2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium - Redline: Review
Вставка
- Опубліковано 5 вер 2024
- Super sized for the American buyers, the long awaited replacement for the first Tiguan grows in every dimension with an overall length increase by nearly 11 inches. This new larger size results in small 3rd row seat option and nearly 58% more cargo room versus the first generation. Combine with an interior that is easily the quietest and roomiest in the segment and Volkswagen may very well have a huge hit with the potential to become the brand's best-seller in this crossover hungry US market.
My husband and I watched this video and were completely sold on the Tiguan! We just purchased a 2019 and absolutely love it!! Thank you so much for your review!
Cassandra Milder enjoy your new Tiguan- happy couple
I don’t think any rational person would watch 1 video and then buy the vehicle
@@yesthisismyname9977 Yes
How has it held up and how many miles have you put on it? Thanks!
I purchased a 2019 Tiguan on April 9th and I’m exceedingly satisfied. I test drove all the competition over 3 months, CR-V, Rav-4, and so on. The Tiguan is not the fastest but is refined and smooth and has the emergency 3rd row for my little nieces & nephews. The infotainment is great! Rear air vents and 2 usb cables and sliding and reclining second row is great. It’s spacious, and I only wish I had cooled seats, and an adjustable front center armrest and lockable glove box. But there is no perfect vehicle. I didn’t want the CVT in the Honda and I like that both front seats are height adjustable in the Tiguan. It feels as if I spent $10k more than I did. Discounts were generous, and the new 6 year/ 72k warranty gives an added perception of mechanical security from VW. It’s my first turbo and I hope it lasts 3-4 years without issue or event. I can definitely recommend the Tiguan if you are in the stage of life that you need comfort & utility and 3rd row in a compact light truck. I bought Titanium Gray exterior color.
I could not agree more. I bought a used 2018 SEL 4motion with 25K miles on it for 24K and it is an absolute steal at that price. I love it !
Sir Galahad that’s fantastic!! I hope it gives you great service and lots of fun memories! I’m still loving mine too! So many little thoughtful design elements
Do you use regular or premium gas?
pyong cho it runs great on regular 87 gas. Premium not required per VW
@@2004cyrus o to 60 in 8 seconds pretty slow making it dangerous when you want to accelerate
I just spent 3 hours watching your channel, reviewing small SUV and by far the VW is my favorite.
Its way better looking than Rav4, CRV and Rogue
j dutt ya
Believe Rogue is the better looking of all in this compact SUV class
The new design Toyota RAV4 2019 look better and have more power hands down
Hyundai Tucson still beats it lol
W8MPX lol
I would go back to the way you used to film the videos - with Sofyan holding the camera or using the ones mounted in the car. It is harder to see the features with your new camera-man technique!
Noah Salmon I agree.
Noah Salmon agreed!
Joe Black
t
The angles look exactly like it's luxury segment, Audi.
Yea, owned by same company, same platform, same factory and probably same designers lol
Yes same pc of junk. And yes I know well. You go on and buy this and I promise in 3 years you will be in tears. Then try to trade this pile in on a Japanese vehicle. They will laugh at you when you ask about trade in value. Why would you buy this. So much info out there nowadays.
That's because it IS an Audi, and an Audi is a VW.
@@steventugwell6424 wrong. Tiguan is a VW, not Audi.
@@gregblack8550 You promise? Well you clearly are dishonest. You want a boring corolla that everyone and their mom has? Go ahead. We like our style and we appreciate German engineering.
I just got my 2018 SEL 2 weeks ago and I love it. Sure, it's a little underpowered, but I keep it in sport-mode and I manually shift. OK, it drops my mpg, but...guess what? #problem solved! I have all the passing power I need. IMO- during normal driving conditions, passing ability has more to do with driver awareness, timing and skill, than it does horsepower. Anyway... I chose the VW Tiguan SEL over the CR-V because of VW's classic styling, its quietness, the roominess, the interior and exterior tech and the fact that I can shift gears manually. In 3 words: FUN. TO. DRIVE. The CR-V has an enormous gear shifter (cumbersome). The CR-V has no paddles or shiftable stick (BORING). Plus, CR-Vs are EVERYWHERE (a-dime-a-dozen). And, I don't like the vertical tail lights. The Rav-4 looks like a Storm Trooper: especially the white one. It looks "tacky" and way too trendy. I felt like I was in a flimsy vehicle. The interior styling was wacky and odious. Even the gear shifter looked and felt cheap. Plus, the Rav 4 had only ONE USB port in the entire vehicle #DEALBREAKER. And... No Apple Car play? I feel like I'm in a class above the others in my SEL. It get looks, I get compliments.
Damn, the amount of excuses in this comment. Must be experiencing a lot of buyers remorse
Martin Scott hey Martin congrats on your Tiguan! I also bought one April 9th and drive the CR-V and Rav-4 and your comments are all spot on! I couldn’t agree more and I’m loving my Tiguan for everything that it is. I tried to like the competition and had the same complaints or observations as yours. Cheers!
Thank you for this thorough review. I just purchased my SEL a few weeks ago and so far I am pleased it. However, I had a 2007 Subaru Legacy and can tell a major difference with the steering. I know, different car and models. What I do like so far is the easability of getting in and out especially if you have mobility limitations. Also, the sheer roominess of the cabin makes it enjoyable to drive. The infotainment screen is very intuitivae and does take some time to get adjuseted too. The amount of tech in the SUV is amazing but not overwhelming.
Awesome review as usual. Just picked up my Tiguan SEL (2row, 4motion) a few days ago. I love the car. Although I prefer the feel of real leather, the styling, tech, roominess and other features are very nice and it feels like a more expensive ride. It definitely feels more luxurious than the CR-V (which cannot be shifted manually) and clearly better than the flimsy “storm-trooper” Rav-4 (which feels like a glorified corolla with all that road noise and weird interior and no Apple Car-Play).
Granted; the SEL is definitely underpowered. Even my learner’s permit 16 year old daughter noticed that. I just keep it in sport mode and shift manually, which hurts MPG, but problem solved = Good acceleration and passing power. Furthermore, IMO: in everyday driving, the ability to pass other vehicles when necessary has much more to do with driver skill, timing and awareness than the horsepower.
So do you notice the 1st to 2nd gear lag and interior noise of the B Pillar?
Scottie Scott so a year later, how has your Tig held up? I’m looking at getting one for my wife.
Have a 2018 vw tiguan sel premium love it get 33 on the highway 27 in the city and the most I've have gotten has been 38 love it
The turbo should compensate the lack of air density at elevation. I don't think you'll find much difference in acceleration in DC, unfortunately.
The turbo would turbonormalize, making the vehicle behave roughly around what a naturally aspirated 2.0L would at sea level. A turbo at sea level would turbocharge the engine, thus produce more power.
Great review. Fair on praise and criticism. The primary drivers for me were 1)size, 2) Driver Assist Features. My wife wanted leather. We have a teen who will be sharing the car with us for two years. After that we'll either give it to him or keep it. The size is perfect for going either way. Not too big for him and not too small for us to keep. I'm 6'-2" and 240-lb, son is 6'-1" and growing and he plays VB. This car will be very comfortable for 4 large people. The "boxiness" = plenty of headspace to the exterior. Spacious, very comfortable, excellent visibility. Perfect for road trips and sightseeing. It could use more power, but I'm fine with a teenager not having huge reserves of power. The SEL Premium has a full suite of convenience features. It's a fun to drive in, if not thrilling to drive. I'm really liking it (after a full week with it).
I love my 4motion premium and for me I love road trips and it’s so comfy.
I love Volkswagen's new design language with their CUVs, but I think we should have got the short wheelbase Tiguan for multiple reason. It looks handsome, but the back doors look way too big; the short wheelbase Tiguan looks way better. Now, it's too big for the engine it has. Which brings me to an automotive pet peeve I have. I'm not sure if it's automakers or consumers, but why do people want compact vehicles that are spacious? It's called a compact sedan/crossover for a reason, because it's small. If you want something with more space, get a bigger vehicle. The Tiguan is bigger now, and for what? To jam a third row in the cargo area for your dog to sit in. Just a thought.
There will be a Tiguan Limited model which is shorter like the 2017 model, however, if what I've read is true it won't have many options and will only be available in FWD.
At least give the option. I think the longer wheel base will compete w/ the Toureg no?
Elliott Manning I just bought a 2019 Tiguan and I agree with your comments but I appreciate mine for the roominess. I had the old Tiguan and I enjoyed it but I didn’t want the huge Atlas. This Tiguan hits the sweet spot for me and I use the small 3rd row for my nieces & nephews.
Sofyan, keep up the good work! Your awesome 👏👍🙌
Thanks.
I think the new American-Spec Tiguan is too close to the new Atlas in terms of size. Its meant to be a compact SUV, and a last time I checked, compact doesn't entail 3rd row ...
Rented an R Line Tiguan in Copenhagen... loved it.
I love this CUV! I fell in love with it as soon as I drove it.
So I went ahead and bought this car from VW in NJ, and don't regret 1 bit. I feel there is ample power to the vehicle and a superb torque built-up that can easily push 7 passengers if required. The only crib I have is a feeling that driver seat is slightly inclined to the left (it's just a weird feeling) ... Overall Tiguan >> Competition (CR-V, RAV4, CX-5, Equinox).
Been here since 60K....keep up the good work!
12:00 put people back here you don't like....classic!
And kids that you happen to hate can be tied to the roof rack.
Answered all of my questions!! Fantastic job!
If you were to choose between the Tiguan and Mazda CX-5, what would it be?
Angel Walcott I drove both extensively and came out of a Mazda and totally expected and looked forward to getting a CX-5 and I had some uncertainty about the CX-5 last minute, drive a mile north to VW dealership just to cross off the Tiguan from a list that it wasn’t really on for me, I didn’t expect to like it. And I requested a quick test drive and fell in love with the Tiguan and told the salesman, “let me return this Mazda I’m out test driving to the dealer and get my current Mazda and come back and work out numbers on the Titanium Gray Tiguan we just drove.” And I bought it! I’m exceedingly satisfied and just as Sofyan said at the end of this review, I feel like I spent $10k more than what I did!
I get almost 31mpg in highway driving at 70mph with 4motion!
I'm trying to figure out why VW tried to do here. Yes the old Tiguan was more of a lifted hatch than an SUV and the size gain is great, but I felt like they made it a bit big for a compact SUV.
Then there is the 3rd row seat which makes the Mitsubishi Outlander & Nissan Rogue look large in comparison; you have to be children or midgets to fit back there. Given VW is introducing the larger 7 seat Atlas at the same time, why do they insist on fitting the joke of a 3rd row in the trunk area?
Lastly the powertrain; the old Tiguan with the EA827 2.0T with 200hp was spunky & noticeably sportier than the class norm such as Rav4, CR-V, Rogue and the CX-5 with their ~180hp 2.5L naturally aspirated I4. Why dumb down the powertrain to their levels in a car which like 90% likely heavier than the outgoing SMALLER Tiguan?
The mainstream direction of VW is making it hard for a car enthusiast like me to appreciate VW is botching their lineup in North America.
and where's that leave the Toureg right?
Touareg is going to be gone by 2018 after the MY2017 are sold out. The Atlas and Touareg are too similar to sell together in America. Besides the Touareg while nice & luxurious never really clicked with Americans (and was too expensive to wear a VW badge) so that's why the larger Atlas was designed and the Touareg will likely be confined to Europe & Asia in the future.
Trades46 ah, they've been so silent on Toureg - I never knew what they wanted to do with it. I think having the two seat options with the Tiguan and the larger Atlas Give Them Enough flexibility to do without the Touareg rig then.
car enthusiasts and crossovers should never be in the same sentence
The old tiguan has a 1st generation ea888 engine. It's great after getting APR stage 1 tune.
This is getting confusing; Tiguan, Atlas and Toureg! Toureg used to be in the Pathfinder, 4Runner class but seems to have moved up to the bigger SUV class. Now, the Tiguan is moving closer to the Pathfinder, 4Runner class, IMO. Third row is just useless.
I think this is the most objective review i have seen on this vehicle, scratch that - any vehicle, in quite a while. Well done.
I love watching your channel. You make a difficult car buying decision so much easier.
Why don't they offer a v6 or a larger 4 cylinder
Paul Giulekas the engine is what’s turning me away from this vehicle. With the SEL premium I feel like for the price I could go for a used luxury suv with just as much tech and a heck of a lot faster.....
The spare tyre makes sense for the AWD version, hence perhaps why the FWD has a third row rather than a spare tyre. The Land Rover Discovery Sport is another compact SUV with a third row seat option.
Thin air doesn't matter.....you are driving a turbo, it makes it own atmosphere.
with the Tiguan and the new Atlas, where's that leave the Toureg?
FYI (yeah i know its' nearly 4 years old...) There are two Tiguan Models, normal wheele base and Long wheel base. Both are available in Europe, but the LWB only in America, so.. there ist a shorter Tiguan, but not in the US
When do you test the new CX-5? Should give the Tiguan a run for its money in refinment and material qualitiy...
The only problem with the previous Tiguan was that it had absolutely no cargo space. Nice to see they added extra space so much so to prove a point by adding a 3rd row seat.
I test drove this car and agree that it was sluggish. Very upsetting because it’s beautiful to me and priced well. I live in Florida and will probably borrow this car for couple days to see how I like.
love your videos sofyan !
Sofyan, great review. Regarding the issue of having the 3rd row standard on a Front wheel driver vs optional on the 4 motion trim. My guess is that they did that for weight issues. Having the third row and the all wheel drive adds significant weight. As you pointed out, not sure why anyone would want the third row since it is unusable for all but small kids. My drive is a 2017 GMC Acadia Denali.
Great review. I noticed that a lot of folks complain about the material or feel of the keyfob. I just recently purchased VW Atlas with same fob and I actually love it. It might not feel as premium as the other car brands but it is functional and practical. The plastic that it is made of will not scratch so easily like other brands so it will look new for much much longer. I had 2018 Q5 with 15k miles and keyfob looked like it came from a car that had 200k miles on it. I though I would share my point of view :)
For everyone complaining about power, the tiguan has the same motor as the mk7 gti and with a stage 1.5 tune makes about 300whp, so all it needs is a tune and im sure the power will be plenty
The Euro-Spec Tiguan is so much better looking, especially the R-Line.
kermit1 true
Uh... So I'm in Europe, and it looks the same? The American one is slightly longer, but Europe is also going to get the longer version (It's called "Tiguan Allspace" here).
kermit1 It doesn't look any different really. Just as dull and boring quite frankly.
kermit1 The only difference with the U.S. and Euro-spec models is the fact that we’re only getting the longer-wheelbase version (Tiguan Allspace in Europe). We actually are getting the R-Line Tiguan in the U.S., so that’ll be nice. The only think I don’t like is that we aren’t offered the shorter-wheelbase Tiguan because I would personally buy that over the Allspace.
I like the new redesign personally. It feels like it still kinda lacking on some desirable features that you can see from others in its class. Definitely not digging the third row and the longer length.
Wish you can do a fresh review on 2019 Tiguan sel?
How does a car feel "Godly" slow? Most of the time I feel like your bashing this car when its honestly the best out in its class... Its not made for speed obviously and the mpg is great I get 31 in mine which is awesome
A Great Beats I bought a 2019 Tiguan on April 9th and I admit it’s not the fastest vehicle by far, it’s it ungodly slow. He leases a Porsche as a personal car. He drives all kinds of cars, so I’m sure the Tiguan feels like a dog. But I got used to it quickly and it’s not slow on the highway. It’s a little slow off the line in the city when the traffic light turns green. But nobody buys these to race around in. The Tiguan is smooth & refined and comfortable. I have no regrets.
Ecu tune and you can get 280-300 hp with apr. cost bout 600 bucks. Best suv in my opinion to buy in this segment
I think most SUVs will have a pretty noticeable body roll... Also, I'm surprise that it has substantial turbo lag.... when you floor it immediately.... maybe VW should make Tiguan GLI? lol
it's probably standard on fwd because of the weight difference without AWD. so they let the consumer decide if they wanna double dip
It's so frustrating when reviewers (and a lot of them do this) knock a car that's not a sports car in any way shape or form for not being fast or not being fun on a back road. If you want a car to drive like a sports car, buy a sports car. It's an SUV. It's supposed to be comfortable.
difference between a sports cr and having descent pick up, this is neither and they lowered the HP from the prior model which is moronic. Per Edmunds Subpar acceleration and responsiveness
um could you start back showing gauges on start up like you use to I like the beginning just for that thanks
VW needs to make the panoramic sunroof optional, in Canada it comes standard starting on the SE so if you dont like sunroof, you have to go with the base.
Nice review. One FYI, elevation should not affect a turbo. That is why planes with turbo engines perform better for piston engines.
Crazy to think that the SEL Alltrack msrp is at 36k when fully loaded. Smaller engine, similar numbers. What would you prefer???
That area gives me tons of anxiety as speed enforcers LOVE that area lol. They are always waiting for you half way down the hill.
You'll definitely have better results testing at sea level. I consider that 0-60 to be much above average for what I've personally experienced in v6 / 4cyl turbos on that particular hill. Still bummed at the numbers overall though - was hoping it would introduce a decent tow capacity like the Ford Escape. If TDI was still around I'd be throwing money at it.
Neat review, Sofyan! The all-new 2018 VW Tiguan seems like a pretty drastic update over the previous model (in terms of technology, space, and looks).
By VW adding 3-rows of seats as standard in the FWD models, and optional in the AWD models... The VW Tiguan should appeal to more consumers. Especially, slightly larger families that may not want (or need) to step up to a larger 3-row crossover or minivan.
The pricing is a little on the high side, but the amount of technology/quality that the Tiguan offers seems to slot higher than a lot of its competitors. Also, that orange color of your tester really adds a youthful factor to the very conservative/sophisticated look of this vehicle. Overall, great review, Sofyan!
Keep up the impeccable work! I cannot wait until I can get my hands on one of these vehicles to review. I am extremely curious as to how it will fare in my review tests! Go, Redline Reviews! 👍🏽
Direct injection worries me. Valve fouling has been a real problem with it. Ford even went to dual injection combination in newer engines - direct/port injection designed to keep valves clean.
why would they drop the HP, the new 2.0T audi engines push around 230hp.
for fuel economy because the last generation tiguan was not fuel efficient
Would really love it if they made the coming R-Line similar to the GLI, GTI, or even the Golf-R, performance wise. Add the sport suspension, the more powerful engine with the DSG and the sport flat bottom wheel. I don't know what they were thinking when they made it bigger and a lot sharper/sporty looking but skimped on the engine...
R-line is just appearance package for US market
I'm missing the part where you film the instrument panel when you turn the car on!
Ridiculous to consider that VW USA has chosen to bring the 180hp petrol and not the 220hp found in other markets like here in New Zealand. While yes we don't have the LWB as you guys do yet we get the 220hp one for both SWB and LWB.
The exterior looks pretty good. Its all about the proportions. that keeps a design from being dated. Very good review SB,
I test drove two of these today and both had jerky shifts from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd. They were both SEL versions with 219 and 163 miles on the odometer (dealer lot cars). I also observed excessive vibrations in the cabin while the engine was warming up ( we were in P and there was a visible headrest shake, on both of them). The V6 Atlas was better, no vibrations or shady gear shifts. Did you experience anything similar?
Wonder what drive mode you were in while doing the test drive for this review. I noticed a big change when in Sport mode with acceleration from normal Drive mode... especially when in Eco mode the difference is night and day to Sport Mode.
Such a shame the R Line trim isn’t available in the US.. it looks so badass!
Volkswagen's engines tend to pair better with their sedans and hatchbacks. These 4 Cylinder Turbos really are fun when you stick them in a small car like the Jetta. I've got the 1.8t one in my Jetta and I think it's fair to say that it can hit 0-60 in under 7 seconds at a lower altitude.
Maybe it's just me, but I've always given preference to Volkswagen. I've driven Hondas, Chevys, etc etc, and I find none of them to be neither as fun to drive or as luxurious as VW.
I was looking forward to this one. Like the looks and interior room. The lack of engine seems like a slight fail IMHO. It needs a diet and more power
test drove this yesterday. It looks great, lots of space. Initial acceleration leaves much to be desired. Cannot make this my daily driver. It drives great on the highway but underpowered. Acceralation from stop make me feel like there is something seriously not matched with the engine and transmission. My gut feeling tells me to move on from this to another potential vehicle option!
Hi, I'm shopping for a compact SUV. I know you are a car enthusiast but I'm mostly looking for good visibiliy and for the most comprehensive and complete driver assistance and security technologies. My list Is down to the 2017 Honda CRV Touring, the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium 4Motion with driver assistance package and finaly the 2018 Subaru Forester 2.5i Touring with EyeSight. I live in Quebec, Canada where we have a lot of snow during the winter. The canadian models are a little different and have differents names. I mentionned the closest americans models as I understand it. Which one would you chose and why ? Thanks
Which car did you like best? The CX5 or Tiguan?
the standard seats on fwd might be to balance the prices and keep them similar idk, id have to compare them
Just ordered a Tiguan 2lt Turbo Diesel so they are available in the UK
If you floored this would it go fast and accelerate fast? Idk maybe because it's a turbo and 2018
His drive test on the acceleration being painfully sluggishly painful verifies what I thought, especially with only 184HP. My 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T has 265HP and does 0-60 in about 7.0s which is decent. His drive test model is also a 2.0T. Too bad VW produced a "family suv" than something that can be fun to drive too. I like the outside looks compared to the previous generation though. I will opt for the Volvo XC40 which has about 250HP, 0-60 in about 6s, 33mpg on HWY and a digital cockpit too.
why the same diesel engine is ok in Europe and anywhere else in the world but not in the US?
I was waiting for you to do a review on this car. it's really a shame we did not get the Euro spec version of the Tiguan with the DSG and SWB. I was really looking forward to getting this car based on the the euro release looking back the NA version seems lackluster. @redlinereviews how would you compare this to the 2018 q5??
Why does the 2018 Tiguan 4 motion get 27mpg and then 2019 gets 29mpg hiway?
Did you try the "Sport Mode"?
Does it actually fully park itself? Or is it just emergency backup breaking and alerts? I can't seem to get a straight answer and our local dealer doesn't have the premium version on the lot yet.
VW don't use Diesel motors where? In US you mean,'cause here in EU they still using Diesel motors and manual transmission,at least here in my country
Are you planning to review the 2017 Ford Escape? Really curious to get your impressions of that vehicle and how it compares in the segment.
Does the FWD Tiguan have a driveshaft tunnel or is it flat in the rear seating?
has the ea888-3B like the a4 ultra with the budack cycle aka modified Miller cycle
I'm sure APR or Unitronic will offer a tuning solution that will boost it to 250ish+ hp and 300+ torque without any other supporting mods.
Driveitsideways 1 praying you are right
Chinmonkie I'm confident they will. VW's tuning companies have always been good at offering stuff for all makes and models. Current Tiguans have quite a bit of aftermarket support (I own a 2016), I don't see why they would stop...
If I remember correctly, Audi hasn't sent you any test vehicles since you reviewed the A4 last year… I'd love to see an S5 Sportback review some day.
Yash Kolwalkar they sent us an S7 and we currently have a Q7. Expect the review on the S7 to go live soon! Once the S5 Sportback enters our local press fleet we'll be sure to request it.
I'll snag one at the end of the model year (discounted). Too bad the VW diesel is history , would be a nice compliment to the TIG.
Luv my 15 Passat TDI and average 41 mpg's (50 on trips).
Six year warranty is sweet ,wish it was made at the Chattanooga plant though.
I owned a previous generation VW Tiguan. The older model was much sportier, faster and better engineered with a better engine. It did have smaller dimensions and only 20 to 22 mpg but handled almost like a small sports car and was a joy to drive. I would never buy this "white elephant," which is overweight, oversized and suitable only for soccer moms on a budget and I get that. It's redirecting itself to a different market. VW needs to fit the last generation niche it gave up with a smaller, sportier and quicker model. Good review.
I loved the old camera view this new view its ook but i liked it from your perspective like with u holding the camera showing smart key access all of that plz think about considering it
What is your thoughts on long term reliability? I like VW but have heard of issues with many prior year models.
this updated 2.0 liter in thetiguan is going to be in the passat and certain jetta, the 1.8 liter is going to be phased out.
Great video. Thank you. Don't want the useless 3rd row, don't like the option packaging, but overall I'd consider this or an Escape since mpg isn't my primary concern.
They should just put the R-line with the regular 2.0 T on it. And 3800 lbs - wow! That's really heavy - about 500 lbs plus heavier than most competitors.
Finally getting those cooled seats in the arteon! My dealership was the first to get them in the NYC metro area! I hope we never sell them so I can just hop in it from time to time lol
Well, if you're gonna make a car longer and heavier, it's gonna take a toll on fuel economy. The FWD is 200lbs heavier than the old Tiguan and the AWD is 400lbs heavier. My guess is that VW redid the engine to get equal power and fuel economy to the old Tiguan but were unable to do so, so they detuned it to 185 or thereabouts in order to maintain fuel economy. Which translates to a slower and heavier vehicle with roughly similar fuel economy. Doesn't seem like a great value to me.
I think VW recognizes this problem which is why they're still going to sell the older Tiguan in the States, but under the name "Tiguan Limited", probably with a significant markdown. Without the Tiguan Limited, VW wouldn't have a small SUV presence here. Then again, I feel like they could have just included the standard wheelbase new model that Europe gets. Instead they decided that we only get the long wheelbase model because 'Murika.
Maybe they're going to phase out the low-selling, overpriced Touareg, since the new Tiguan is basically the same length. European Tiguans get engines ranging from 147 to 236hp, so maybe VW will bring a higher output engine to the States in the next few years, or add a higher output engine to the Atlas, thus making the Touareg redundant. This is all speculation, of course.
Nobody is gonna see this, but I just wanna say that I totally called it in the post above. Volkswagen has announced that they will be discontinuing the Touareg in the USA after 2017 for the reasons I mentioned. The Tiguan/Atlas combo makes the Touareg an overpriced, low-selling redundancy.
Lol I read yours. Don't know about the Touareg decision but fair enough Atlas is gonna get the crowd excited enough to forget the old king of VW SUV. And adding your short wheelbase Tiguan hope, it's not gonna happen, but good news is that they're bringing the long wheelbase version of the Roc, which is a segment down, and it's a hot one.
It’s for people to go for the atlas if they want a standard 3rd row in the whole trim
seems like you criticize the power and the economy but I'm not sure if you can have both. Well you can - but you'd need to have two cars if you stuck with that same basic engine:
That 2.0L plant (EA888) can make over 300BHP in the Golf R (Euro) but my real world consumption falls to around 29mpg combined. The 0-60 is under 5sec (DSG). It's mad. I just sold it.
The same basic petrol unit in my new (2019, slightly more power, different continent) Tiguan SEL with DSG makes a quoted 190BHP and although the 0-60 times are around 7.5sec (I can actually do a whisper over 7sec, VW are well known for underquoting their performance figures) but I can return around 35mpg real world combined.
That seems a more happy compromise between every day practicability and a half decent sprint. Others will of course argue that even the 190bhp is overpowered but each to their own.
You can of course chip to I think around 220bhp and there will be people who do this, but of course I imagine this would be at the expense of economy.
Also 'sluggish' means different things to different people.
Just imagine if they were put the Golf R engine in this. How cool would that be?
Sofyan did you get the chance to drive the vw tiguan r line as yet I'll like you do a review on that SUV
VW got this Tiguan wrong by not offering the European Tiguan that is smaller. It seems like VW always goes wrong that way. In Canada, people are going smaller so the old Tiguan was selling better in the last 2 years but now with this one, I dont know how well it will sell. The T-ROC is looking better for me now after watching this review.
You should try do a tour in EU and do a review in some europeans cars like SEAT/SKODA/RENAULT/PEGEOU..,try to come one of our car shows here. BTW nice review as always.
Sounds like dynamics are disappointing. Combine with with high curb weight, below average fuel economy, and high price, I think sales will still increase but Honda / Toyota / Nissan needn't worry
I'm sad cuz I really liked the size (mostly the short length) of the old Tiguan and the 200 hp. I agree it was really outdated and needed a whole lot more features. I wish VW just redesigned the old Tiguan with this tougher body and added modern/improved safety features. That third row freaking sucks too!! Love your reviews though!!
It is bigger yet has 16 fewer ponies?