2020 Volkswagen Tiguan Review

　　

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The current Volkswagen Tiguan was redesigned a few years back, though it still looks and feels fairly fresh. The 2020 Tiguan's biggest selling point is its optional third-row seat, which is something you can't find on leading competitors such as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. That said, the third row is cramped and best left to shorter or younger occupants as leg- and headroom are in short supply.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$151/mo  for Tiguan S

　　Tiguan S

　　S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $24,945 MSRPS 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $26,245 MSRPSE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $27,095 MSRPSE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $28,395 MSRPSE R-Line Black 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $30,295 MSRPSE R-Line Black 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $31,595 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $32,245 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $33,545 MSRPSEL Premium R-Line 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $38,795 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　Outside of the third row, we like the Tiguan's quiet and well-designed interior, easy-to-use tech, and variety of standard and available features such as smartphone integration and some driver assistance features. The sporty R-Line models give the Tiguan a bit more flair than some rivals, though we wish the package did more to improve the Tiguan's middling acceleration and lackluster driving dynamics. Fuel economy also fails to impress.

　　Ultimately, the Tiguan doesn't have enough positive qualities to truly stand out in the small SUV class. Unless you absolutely need the third row you'll probably be happier with the CR-V or another top pick such as the Mazda CX-5 or Subaru Forester.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.3

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

6.0/10

　　How does the Tiguan drive? On the performance front, the Tiguan underdelivers by the segment's already low bar. Most of the blame lies with the clunky, unresponsive transmission. A 0-60 mph acceleration time of 9.5 seconds is slow for the class. Acceleration is lethargic at partial throttle, especially when accelerating from a stop. Making an unprotected left turn requires planning well ahead.

　　Handling is also disappointing. The Tiguan is OK as long as you don't push too hard, but go around a tight turn and you'll feel a lot of body roll. If you enjoy more spirited driving, it's not the ideal vehicle. Competitors such as the Toyota RAV4 and the Mazda CX-5 do a better job of maintaining composure.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Tiguan? The Tiguan places a high priority on comfort, judging by the seats and overall pleasant ride. (Lower trim levels have smaller wheels, translating to a cushier ride over bad roads.) The third row is tight, but those up front are treated to well-bolstered and supportive seats. Second-row passengers get adjustable seatbacks, a boon for taller occupants.

　　Wind noise is minimal, and road noise is only apparent on atypical road surfaces (such as when traveling over train tracks or hitting bumps). The engine is quiet while cruising, but the transmission's odd shifting behavior may cause drivers to wring out the engine to get up to speed. The engine gets vocal above 2,000 rpm, and you'll hear a fair amount of turbocharger whooshing.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? As one of few three-row small SUVs, the Tiguan is unsurprisingly all about space and utility. There's an abundance of room in the first and second rows, though the third row is only suitable for kids. The large door openings make getting in and out relatively hassle-free, even for third-row occupants. Visibility is excellent thanks to large windows and small pillars.

　　It may, however, take some time to get used to the instrument panel's many features and controls. You may find the layout of the steering wheel's cruise control buttons and the ones controlling the SEL's digital instrument panel confusing, for example. Our staff was split over its intuitiveness.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The infotainment system is one of the best in the segment, and the premium Fender audio system is also quite good. There's only a single USB port on the base Tiguan, but the SE and above add a second port in the front and one port in the rear. All models come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though we had some minor issues with the former during our test.

　　VW offers a lot of advanced driving aids on the Tiguan, but they don't feel fully baked yet. The adaptive cruise system is late to recognize cars merging into your lane and slow to react to the car in front leaving the lane. We also experienced some unwarranted inputs from the lane-keeping assist system in our test vehicle.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? There's plenty of room behind the Tiguan's second row to store several large suitcases. Room behind the third row is tight but better than what other compact three-row SUVs offer. You must also remove the cargo cover if the third row is raised.

　　A sliding second row and deep pockets near the hatch door make this space more versatile. The Tiguan offers lots of places to store small items, even in the third row. The front doors can fit two water bottles. A tray underneath the center console makes up for a relatively small bin underneath the armrest.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The all-wheel-drive Tiguan is rated at 23 mpg combined. It achieved 25.7 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation route, which is about what we'd expect. That said, the Tiguan is thirstier than rivals with base engines and even some competitors with upgraded engines.

　　

Value

6.5/10

　　Is the Tiguan a good value? Build quality appears nice on the surface, but we were less than impressed with several rattles on our test vehicle, which showed just 6,000 miles on the odometer. A high price and below-average fuel economy translate to higher running costs for Tiguan owners. Volkswagen reduced its warranty for 2020, but it is still better than what most other automakers offer.

　　

Wildcard

7.0/10

　　The Tiguan comes across as a bit more upscale than competing small crossovers. The tech, premium materials and handsome design help it stand out in a huge segment. But those qualities are somewhat undone by the Tiguan's lackluster driving experience. It's slow, clunky and dull, though it's relatively quiet and comfortable to sit in.

　　

Which Tiguan does zzdcar recommend?

As with most new vehicles, the sweet spot seems to be right near the middle. We recommend the VW Tiguan SE, one step up from the entry-level S model. It's still affordable, but you get some appealing upgrades such as a power driver's seat, heated front seats and keyless entry.

　　

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan models

The 2020 VW Tiguan is a two- or three-row SUV that comes in five trim levels: S, SE, SE R-Line Black, SEL and SEL Premium R-Line. All Tiguans are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine (184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque) that's connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

　　Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional. Three rows of seating come standard with front-wheel-drive models, and two rows are standard on all-wheel-drive models (with a third row available as an option).

　　Standard features for the Tiguan S include a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat, a 6.5-inch touchscreen display, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Driver assistance features include forward collision warning with automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring.

　　The SE includes all that plus useful extras such as keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone climate control, simulated leather upholstery, heated front seats and an 8-inch touchscreen. The SE R-Line Black is pretty much the same thing but has larger wheels and sportier exterior styling elements.

　　Compared to the SE, the SEL and SEL R-Line come standard with even more features that include a panoramic sunroof, a power liftgate, remote start, a full digital gauge cluster display, more driver safety features, leather upholstery and a nine-speaker Fender sound system.

　　

2020 Tiguan Highlights

Trim: SSESE R-Line BlackSELSEL Premium R-LineS

　　

Base MSRP	$24,945
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$151/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	12.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles