The Volkswagen Tiguan is Volkswagen’s public favorite and you don’t have to think long about why. It was always spacious, practical, beautiful, reliable and also drove well. All these points have been further improved in the new Tiguan. That makes our work boring, but the buyers happy.
Of the Volkswagen Tiguan has sold 7.5 million copies since its debut in 2007. 45,000 of these found a British owner. The Tiguan has been the most popular Volkswagen worldwide for years. It is an all-rounder from the start. The fact that we now hardly discover any bad qualities is a compliment to Volkswagen. But that solidity sometimes also makes it a bit colorless.
Appearance takes some getting used to
All-rounders from Volkswagen usually have a design that doesn’t offend anyone. This is no different in the Tiguan, although you just have to love the (optional) glass ‘grille’ with optional continuous light strip between the headlights. The real grille is in the bumper and is large.
There is a gigantic light bar in the enormous rear light units. It seems like this time the car has been designed a little more with the tastes of the Asian car buyer in mind. The wind tunnel also influenced the design; the Cd value fell from 0.33 to 0.28, which is favorable for consumption.
There is a gigantic light bar in the enormous rear light units. It seems like this time the car has been designed a little more with the tastes of the Asian car buyer in mind. The wind tunnel also influenced the design; the Cd value fell from 0.33 to 0.28, which is favorable for consumption.
Tiguan hybrid
Naturally, the Tiguan grew again compared to its predecessor, but Volkswagen held back. It saves 3 centimeters and the wheelbase remained the same. There will be four versions: the 1.5 eTSI is a mild hybrid, produces 130 or 150 hp, and is linked to a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission.
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We test the smaller of the two plug-in hybrids, the Tiguan eHybrid with 204 hp. The more powerful Tiguan eHybrid with plug delivers 272 hp. Both PHEVs have a 1.5-liter petrol engine and an electric motor, combined with a six-speed DSG transmission.
Stricter test for PHEVs
The biggest achievement of the Tiguan plug-in hybrid (eHybrid) is its new battery pack, which increases the electric range to 129 kilometers. At least, that’s what Volkswagen says, and they probably assume that you drive a lot in the city. In any case, it is a huge improvement compared to the current Tiguan e-Hybrid, which drives 47 kilometers electrically. The battery capacity was almost doubled from 10.4 kWh to 19.7 kWh. The official consumption figures are impressive: 0.5 l/100 km (1 in 200), plus 18 kW of electricity.
The new Tiguan charges faster than its predecessor and it supports fast charging (50 kW) for the first time. The Tiguan charges with 11 kW on a regular AC charger.
Road tax plug-in hybrid
From January 1, 2025, a stricter measurement method will apply for the practical consumption of plug-in hybrids. The BPM amount is determined on this basis, which will be considerably higher for many plug-in hybrids. The benefit on road tax will also disappear; from On January 1st you simply pay the full price. And that will be bloody, because the Tiguan eHybrid with 204 hp weighs 1890 kilos.
Yet there is also good news, because due to the increased electric range, there is a good chance that the Tiguan will also have very low emissions according to the new measuring method, and that is favorable for the price.
200 kilometers with a liter of petrol
Most British readers can use the electric motor for commuting, daily shopping and gym visits. When we think of the 1.5-liter petrol engine, we think of the former footballer Romario: most of the time it does nothing, but at regular intervals it never disappoints. The cooperation between both engines is flawless.
You can limit consumption by driving often in Eco mode and opting for maximum recovery of braking energy. Although Volkswagen has used a clever trick: if you opt for a slightly less radical recovery, the car itself determines how hard it brakes. At low speeds it does this more powerfully than on the highway. Very pleasant for the co-driver, for whom the jerky braking is usually not so pleasant.
Steering column automatic lever
Behind the wheel everything is typical Tiguan. Entry, seating position, controls, all-round view, seats: everything is right. You just have to look for the automatic transmission lever, which is now on the steering column. This means there is room in the center tunnel for two smartphones, which you can charge wirelessly. In the back seat, two adults can stretch their legs and can also wear their headgear, from a straw hat to a Peaky Blinders cap.
No more mistakes in finishing
The Tiguan cannot be caught making any mistakes along the way. It sits on the new MQB evo platform, which is built for cars with a transverse engine and front- or all-wheel drive. The chassis is mainly tailored to comfort. New adaptive shock absorbers called DCC Pro increase comfort at an additional cost. You can choose from fifteen settings – from very comfortable to very sporty. Furthermore, body movements on bumpy surfaces are limited.
Perhaps even more essential are the ErgoActive Plus front seats with massage function, heating and ventilation. We tried the full wellness program and wouldn’t want anything else.
With the massage seats on, we take an extra critical look at the finish and operation, because Volkswagen has regularly gone off the rails in that area since 2020. The once solid Germans made a big fuss, especially with the ID.3: the finish was sloppy and the operation cumbersome.
But thanks to a few improvements, Tiguan drivers are spared such annoyances. It has a steering wheel with normal buttons. The sliders for, among other things, the air conditioning under the large navigation screen have not disappeared (physical buttons will only return in later models), but most functions can also be operated via the steering wheel or the touchscreen. That is large enough for people with less fine motor skills and the menu layout is logical. The quality of the materials has also returned to the high level that we have come to expect from Volkswagen.
Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid (204 pk)
- petrol engine + electric motor, 204 hp, 350 Nm
- 0-100 km/h in 8.2 s, 210 km/h
- 0.5 l/100 km (1 : 200), 11 g CO2/km
- 4539 / 1842 / 1660 mm, 1867 kg
- UK £50,990
All safety systems on the Tiguan are always on, as required by the EU. Don’t you want one for every minimum speed violation?
warning, then you have to turn it off manually. This is very easy via an icon. If you press it, you can also switch off all individual systems. Changing driving programs (Eco, Comfort, Sport) can be done via the screen, but you can also use a rotary knob
use on the center tunnel. A head-up display, which projects the information onto the windshield, is optional.
New Volkswagen Tiguan (2024) price (always with automatic)
The Tiguan eHybrid is about the same price as the regular 1.5 eTSI (130 hp), if you choose the same equipment level. The eTSI costs £49,990 in the Life Edition version, the eHybrid with 204 hp costs £1000 more.
For the basic version, which is simply called Tiguan, you pay £46,990. It is only available as a 1.5 eTSI with 130 hp. The top model is the 272 hp eHybrid R-Line Business, with a price of £55,990. Diesels are not for sale in the UK, in Belgium the 2.0 TDI with 150 hp is still in the price list.
Conclusion
The Volkswagen Tiguan is both spectacular and unspectacular. The fact that Volkswagen has improved a spacious, comfortable and reliable all-rounder in all areas is a fine example of craftsmanship. So much impeccability also makes us long for a very small blemish. Fortunately, not all cars are that good, otherwise our work would be a lot more boring.