2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Review

　　

2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Review

by the zzdcar Experts

　　The Volkswagen Tiguan belongs to a rare breed of compact crossovers that also offer a third row of seats. Only the Kia Sorento, Mitsubishi Outlander and Dodge Journey can say the same. There's a reason for that: Packing up to seven passengers in a small crossover is no easy feat. The VW Tiguan, though, provides impressive space — provided only children occupy the third row.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 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

　　$148/mo  for Tiguan S

　　Tiguan S

　　S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $25,245 MSRPS 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $26,545 MSRPSE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $27,395 MSRPSE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $28,695 MSRPSE R-Line Black 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $30,595 MSRPSE R-Line Black 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $31,895 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $32,545 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $33,845 MSRPSEL Premium R-Line 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $39,095 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　The Tiguan also has an impressive batch of clever tech features, which are easy to use, and a wealth of driving assistance aids. But this is not a driver's car — its turbocharged engine lacks both performance and fuel economy ratings worth gushing over. Changes are minor for the 2021 model year, leaving the Tiguan as a tech-forward, classy crossover hampered by its lackluster feel on the road. If the third row of seats is little more than a nice-to-have feature, take a look at the two-row Honda CR-V, 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 taking off 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 might 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 might take some time to get used to the instrument panel's many features and controls. You could 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. All models come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.

　　VW offers a lot of advanced driving aids on the Tiguan, but they don't feel fully baked. 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 24 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. VW 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?

Higher trims of the Tiguan become very flashy very fast, so we like the SE and its modest yet convenient standard features. With it, you'll get upgraded cabin materials plus heated front seats for added comfort. We especially like the technology included, such as abundant USB ports and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on an 8-inch touchscreen.

　　

2021 Volkswagen Tiguan models

The 2021 Tiguan is available in five trim levels: S, SE, SE R-Line Black, SEL and SEL Premium R-Line. All models are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (184 horsepower, 221 lb-ft of torque) paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. A third row of seats is standard on front-wheel-drive models and optional on all-wheel-drive versions.

　　S

　　The base trim kicks off the VW Tiguan line with these standard features:

　　Halogen headlights with LED daytime running lights LED taillights Power-adjustable, heated side mirrors 17-inch alloy wheels 6.5-inch color touchscreen Single USB port Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility Bluetooth connectivity Six-speaker sound system Cruise control Manually adjustable cloth front seats Roof rails Trailer hitch receiver Volkswagen Car-Net mobile app with remote start, door locking/unlocking, parked location finder and other functionsStandard safety equipment on every Tiguan includes:

　　Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing)SE

　　The next level up comes with the following:

　　Push-button start Upgraded infotainment system with 8-inch touchscreen Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility Wireless smartphone charging station Four USB ports Voice-activated controls Simulated leather seating surfaces Power-adjustable driver's seat Heated front seats Dual-zone automatic climate control Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the Tiguan and the car in front)SE R-Line Black

　　This trim comes with unique dark styling and numerous luxury add-ons:

　　Black exterior and interior accents 20-inch wheels Adaptive foglights that turn in the direction you steer Leather-wrapped steering wheel Panoramic sunroof Black roof rails Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible when parking)SEL

　　A well-equipped trim that tacks on the following:

　　19-inch wheels Rain-sensing windshield wipers Remote start 10-inch digital instrument display (VW Digital Cockpit) Navigation Heated steering wheel Power liftgate Lane keeping assist (steers the Tiguan back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)SEL Premium R-Line

　　The top-spec Tiguan is packed with standard features:

　　All-wheel drive LED headlights Power-folding side mirrors with ground-projecting lights 20-inch wheels Nine-speaker sound system Driver-seat memory settings Power-adjustable passenger seat Leather seats Ambient lighting Hands-free tailgate 360-degree surround-view camera (gives you a top-down view of the VW Tiguan and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Automatic high-beam assist

　　

2021 Tiguan Highlights

Trim: SSESE R-Line BlackSELSEL Premium R-LineS

　　

Base MSRP	$25,245
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$148/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	12.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles