Volkswagen Tiguan
(2016 - 2020)

  • Great looking euro styling
  • Excellent practicality
  • Impressive levels of safety
  • Great driving dynamics
  • Major reliability concerns
  • Expensive repair bills
  • Lack of longevity
  • Terrible depreciation
Watch our video review
Overview

Brand new and with a full factory warranty, the Volkswagen Tiguan is a superb car. It has won countless awards including multiple ‘Car of the Year’ trophies and arguably sets the benchmark when it comes to medium SUVs.

It’s an attractive, supremely practical, incredibly safe vehicle packed with technology and purveying excellent driving dynamics. But, all is not wonderful when it comes to reliability, longevity and quality once the Tiguan has ventured around the block a few times.

As you’ll see, while the Tiguan makes for a convincing case when new, second hand examples require extreme caution before your hard earned money is handed over.

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Model range, pricing and features

Trendline

  • Price when new: $33,490
  • Price used: $18,000 - $30,000

The base model Tiguan isn’t short on features and equipment but now that the used market has compressed pricing differences between model tiers, we’d recommend skipping the Trendline and look for a Comfortline.

Standard features:

  • Front Assist with City Emergency Brake Lane Assist & Park Assist
  • 17-inch alloy wheels
  • Tyre pressure indicator
  • LED Dynamic tail lights
  • 8.0-inch Media infotainment system
  • App-Connect (Apple CarPlay/Android Auto)
  • Automatic headlights and rain-sensing windscreen wipers
  • Cruise control
  • Leather multi-function steering wheel
  • Fatigue detection
  • Seven airbags
  • 5-Star ANCAP Safety Rating
  • Pedestrian-friendly active bonnet
  • Post-collision braking
  • Extended electronic diff lock
  • Front/rear parking sensors
  • Reversing camera with dynamic guidelines and multi-angle views

Comfortline

  • Price when new: $33,490
  • Price used: $18,000 - $30,000

The Comfortline 132TSI is the sweet spot of the Tiguan range and if you must have a Tiguan. Find one with the optional Luxury and Driver’s Assistance packs to get things like leather-appointed seats, heated front seats and a glass sunroof along with safety tech like adaptive cruise control and side assist with rear cross-traffic alert.

Comfortline adds:

  • Driving profile selection with 4Motion Active Control
  • Three-zone climate control air conditioning
  • Satellite navigation
  • Colour multi-function display
  • Folding table on front seat backrests
  • Front fog lights
  • Carpet floor mats
  • Extended roof storage console
  • Luggage floor net
  • Chrome roof rails and window surrounds
  • Painted bumper inserts

Highline

  • Price when new: $50,900
  • Price used: $28,000 - $45,000

Excluding some of the special editions listed below, the Highline is the top-tier Tiguan and even though it is packed with equipment as standard, try to find on equipped with the Driver Assistance and Sound & Vision packages which adds a premium audio system and a 360-degree camera.

Highline adds:

  • LED headlights with dynamic cornering lights
  • 18-inch alloy wheels
  • Keyless access
  • Electronically-operated tailgate
  • 8.0-inch Discover Pro satellite-navigation system
  • Vienna leather-appointed upholstery
  • Heated comfort sport front seats
  • Electronically-adjustable driver’s seat
  • Interior ambient lighting and LED reading lights
  • Folding front seat back tables
  • Power folding door mirrors
  • Dark tinted rear side and rear windows
  • Premium LED tail lights
  • Chrome strip in the front lower air intake
  • Adaptive Chassis Control
  • 19-inch Alloy Wheels (From 2018)
  • Adaptive Cruise Control (From 2018)
  • Rear cross-traffic alert (From 2018)
  • Emergency Assist (From 2018)
  • Traffic Jam Assist (From 2018)
  • Dynamic Light Assist (From 2018)
  • 9.2-inch Discover Pro Infotainment System (From 2018)
  • Ambient Interior Lighting (From 2018)

Sportline

  • Price when new: $45,990
  • Price used: $30,000 - $35,000

If you’ve outgrown a Golf GTi or Golf R, the Sportline might be the Tiguan for you.

However, there is still that huge question mark surrounding its reliability and longevity.

Sportline adds:

  • Chrome roof rails
  • 20-inch ‘Kapstadt’ alloy wheels
  • Sport comfort seats with micro fleece and cloth trim
  • Adaptive chassis control
  • Adaptive cruise control
  • Side assist and Traffic Jam Assist

132TSI R-Line

  • Price when new: $46,990
  • Price used: $35,000 - $38,000

The looker of the Tiguan range.

We may question the Tiguan’s potential unreliability and lack of longevity but there’s no denying the R-Line models are very tempting.

132TSI R-Line adds:

  • R-Line body kit
  • R-Line interior
  • 20-inch ‘Suzuka’ alloy wheels (162TSI)
  • 19-Inch ‘Sebring’ alloy wheels (132TSI)
  • Adaptive chassis control and progressive steering
  • Black leather seats
  • Two-tone cloth seats (132TSI)
  • Stainless steel pedals
  • DSG paddles on the steering wheel
  • Black headliner
  • Aluminium scuff plates

162TSI R-Line

  • Price when new: $51,690
  • Price used: $30,000 - $45,000

Same aggressive R-Line styling as the 132TSI, but featuring Volkswagen’s more powerful 162TSI engine.

162TSI R-Line adds:

  • R-Line body kit
  • R-Line interior
  • 20-inch ‘Suzuka’ alloy wheels (162TSI)
  • Adaptive chassis control and progressive steering
  • Black leather seats
  • Stainless steel pedals
  • DSG paddles on the steering wheel
  • Black headliner
  • Aluminium scuff plates

Adventure

  • Price when new: $43,990
  • Price used: $27,500 - $31,000

It may be called a Tiguan Adventure but we wouldn’t recommend getting too adventurous. It will handle occasionally getting off the beaten track but don’t be fooled, this is no bush basher.

Also, a Driver Assistance Package was optionally available – adding auto park assist, a 12.3-inch ‘Active Info’ driver’s display, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system and lane assist.

Adventure adds:

  • ‘Off-road’ front bumper
  • Improved approach angle of 24 degrees
  • Underbody protection
  • LED headlights
  • 18-inch alloy wheels
  • Keyless access
  • An electric tailgate
  • Volkswagen Genuine Accessory roof bars
  • Power folding door mirrors.
  • 14-way adjustable ‘ErgoActive’ driver’s seat.
  • Art Velours Micro fleece Seat Trim
  • Heated Front Seats

Wolfsburg

  • Price when new: $55,490
  • Price used: $45,000 - $50,000

Take a Tiguan Highline 162TSI and throw just about every option at it, wrap it in a sexy body and you have a Tiguan Wolfsburg.

This is the flagship Tiguan but we’re not sure if the good looks make up for the other shortcomings.

Wolfsburg adds:

  • Sound & Vision package
  • Black exterior trims
  • 20-inch black alloys
  • 90 per cent rear window tint
  • Head up display
  • R-Line package
  • Smart key with push button start
Should you buy it?

We strongly DO NOT recommend buying a used Volkswagen Tiguan.

Yes, when they’re new and are covered by a full factory warranty, they’re an impressive vehicle (although we have heard numerous horror stories even when new) and yes, there are unicorn examples that have had minimal issues. But, we just don’t think it’s worth the risk. Especially when there are far better alternatives to choose from.

For what Tiguans are asking for on the used market, we’d recommend looking at Toyota RAV4s, Mazda CX-5s, Hyundai Tucsons and the Kia Sportage.

Sure they don’t have the Euro chic that comes with the Tiguan but you’ll probably also avoid the Volkswagen’s catastrophic repair bills, immense depreciation and the mental stress and anxiety that comes with the Tiguan.

If you are highly allergic to sense and reason and absolutely must have a Tiguan, our pick is the Comfortline 132TSI with a solid service history and the lowest possible mileage you can find but even then, please be extremely cautious.

Warranty & servicing

Warranty:

15,000kms or every 12 months

Servicing:

3 years/unlimited kms
5 years/unlimited kms (From 1/10/2018)

Tech specs

Body style:

  • 5-door SUV

Engine & outputs:

  • 1.4-litre, 4-cyl turbo petrol (110TSI) 110kW / 250Nm
  • 2.0-litre, 4-cyl turbo petrol (132TSI) 132kW / 320Nm
  • 2.0-litre, 4-cyl turbo diesel (110TDI) 110kW / 340Nm
  • 2.0-litre, 4-cyl turbo petrol (162TSI) 162kW / 350N
  • 2.0-litre, 4-cyl turbo diesel (140TDI) 140kW / 400Nm
  • 2.0-litre, 4-cyl turbo petrol (Sportline)

Drivelines:

  • 6-spd manual or 6-spd DSG, FWD
  • 7-spd DSG, AWD

Fuel use:

  • 6.0L/100km (combined) (110TSI)
  • 7.5L/100km (combined) (132TSI)
  • 8.1L/100km (combined) (162TSI)
  • 5.9L/100km (combined) (110TDI)
  • 5.9L/100km (combined) (140TDI)

Dimension:

  • Height: 1658mm (132TSI & 110TDI), 1648mm (110TSI)
  • Length: 5359mm
  • Width: 1839mm
Disclaimer

Information correct as of December 04, 2021.

The advice provided on this website is general advice only. It has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.

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