This week, Volkswagen raised the curtain on the third generation of its Tiguan compact SUV. The 2024 Tiguan gets more powertrain options, an evolved body, and an interior with a retrofuturist, pixelated design theme.
This week’s reveal covered the global version of the car. Volkswagen plans to reveal specific details about the model headed for American showrooms soon. But we can likely make accurate predictions of which elements are not headed stateside.
At this early stage, VW hasn’t hinted at pricing. The 2023 Tiguan starts at $28,505, pushing into the low-$40,000 range fully equipped. Volkswagen charges a mandatory $1,350 destination fee on all Tiguan models.
More Organic Shape
The new Tiguan loses the ultra-simple shape of the existing model, adding a prominent shoulder line that bulges above the rear fenders. The chrome grille of the 2023 model disappears for 2024, replaced by a wide lighting element. Air intake moves lower into a big black maw underneath. Like many 2024 designs, it almost suggests an electric car.
“The radiator grille openings are now located at the outer sides of the bumper, where air curtains ensure optimum air routing,” VW says.
Gas, Mild Hybrid, Plug-In Hybrid Likely Coming
But the 2023 Tiguan isn’t electric. Instead, buyers globally will get the choice of gas, turbodiesel, mild hybrid, and plug-in hybrid drivetrains. VW has offered few details on any of them. But Americans can likely ignore the diesel model – that engine is unlikely to make it to American showrooms.
The one detail VW offers on powertrains is likely a Europe-only matter. The company says the new plug-in hybrid model has “an electric range of around 100 km,” or 62 miles. That calculation likely uses Europe’s estimating system. America’s EPA routinely certifies much shorter ranges.
Perhaps the most impressive changes, however, come inside.
Big Screen, Pixelated Trim
Volkswagen calls its new interior design theme a “digital cockpit.” It’s centered on a 15-inch infotainment screen, which looks enormous in a compact cabin. The driver gets a small screen in the instrument cluster and a head-up display, though we’re not sure the latter will be standard.
The dashboard and door panels include wide strips of pixelated lighting that lend a 1980s vibe behind the immense screen.
A rotary dial on the center console “can be used to control the driving profile, radio volume or also the background lighting colors,” and has a small round screen inside to tell you which setting it’s currently controlling.
Premium Features, Straddling Affordable and Luxury Classes
Volkswagen says the Tiguan will bring new luxuries commonly found only on larger vehicles, like “ergoActive Plus seats with pneumatic four-way lumbar adjustment and pneumatic 10-chamber pressure massage function.” Drivers can set the heated and ventilated seats to respond automatically to the temperature outside the car.
Standard safety tech includes lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, road sign recognition, and automatic emergency braking.
It’s an attractive package, straddling the line between affordable compact SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 and luxury models like the Genesis GV70.
When VW reveals pricing, we’ll better understand which set of customers should plan a test drive.
