-specced Nissan Qashqai or Kia Sportage.

Where the Volkswagen Tiguan has an advantage over all of those cars is its boot, which at 652 litres is considerably bigger than anything else at a similar price. That means you’ll be able to fit prams and after-school sports equipment all at once, should the need arise.

And although it’s too early to get access to the car, it’s slightly longer than before so you can expect the already-spacious interior to be even more roomy.

What is for sure, though, is that the interior design has been completely overhauled, with a massive infotainment touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard. There are configurable shortcut buttons across the top and bottom of the display, with the large central home screen showing the sat nav, music and other important information.

You also get Volkswagen’s excellent digital instrument display, which is now included as standard and bigger than before.

The exterior hasn’t had quite such an extensive overhaul as the interior, but the old Tiguan was starting to look dated, so the sleek LED headlights that run into a full-width black panel give it a fresh new look. At the back, you get a similar light panel that runs along the bootlid, but the likes of the Kia Sportage are more interesting to look at.

A pair of diesel engines is a rare treat these days for those who do big miles, but one of the two petrols will be a better fit for most drivers. A plug-in hybrid is on the way later in 2024, with a useful electric-only range of 62 miles. It will be a bit more expensive than other engines but low running costs could make it the best pick if you have access to charging. It’s worth waiting for the plug-in if you need a company car, because it will have the lowest Benefit-in-Kind tax rate by far. There will be no electric Tiguan, so check out our list of the best electric SUVs if that’s what you’re after.

There are four trim levels to choose from on the Tiguan. Entry-level models are only offered with the 130hp petrol engine, and standard kit includes 17-inch alloy wheels and that twin-screen setup inside.

Step up to the Life trim and you get a wider choice of engines, 18-inch alloy wheels and more driver assistance technology, such as adaptive cruise control. Elegance models enhance equipment further thanks to heated front seats with a massage function, and funky 3D lights at the rear.

Top-spec R-Line models get a sportier exterior appearance, big 20-inch alloy wheels and sports seats. This fully loaded model is made all the more appealing by its £40,000 starting price, which is only about £5,000 more than the entry-level version.

Our team of expert car reviewers will get behind the wheel soon, but if you already like what you hear you can see how much you could save with Carwow’s Volkswagen Tiguan deals. You could also get a great deal on the outgoing car by browsing our used Tiguan deals, as well as extensive stock of other used Volkswagen models from our network of trusted dealers. When it’s time to sell your current car, Carwow can help with that, too.