Volkswagen Tiguan 2021 - Should You Buy One?

Volkswagen's much improved take on their second generation Tiguan mid-sized SUV delivers a high quality, well priced package that's now smarter and more efficient. All the car you'll ever really need? Many see it as just that.
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Market and Model

Expect pricing to sit mainly in the £25,000 to £40,000 bracket and count on having to find a premium of just over £2,000 if you want the 4MOTION 4WD system on the diesel variant. There's a base-trim variant and beyond that, customers choose between 'Life', 'Elegance' and 'R-Line' trim levels. Standard equipment across the range includes a 10-inch centre-dash infotainment screen with an operating interface that responds to the command 'Hey Volkswagen', followed by whatever you want to ask. All models come with alloy wheels, 'Climatic' semi-automatic air conditioning, a trip computer, all-round electric windows, an alarm and power heated door mirrors. Plus there's a 'We Connect Go' app that allows you to interacts with your Tiguan from wjherever you are using your smartphone.

Safety kit includes a clever 'Automatic Post-Collision Braking System' that automatically brakes the car down to 6mph after a collision - so if, say, someone hits you and, understandably, you go to pieces, the car will automatically sort itself out. There's also a 'Front Assist' system that at speed, scans the road ahead as you drive for potential accident hazards, warning you if one is detected and automatically braking if necessary. You get that same kind of functionality at urban speeds too, as part of a 'City Emergency Braking' system included as part of the 'Front Assist' package.

Cost of Ownership

Let's look at the WLTP-rated figures. The latest 1.5 TSI 130PS petrol unit achieves a WLTP-certified figure of up to 44.8mpg on the combined cycle, while emitting up to 143g/km CO2. For the 1.5 TSI 150PS variant, the figures are up to 42.8mpg and 151g/km. The 2.0 TSI 190PS engine can deliver up to 34.0mpg on the combined cycle and up to 189g/km of CO2. Go for a 2.0 TDI diesel 150PS DSG model with 4MOTION 4WD and you can expect up to 42.8mpg and a CO2 reading of 173g/km, which is pretty creditable.

The eHybrid PHEV model offers a credible alternative to diesels and boasts 31 mile electric only WLTP driving range. In other words, if the vehicle is only used for short commutes and re-charged regularly overnight, it is conceivable that this Tiguan eHybrid could be run almost entirely without fuel. And conceivably (if you get your charging regime right) on off-peak electricity that'll hopefully cost pennies rather than pounds to consume. Expect your BiK tax exposure with a Tiguan eHybrid to be based on a combined cycle fuel economy figure of over 200mpg and emissions of under 40g/km. Powering this Volkswagen PHEV up from a domestic socket would take around five hours, but most owners will want to find an extra few hundred pounds to install a Wallbox charger in their garages. Use such a wallbox - or indeed plug in to one of the many public charging points springing up around the country - and you'll be able to reduce your charging time period from empty to around three hours and thirty minutes.

Summary

It's not hard to see why the Tiguan is such a popular choice in its sector here in the UK. You get pretty much all the quality of premium-badged mid-sized SUV for not much more than the price of a budget brand contender. You get pretty much all the tarmac handling ability of a Qashqai-like Crossover with virtually all the off road ability of something more capable. And it all comes with the enduring appeal of that Volkswagen badge and the enduring residual values that'll go along with it.

Such has always been this car's appeal and not much has changed with the updated version of this MK2 model. It's not a car for driving enthusiasts or those who live halfway up Snowdon - but then such people are unlikely to be shopping in this sector anyway.

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[cnzyx]

I am in California and your 2021 is our 2022 model

[tobyfarrier]

Which engine would be best to tow a small caravan?

[samderouiche]

It's the shame that volkswagen company is not that good enough with the new e-hybrid not to have the option of 4 motion or full wheels drive like the Toyota RAV4 plug-in-hybrid.... it will be than as a complete SUV car

[RideOnTime]

I want to buy either a
Tiguan or a Karoq. Please help.

[darrenkuhn]

Is it possible to get a coolant plug in warmer for the cold weather morning start up

[richarddastardly]

I’m not keen on DSG, they should offer manual across the range

[hondamonkeyboy]

Nice car but let down by not having proper knobs for the climate control.

[samderouiche]

My challenge with Volkswagen company that the company is not good enough ... the day they can build a car in one than I have to say things differently .... I know they can't .... (Tiguan, R-line, e-hybrid, 4 motion, Panoramic sunroof, reverse camera, ACC, Parking assist, ... )

[brianhansen]

Why would anyone allow a sim-card in the car to spy on your every move?

[Tom-ukow]

Only in r line looks decent, everything else looks like social help specally base model

[alxactly]

Way too high co2 on the automatics and decently specced cars. Vag is killing itself in western europe.
Also the r line is the only one that remotely looks attractive for young, modern adults.