BOZEMAN, MT – It’s cloudy and rainy as we head out for the first drive of the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan, but the outlook is anything but gloomy for the latest iteration of the German automaker’s best-selling midsize CUV.
From the completely remade 2.0L 4-cyl. under the hood to the fully revised interior and skin, the third-generation Tiguan excels by nearly every measure. VW sold an average of 95,000 Tiguans annually during the second generation’s 2018-2024 tenure and, barring an unexpected surge in sales of battery-electric VWs, it’s likely the new model will maintain that sales leadership within the automaker’s portfolio.
All but the aluminum block is new in the Tiguan’s updated EA888 Evo5 engine, which produces 201 hp (up from 184 hp) while torque is listed at 207 lb.-ft. (281 Nm) in front-drive applications and 221 lb.-ft. (300 Nm) for all-wheel-drive models. Fuel economy improves across the board, up 2 mpg (0.9 km/L) combined for front drivers and 1 mpg (0.4 km/L) for AWD models.
The engine’s punch from a standstill isn’t stunning, but power delivery across the rpm range is strong and steady to the 6,200-rpm redline, enabled by a new variable-geometry turbocharger, higher-pressure mechanically driven fuel injection and a revised camshaft design. A host of additional improvements include a revised combustion chamber, a new intake charge cooling system, an increased compression ratio to 10.5:1 (up from 9.6:1), along with connecting rod and crankpin changes to accommodate a thicker piston crown.
Power is directed to either the front wheels or 4Motion AWD via an 8-speed automatic transmission. Shifts are smooth and there is zero torque steer. Towing capability is 1,700 lbs. (771 kg) for FWD models and 1,800 lbs. (816 kg) for AWD, up from 1,500 lbs. (680 kg) in the previous-generation Tiguan.
VW says a hybrid version will be offered “at some point” but specifics remain elusive. Performance-oriented buyers might want to wait until late fall when the 2026 Tiguan Turbo arrives featuring a high-output 268-hp, 258-lb.-ft. (350-Nm) version of the new engine.
The Tiguan gets a major interior makeover as well, with the shifter moved from console to column, clearing space for a 7.6-L (0.23 cu.-ft.) storage box in the console. A truly “cool” feature is the air-cooled wireless charging pad in the console, reducing the problem we’ve often experienced with pad chargers that create unnecessary heat while transferring power into a cellphone. Ambient lighting is standard on all but the S base model, with 10-color lighting on SE models while the SEL gets more than 30 illumination options.
Technology abounds, with a bright and clear 10.25-in. (26-cm) instrument cluster, dubbed Volkswagen Digital Cockpit Pro, now standard across all trims. VW’s new MIB4 operating system backs the standard 12.9-in. (33-cm) horizontally mounted infotainment display, with a 15-in. (38-cm) display on the upper-level SEL trim.
We enjoyed sampling the Atmospheres feature that synchronizes audio settings and interior ambient lighting to create a variety of moods. Pre-programmed options are Lounge, Joy, Nature, Energetic and Minimal, along with an option to create your own setting. We liked the reds of the Energetic mode, but we could see spending long drives with the Nature feel or nighttime travel with the Minimal setting to tamp down any lighting distractions.
During our half-day test drive we get behind the wheel of a front-drive SE priced at $32,720 and a fully loaded AWD SEL R-Line stickered at $42,030 (prices include $1,425 for freight and delivery). We observe 27 mpg (8.7 L/100 km) in the front-driver (rated at 28 mpg [8.4 L/100 km) combined, and 26 mpg (9.0 L/100 km) in the AWD SEL (rated at 25 mpg [9.4 L/100 km] combined).
While the SEL runs quieter with its sound-insulating windshield, both models are fairly quiet and comfortable on the road. The interiors are equally handsome and well-appointed while retaining a level of precision fit and clean design we’ve come to associate with VWs for decades.
VW says it expects the SE to account for up to 70% of sales, with the S and SEL splitting the remaining 30%.
Tiguan accounts for about a quarter of VW’s U.S. sales, posting 94,000 in 2024, according to Wards Intelligence data. The first-generation Tiguan (2009-2017 MY) hit a high-water mark of 43,638 sales in 2016, while the second-gen MQB-based model (2018-2024 MY) pushed sales to a high of nearly 110,000 in 2021, per Wards Intelligence.
The third-generation Tiguan, with its significantly upgraded powertrain and updated and refined interior, gives VW a midsize CUV that should easily hold the line or push the model above the previous generations as it fights for sales in the crowded and competitive segment.
