The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan can easily disappear in a crowded market full of excellent compact SUVs. It currently sits at number nine in our ranking. It’s a strong choice, with excellent handling and an available third-row seat. But its styling is a bit dated, and its resale value is a bit low next to its Japanese rivals.
For 2022, VW is stepping up the Tiguan’s game.
Updated Style
The 2022 Tiguan features updated styling inside and out and a suite of new technologies. Combined, those changes should boost resale values. That may be good enough to bring the Tiguan back near the top of a very competitive class.
The 2022 Tiguan will reach showrooms in the third quarter of 2021. Price hasn’t been revealed, but we expect a small bump over the current sticker, which ranges from $25,245 to $39,055 across five trim levels.
Mechanically, nothing has changed. All Tiguans still come with a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine making 184 horsepower and an 8-speed automatic transmission. They come in front-wheel drive, with an optional upgrade to VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system.
On the outside, the Tiguan gets a refreshed front fascia. New, narrower LED headlights sit above big air vents accented in chrome. That grille is available with a lighted center line framing the VW logo. Higher trim levels get new side sills to change the car’s profile. A redesigned rear bumper includes dramatic, chrome-accented tailpipes, and the T I G U A N name spread wide across the liftgate – a design element borrowed from the Taos, Arteon, and Atlas.
Inside, all analog gauges are gone. Buyers can now choose from two digital displays. An 8-inch touchscreen is standard, with a 10-inch option available. Volkswagen’s Car-Net in-car Wi-Fi is available with a monthly data plan. Heated front seats are now standard, with a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats optional.
New Driver Aids and Safety Tech
An updated set of driver assistance technologies are also worthy of note. Base model Tiguans come with Front Assist, Side Assist, and Rear Traffic Alert. Higher trim levels get VW’s IQ.DRIVE driver assistance suite.
The suite includes Front Assist (forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian monitoring), Active Side Assist (blind-spot monitor), rear cross-traffic alert, Lane Assist (lane-keeping system), adaptive cruise control with stop and go, Travel Assist (semi-automated driving assistance), and Emergency Assist (semi-automated vehicle assistance in a medical emergency).
The Tiguan is VW’s best-selling vehicle, both worldwide and in the U.S. These updates should help it keep that title.
