Volkswagen Tiguan SUV review

The second-generation Volkswagen Tiguan is a car that didn’t offer any major advancements over the original when it arrived but its popularity suggests that it didn't really need to; it's now VW's most popular model globally. The latest version is a popular choice in the medium family SUV market, and it gets sharper styling and upgraded technology thanks to an update for 2020.

Its nose and boot came in for a nip and tuck, plus new technology from the latest Golf was added inside - that included an upgraded infotainment system. However, the car is still rather conservative in the styling department compared with rivals like the Peugeot 3008 and Hyundai Tucson.

Best family SUVs

Practicality continues to be an important part of the Tiguan's appeal; it makes for a logical step up from a Volkswagen Golf for a growing family. There are clever sliding rear seats and a generous 615-litre boot, in a bid to keep rivals like the Nissan Qashqai, Peugeot 3008, Skoda Karoq and premium models like the Mercedes GLC and BMW X1 at bay.

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The Tiguan comes with a choice of two petrol and two diesel options. The petrol options are a 1.5-litre TSI engine with 128 or 148bhp. It can return around 40-44mpg, with CO2 emission starting from around 140g/km for the less powerful of the two. A more powerful 2.0-litre TSI petrol engine was introduced in early 2021 and is available in 187 or 242bhp power outputs. This engine gets VW’s 4MOTION four-wheel drive system as standard and manages fuel economy of around 30mpg.

Thanks to their greater fuel economy, diesel engines have traditionally been popular with Tiguan buyers. There has been four to choose from in the past, starting with a good-value 113bhp model, rising to 148bhp and 187bhp, all the way to a twin-turbocharged 237bhp engine that could only be chosen with 4MOTION four-wheel drive and a dual-clutch automatic DSG gearbox. As part of the most recent update, the range has been changed to consist of a new version of the 148bhp diesel with lower CO2 emissions and a 2.0-litre diesel with 197bhp. It's not yet known if more powerful diesels will be offered.

There are also two new Tiguan models - a plug-in hybrid called eHybrid and a high-performance Tiguan R with 316bhp. The former has a petrol engine, electric motor and battery, with an electric range of up to 31 miles. Trim levels shift for the facelifted car, adopting the same convention as the Golf. There'll be an entry-level version, followed by Life, Elegance and R-Line. Being a Volkswagen, there's an extensive options list, too, and it's easy to take the Tiguan's price tag far higher than where it started.

Importantly for families, the Tiguan achieved a five-star rating in independent Euro NCAP crash-testing, with an impressive 96% score for adult occupant safety and 84% for its protection of younger passengers. The latest Tiguan came 51st in our annual Driver Power owner satisfaction survey.

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As a good-looking, practical and well equipped family SUV, the Tiguan is a great all-round package, and more than a match for the Peugeot 3008 or Renault Kadjar, so long as you don't mind its conservative looks. Its image is strong too, and you're very unlikely to struggle to find a buyer when it comes time to sell. Our top pick is the quiet 1.5-litre petrol paired with front-wheel drive and a DSG automatic for low company-car tax. In Elegance trim, the car comes loaded with all the kit most families should ever need.