2020 Volkswagen Tiguan Review: Sufficiently Average
The Volkswagen Tiguan is driving proof of the automaker's "why fix it if it isn't broken" attitude, VW sticks to its guns with subtle refinements and minor new additions to the seven-seat Tiguan. The whole range in the US is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that goes hand in hand with a traditional eight-speed automatic transmission and delivers a total of 184 horsepower. The compact crossover is certainly one of the most popular SUVs on the block worldwide with the five-millionth Tiguan leaving the assembly line at Volkswagen's Wolfsburg plant in 2019. Yes, there are more Tiguans on the road than there are people in New Zealand. Classy design and great standard tech are some notable merits of the Tiguan, but are they enough for the Tiguan to maintain its strong position amongst other rapidly developing SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V?
What's the Price of the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan?
With a broad range of trims to choose from, there's a Tiguan to suit your budget; the $24,945 S model in FWD guise offers the cheapest base price, with 4Motion AWD adding a cost of $1,300 to the asking price. The same upgrade price applies to the SE, although extra equipment sees the base MSRP rise to $27,095, while the SE R-Line Black breaks the 30k barrier at a price of $30,295. The SEL reaches premium territory, but so does its $32,245 price tag, while at the top of the range, the SEL Premium R-Line 4Motion will set you back $38,795. All of the Volkswagen Tiguan's prices are exclusive of the $1,020 destination fee.
2020 Tiguan Exterior
Dimensions
| Length | Wheelbase | Height | Max Width | Front Width | Rear Width | Curb Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 185.1 in | 109.8 in | 66.3 in | 72.4 in | 62.2 in | 61.8 in | 3,777.0 lbs |
2020 Tiguan Performance
Handling and Driving Impressions
One could easily lament the negative aspects of the engine's performance, but it's not all bad for the Tiguan; it's lazy, but not clumsy. It is quite obvious that the ultimate objective of this SUV is sophisticated practicality, which it certainly delivers. The Tiguan brings a satisfying and enjoyable drive - it's noticeably more relaxed and it navigates potholes with casual indifference. Although the FWD model will show slightly less confidence, and the choice of optional 20-inch wheels will result in a firmer ride, adaptive dampers soak up bumps with no sharp edges in sight. The brakes take some getting used to with a soft pedal feel that may require a little more stomping when you need to stop, but they definitely get the job done. Overall, the ride and handling is very pleasant and doesn't disappoint.
For those who live in regions where the tarmac isn't all that great or snow is a regular problem to deal with, multiple driving modes are available on 4Motion-equipped models, including on-road, off-road, and snow mode functionality. However, with slightly less than eight inches of ground clearance, you shouldn't expect an all-terrain dominator, and the greatest test of its drive is in the urban jungle.
2020 Tiguan Interior
2020 Tiguan Trunk and Cargo Space
Warranty
| Basic | Drivetrain | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 7 Years / 100,000 Miles | 3 Years / 36,000 Miles | 2 Years / 20,000 Miles |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
| Side Crash Rating | Rollover Rating |
|---|---|
| 5/5 | 4/5 |
Verdict: Is the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan A Good car?
If you're in the market for a comfortable, safe, reliable and elegant SUV, the Tiguan is a winner. If you're looking for a fun drive or nippy acceleration from your daily commute, this is not the car for you. The interior is great, the ride is comfortable and the standard technology is generous. This SUV is also very easy on the eyes: it's conservative, graceful and the exterior design is impressive. Add to that that it's also exceptionally safe, boasting an award from the one of the USA's authorities, which is the highest honor given in terms of safety, and it seems like a winner.
But with cramped seating, less than stellar performance, and gas mileage that falls below the class best, it's a good crossover, but not exactly one of the elites. The new CR-V, for instance, is a better jack of all trades, and master of some too, while the RAV4 is spacious, safe, and vastly more capable. This time around, it's a miss from us, but if you don't feel like going with the masses, it's not the worst buy in the segment.
What Volkswagen Tiguan Model Should I Buy?
If you aren't that interested in all the frills, fancy spoilers, and shiny wheels, the SE is the best option to go for within the Tiguan lineup, especially when you consider how much value it offers for the money. It is just one model above base yet it comes with a bigger eight-inch infotainment screen, dual-zone climate control, satellite radio, an additional two USB ports, heated leatherette seats, and push-button start, without completely breaking the bank at an MSRP of $27,096. Sure, you miss out on Volkswagen's Virtual Cockpit, but in a compact crossover, this is arguably an unnecessary luxury in any case. We'd stick with the standard FWD model unless you live in a snow-prone state, but if you need additional storage space, we'd opt for 4Motion purely for the standard five-seat configuration's cargo prowess.
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan Comparisons
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan vs Honda CR-V
The Honda CR-V has long been the benchmark in the compact crossover segment, and for good reason. Although it may lack the seven-seat capacity of the Tiguan, the five it can accommodate are housed in spacious accommodation, surrounded by high-quality materials. There's also a few cubes more cargo volume to be found in the Honda, and the turbo 1.5-liter engine delivers better real-world performance and better gas mileage to boot. The CR-V is enjoyable to drive and equally as loaded with safety features as the Tiguan, however, it can't match the Volkwagen's intuitive infotainment system, even if the capabilities are almost identical. While the Volkswagen has style, the CR-V has far more substance, making it the better compact crossover.
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan vs Volkswagen Atlas
The Atlas is essentially Volkswagen's bigger, more expensive take on the Tiguan with a substantial number of similarities between the two models, including a third row of seats and MQB underpinnings. However, with the Atlas classified as midsize, there's a lot more space in the rearmost seats, and all seats for that matter. The big selling point with the Atlas is that it dominates its competitors with outright interior space. The Tiguan has the upper hand in terms of safety, boasting a Top Safety Pick+ award from IIHS, where the Atlas missed out. The Atlas has a selection of two engines, though, with a 2.0-liter turbo-four making up the basic setup, while an available V6 provides more power, greater towing capacity, and more refinement - at the expense of gas mileage, of course - where the Tiguan beats it by some margin. Price is the biggest differentiator between the two, however, with $6,600 separating the two at a base level. But for the extra money, the Atlas is a lot more Volkwagen and is our pick overall.