As of: March 1, 2024, 9:30 a.m
By: Rudolf Bögel
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7.6 million vehicles sold, third generation - and (presumably) last generation of combustion engines.
We tested the new compact SUV from VW.
In terms of dimensions, almost everything in the new Tiguan remains the same.
With the exception of the trunk, which has been enlarged to 652 and 1,650 liters respectively.
But finally the Tiguan looks like the name sounds.
Downright progressive for Wolfsburg conditions, where the VW T-Roc Cabrio, the last open model, will soon be taken out of the range.
And the drag coefficient of the Tiguan has also been improved to 0.28 in the new generation.
The biggest changes can be found in the cockpit and the engines.
And the technical equipment.
The engineers were allowed to reach a shelf higher, where the Touareg normally uses.
For example, the Tiguan now also has ten-chamber massage seats with heating and cooling, or the HD matrix headlights, which turn night into day with 19,200 multipixel LEDs each.
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Easier to use: VW is revising the Tiguan infotainment
The seating in the new Tiguan is comfortable, as we noticed the first time we sat down.
Comfortable, good lateral support.
In front of us is – to put it in an old-fashioned way – the dashboard.
No board was known to be the operation of newer VW models (e.g. Golf 8 and ID.3).
Unlit, touch-insensitive sliders, no more volume control and there was also a lack of buttons when operating the air conditioning.
All of this is in the past, the many customer protests have literally enlightened us.
The infotainment has been revised.
The 13-inch display (15 inches for an additional charge) now has two bars that are always in view.
At the top you can lay the tiles yourself, at the bottom the driver sets the room temperature or the seat heating.
It's also easy to navigate the menu and the tablet's response times are very good.
With ambient lighting and a large infotainment screen, the VW Tiguan also looks pretty modern inside.
© Photo: VW
VW Tiguan with Barbie lighting and ChatGPT
The so-called driving experience switch in the center console is new.
You can use the illuminated rotary knob to control the volume, set the driving modes – and then there are the “atmospheres”.
Preconfigured ambient lighting and sound system settings are intended to create different moods for passengers.
“Lounge” with muted music for the way home after a stressful day at the office, or “Energetic” for those who still need a little kick.
The “Atmosphere” is really weird with lots of pink and purple – right in line with the Barbie trend.
VW is also at the forefront when it comes to infotainment: for the first time, the Tiguan also has artificial intelligence on board with ChatGPT.
But nothing will be introduced before the end of June.
However, we were already allowed to test: “Who is Thomas Schäfer?” Answer: “Thomas Schäfer is a Hessian CDU politician who died on March 28, 2020.” The AI did not mention the top Volkswagen boss and CEO Thomas Schäfer.
No wonder, ChatGPT's knowledge only goes back to January 2022.
Otherwise, the voice AI works quite well and could be quite entertaining for long journeys.
The facelift of the VW Tiguan can be recognized at the front.
The radiator and air inlets form a large unit and make quite an impression © VW
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The engines in the VW Tiguan: Mild hybrid 1.5 eTSI with 150 hp
We picked two models from the revised engine range.
On the one hand, the mild hybrid 1.5 eTSI with 150 hp and, in comparison, the 2.0-liter turbodiesel with 193 hp.
Old school versus new school, so to speak.
With the hybrid, VW engineers combine a 1.5-liter gasoline engine with an electric starter generator.
It contributes another 14 kW of power and 56 Nm of torque.
The interaction between the two should actually work smoothly.
We missed that at times.
When you step on the accelerator pedal, for example, the engine first allows itself a forced pause before it storms off loudly.
Here the electric motor could actually provide a gentle but powerful transition and elegantly balance out the moment of remembrance.
The drive also proves to be inharmonious in another situation.
When you take your foot off the accelerator, the engine stays in the high speed range longer until it calms down again.
And it's not the fastest either: 10.6 seconds from 0 to 100.
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The engines in the VW Tiguan: 2.0 liter all-wheel drive diesel with 200 hp
The 2.0 liter all-wheel drive diesel 2.0 TD SCR 4Motion is completely different.
It has a real powerful hum under the hood that pushes quite a bit with its almost 200 hp and 400 Nm.
Driving a diesel is still pretty fun, and we definitely prefer the hum of the diesel engine to the hectic, efficient gasoline engine.
The eTSI disappointed us in terms of fuel consumption: 7.1 liters is not exactly low.
The completely new PHEV 1.5eHybrid should do better.
It combines the 150 hp petrol engine with a 115 hp electric motor - and has a 19.7 kWh battery.
VW wants to travel over 100 kilometers electrically and the plug-in hybrid also sounds good when charging: it can do 50 kW DC - that should take 23 minutes for the battery to go from 10 to 80 percent.
Unfortunately, we haven't been able to test the 1.5eHybrid yet.
There is not yet a purely electric version of the Tiguan; this drive is initially withheld from the ID. series, which is now also entering the classic Passat segment with the Volkswagen ID.7.
The VW Tiguan's lane departure warning system is elegantly reserved
The new Tiguan makes a big leap when it comes to the chassis.
It gets the new adaptive DCC Pro.
The heart of the system is dampers that are equipped with two valves.
This means that the tension and compression stages can be controlled separately, meaning the system reacts faster and more precisely.
You actually notice it when driving.
However, the suspension is too hard for our taste; you can feel transverse grooves and bumps too clearly.
The DCC Pro also cannot completely deny that the Tiguan is a long-legged SUV.
We're excited to see how the new VW Passat drives, as it has the same technical equipment.
We would also have expected more peace and better coordination with Travel Assist.
When driving off in stop-and-go traffic, the assistant accelerates too much and then brakes harshly and abruptly when the vehicle in front stops.
The lane keeping assistant is praiseworthy: it remains discreetly in the background and only intervenes very delicately when necessary.
That's the way it has to be.
The trunk of the VW Tiguan has increased again.
It can accommodate up to 1,650 liters.
The back seat is divisible.
© VW
This is what the new VW Tiguan costs
Let's look at the prices: It starts at 36,600 euros.
At the beginning of 2020 it was just under 31,000 euros.
However, the basic equipment of the third generation is likely to be much better.
The 1.5 eTSI with 130 hp includes, for example, the fully digital cockpit and the 12.9 inch (approx. 33 cm) infotainment display as well as the reversing camera.
Anyone who invests 3,000 euros more will still remain under the 40,000 euro limit and, with the “Life” equipment line, will already receive the “Plus” parking assistant, the ACC automatic distance control, the high beam assistant and the wireless connection option for the smartphone.
Our opinion: You don't need more Tiguan.
Technical data VW Tiguan 1.5 eTSi
Engine: 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine
Drive: Front / 7-speed DSG
System performance: 94 kW (130 HP)
Torque: 220 Nm (1,500 – 3,500 rpm)
0 – 100 km/h: 10.6 s
V. max: 198 km/h
Consumption: 6.1 l 100 km
Length / Width / Height: 4.54 / 1.84 / 1.66
Wheelbase: 2.68 m
Turning circle: 11.7 m
Empty weight / permitted: 1,598 / 512 kg
Trailer load / support load: 1,600 / 100 kg
Trunk: 652 – 1,650 l
Price: 36,600 euros
Our conclusion about the new Tiguan from Volkswagen
Successful design, fast infotainment, easy operation – these are all ingredients that we like in the new Tiguan.
If you don't like the mild hybrid, you can fall back on Volkswagen's tried and tested diesel and petrol range and are guaranteed to have fun.
With a starting price of 36,600 euros and good basic equipment, the SUV remains reasonably affordable and could continue to be a long-term favorite, the last combustion engine.
Rudolf Bögel