Reviews of the Volkswagen Tiguan

The Volkswagen Tiguan is a crossover SUV with the pedigree of the German manufacturer's most popular model, and it's not hard to see why. With a generous amount of interior space, a large boot, and a well-balanced ride, the Tiguan is a perfect family SUV. 

Rivals to the Tiguan include the Kia Sportage, Volvo XC40, Skoda Karoq, and BMW X1. 

Our Volkswagen Tiguan review covers:

• Sharp exterior design 
• High-tech cabin with plenty of space for the family 
• 652 litres of boot space 
• Two petrols, a diesel, and a plug-in hybrid are available 
• Five trim levels 

Pros:

• Comfortable interior with loads of technology 
• Good boot space 
• Versatile on the road 

Cons:

• Not much fun to drive 
• Premium rivals offer more 
• Entry-level petrol engine lacks a bit of oomph 

The Tiguan is now in its third generation, and while the majority of its design principles still look pretty similar, there's been a few updates. You get sleek LED headlights, a large black front bumper, and a full-width light panel at both the front and rear. 

If you're looking for a spacious and comfortable family SUV, the Tiguan certainly delivers. The front seats have loads of space for a pair of adults, and three passengers (especially children) can get comfortable on the rear bench. There's also plenty of legroom in the rear, thanks to a good amount of space under the front seats. 

The Tiguan's boot space comes in at 652 litres in standard form, but it drops down to 490 litres on the plug-in hybrids. The rear seats can fold completely flat, which adds an extra 1,000 litres of space, perfect for a trip to B&Q, luggage for a family weekend away, or for carrying golf clubs. 

The interior of the Tiguan is all new, and in typical Volkswagen fashion, it's superb. Material quality is excellent, and it's certainly better than many of its rivals. Build quality is good, and plenty of soft-touch plastics are throughout the cabin. There are also plenty of handy features, such as an integrated tablet holder in the centre armrest and a pair of wireless charging pads. 

Likewise, the technology is also excellent. In the middle of the dashboard is a huge touchscreen infotainment system, which is on par with the system in the BMW X1. It comes with sat-nav and smartphone connectivity, as well as a 10.2-inch digital cockpit and an optional head-up display.  

Five trims are available for the Tiguan: Standard, Life, Match, Elegance, and R-Line. 

Standard comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, a 12.9-inch infotainment display, a 12.15-inch digital cockpit, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, LED headlamps, black roof rails, and a rear view camera. 

Life adds 18-inch black alloy wheels, power-adjustable lumbar support in front seats, interior lighting, voice control, adaptive cruise control, park assistance plus with front and rear parking sensors, and three-zone air conditioning. 

Match brings extra equipment, such as a fully electric tailgate, keyless entry, and a light package that includes 3D LED rear lights. 

Elegance has 19-inch black alloy wheels, interior lighting with 30 colours, heated front seats, massage seats in front, and an area view and rear view camera. 

R-Line has 20-inch alloy wheels, an R-Line styling pack and sports comfort front seats.  

Four powertrains are available for the Tiguan: two petrols, a diesel, and a plug-in hybrid. All units come with a 7-speed DSG, apart from the plug-in hybrid, which has a 6-speed DSG. 

The two mild-hybrid petrol units kick off the engine range. Labelled the 1.5 eTSI, they come with either 130PS or 150PS and return a fuel efficiency of around 45mpg. 

If you'd prefer a diesel, you'll want the 2.0 TDI, which comes with 150PS and boosts fuel efficiency to around 52mpg. It's slightly more powerful than the petrol and goes from 0 to 62mph in just under 10 seconds. 

Our pick is the plug-in hybrid. Available on all trims except Standard, it returns a power output of 204PS and can shoot from 0 to 62mph in 8.2 seconds. It also has a combined range of 77 miles and massively increases fuel efficiency to 712mpg. 

If you're looking for an SUV that's safe and comfortable to drive on the road, the Tiguan is the right choice. Good in pretty much all situations, the Tiguan will have no issues ferrying your family from A to B. 

Around town, the Tiguan is at its best. Although an SUV, its relatively compact size means that it's not too intimidating to drive. The steering is also light, and the engines provide enough power to ensure you're not left behind when pulling off from traffic lights. 

On the motorway, the Tiguan's comfort levels continue. The suspension deals well with potholes and bumps in the road, and there's not much engine noise at higher speeds. There is some road noise, however, especially on the 20-inch wheels, so if you want to avoid this, we'd go for either the 17-inch or 18-inch wheels. 

Prices for the new Volkswagen Tiguan start from £32,560.00 OTR* or to lease from £290.30 per month.

Looking to get behind the wheel of the Volkswagen Tiguan? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of leasing deals to suit your every need.

Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase, thanks to a low initial deposit and fixed monthly rentals.

*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change; always check with your nearest retailer.