2025 Volkswagen Tiguan First Drive Review: Finding Its Mojo

I’ve to be sincere – I am not an enormous fan of the second-generation Volkswagen Tiguan, reputation however. Its cheap-feeling inside and middling driving dynamics really feel like a departure from the Teutonic, slightly oddball ideals of the corporate’s earlier merchandise, just like the Jetta 3 VR6, Passat TDI, or authentic Rabbit. Fortunately, the 2025 VW Tiguan guarantees extra of nearly all the things, together with customary tools, inside house, and know-how. It is also lighter and extra highly effective, and the cabin boasts nicer supplies.

So let’s not bury the lede any longer: this newest SUV is a large enchancment, each from its predecessor and the opposite crossovers in Volkswagen’s lineup. With crisper dealing with, a pleasantly styled cabin, and luxurious options like accessible massaging seats, the 2025 Tiguan looks like step one towards recapturing that old-VW magic. Higher nonetheless, the newfound character does not come on the expense of gasoline effectivity or practicality (so long as you will not miss the previous Tiggy’s teensy third-row seat that was accessible on some trims).

First Drive occasions present our preliminary impressions of a automobile in a restricted setting below sure time constraints. Keep watch over DrivingOnRoad for our complete Take a look at Drive evaluation, which is able to observe quickly.

What’s Modified For This Mannequin 12 months?

The 2025 Tiguan is a wholesale redesign of VW’s bread-and-butter compact crossover. Driving on the MQB Evo modular architecture, the brand new Tig boasts just a few key upgrades over its MQB-based predecessor, together with a stiffer platform and lighter-weight suspension parts that result in a weight lack of 170 kilos over the 2024 Tiguan. Regardless of that, the 103.8 cubic ft of passenger room is marginally bigger than the previous Tiguan, which measured 101.1 cubes in five-seat type.

Additionally improved is the turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine, which now makes 201 horsepower (up from 184) at decrease revs. The front-drive 2025 Tiguan makes 207 lb-ft of torque, which seems like a downgrade from the 2024 mannequin’s 221 at 1,900 rpm, besides that the brand new mill makes a thick plateau of twist from 1,500-5,000 rpm. Go for all-wheel drive, and also you get 221 lb-ft from 1,500-4,750 rpm. If that is nonetheless not sufficient, a flagship SEL R-Line Turbo is on the way next year with 268 hp and 258 lb-ft. An eight-speed standard computerized transmission is as soon as once more customary, as is front-wheel drive; Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system is accessible.

Design: LED-Illuminated Audacity

Over these improved mechanicals is a physique that shares its pores and skin with the global-market Tayron, which is analogous to however longer than the Tiguan sold elsewhere. Wanting a bit like an internal-combustion ID.4, the crossover has a full-width LED mild bar with two particular person LED projectors in every headlight, beneath which resides a large grille that spans all the entrance bumper. The authenticity of the open mesh is refreshing contemplating the fakery that plenty of trendy vehicles resort to, however the gaping maw does take some getting used to. The Tiguan’s proportions, nonetheless, are way more universally interesting, with the next, crisper hood line and brief rear overhang that look extra substantial and sporty than we’re used to from compact crossovers.

The rear can be slightly engaging. Base fashions get customary LED taillights with an intricate design, whereas the flagship SEL R-Line will get a full-width rear mild bar that includes an illuminated chrome VW badge – very cool. R-Line fashions get typical gloss black physique jewellery, whereas the S and SE get brighter finishes that I discover extra engaging. Ditto the rugged-looking 19-inch wheels on the SE, although the 20s on the SE R-Line and SEL R-Line have some simple street presence.

Inside: Nicer Than It is Ever Been

Whereas the fashionable exterior is arguably improved over the previous Tig, the brand new cabin is an simple leap ahead in each design and supplies. The bottom mannequin’s fabric inside has tweed-look grey bamboo-yarn upholstery on the seats and door panels, with slick-looking silver trim on the dashboard. Go for the SE and also you get leatherette seat upholstery with gentle faux-suede accents on the door panels.

Each entry-level fashions get customary heated seats and an enormous 12.9-inch middle show, in addition to a ten.3-inch digital instrument cluster and climate-controlled wi-fi charging, making every of them very properly geared up for his or her respective $30,920 and $33,790 beginning costs.

Transfer into the SEL and also you get real quilted leather-based with heated rear outboard seats and heated, ventilated, and massaging entrance seats. The real walnut sprint trim bookends a large 15.0-inch touchscreen, mixing heat, cozy design with trendy know-how. The SEL’s padded middle console can be a deal with for the long-haul driver’s knees.

That stated, even decrease trims get good soft-touch supplies on the entrance windowsills and armrests. In comparison with the plastic-fantastic 2024 Tiguan, even the base-model 2025 feels extra luxurious. That stated, taller drivers’ elbows might encounter a nasty seam of laborious supplies on the door armrest, because the padding does not fairly prolong far again sufficient. Rear-seat occupants additionally make do with much less cushiness, with a gentle door panel armrest however laborious plastic in any other case.

Infotainment: Nonetheless Room For Enchancment

The usual 12.9-inch show with customary wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto needs to be all of the know-how most patrons will want, with fast responses and crisp graphics that look as trendy right here as on the recently updated GTI. Mercifully, VW has additionally deserted the touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons in favor of bodily ones, and there is a new multi-function console knob that handles audio quantity as a default; press it down and it switches to a drive mode selector (on all-wheel-drive fashions), then swipe proper or left to entry ambient lighting themes on SE and SEL fashions. Whereas related multi-function controls could be a little complicated, it is simple to parse how the knob works with a couple of minutes of familiarization.

A 15.0-inch show on the SEL R-Line mannequin is actually overkill since the usual touchscreen works simply superb, however those that insist on essentially the most tech accessible will admire the added actual property. The SEL additionally will get 30-color ambient lighting – once more, overkill – with accents that shine via the sprint trim. Sadly, regardless of how a lot cash you pay, you are caught utilizing touch-sensitive sliders for the local weather controls, and the heated seat operate lives on the touchscreen slightly than a tough button.

Powertrain & Driving: That Autobahn Really feel

As acknowledged above, the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan rides on the MQB Evo chassis. Because of the lack of the 2024 mannequin’s principally unusable third-row seat, some new aluminum suspension supplies, and a 1.7-inch-shorter general size, the most recent Tiguan weighs 170 kilos much less, trim-for-trim, than its predecessor. That ought to imply improved general efficiency, particularly together with the 2025 mannequin’s added grunt and wider powerband.

Powertrain

Finally, the spec chart tells a distinct story from the check drive. The 2025 Tiguan definitely doesn’t really feel slower than its forebear, however neither is it noticeably faster from a launch or when passing and merging. A few of the blame may go to the eight-speed computerized transmission; even utilizing the twiddly-style gear selector to interact the S gearbox mode, downshifts are considerably lazy, and the throttle tuning simply isn’t sharp sufficient to summon fast responses from the turbo 4.

The issue doesn’t solely present itself in sporty driving – I feel much more sedate crossover drivers may really feel let down by the Tiguan’s lackadaisical gearbox. There’s an uneasy delay between pedal motion and ahead momentum, which might really feel agonizing when punching the throttle to clear site visitors throughout a left flip. Moreover, some thrashy engine noises accompany transmission kickdowns, though to be truthful, the sound is nowhere close to as distracting as that of the Honda CR-V hybrid’s 2.0-liter 4.

Dealing with

The place the 2025 Tiguan actually shines is in general suspension conduct. At-limit dealing with might be of no consequence to most buyers on this section, however the Volkswagen nonetheless feels pert and interesting at a lot slower speeds, with respectable steering response and a well-damped four-corner impartial suspension. To my shock, the SE mannequin and its 19-inch wheels proved extra playful than the SEL, whose 20s introduce an excessive amount of influence harshness and a few secondary vibrations to the experience.

Against this, the SE felt nearly precisely just like the halcyon VWs of my youth, these Mk4 Golfs and Jettas of the early 2000s. Tender springs and agency dampers present a cushty experience with out subjecting occupants to schooner-style physique motions, and the smaller wheels and thicker tire sidewalls dispatch sharp obstacles with a muted thump and little else. Very German.

Gas Economic system

The bottom 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan S front-wheel-drive musters up 26/34/29 mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed, whereas the SE and SEL do 25/32/28. Add a pushed rear axle to the combo, and also you’ll see 22/30/25 mpg no matter trim. These numbers are a tidy enchancment over the previous Tiguan, which may do between 24 and 26 mpg mixed relying on the trim stage. The VW nonetheless comes up barely brief on its rivals, particularly the electrified Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4 hybrid – a forthcoming plug-in mannequin will shut that hole. Nonetheless, in all-wheel-drive type, the Mazda CX-5 posts 25 mixed, the Hyundai Tucson does 26, the gas-only CR-V does 28, and the parsimonious RAV4 does 30.

Verdict & Pricing: The Finest Tiguan But

The 2025 VW Tiguan starts at $30,920 in S trim and $33,720 for the SE, together with a $1,425 vacation spot cost, numbers that symbolize just a few hundred bucks greater than the previous Tig. All-wheel drive is a $1,500 choice on every, by the best way. I feel the SE 4Motion finest represents most drivers’ wants, however there’s additionally a $36,880 SE R-Line Black mannequin that provides gloss-black 20-inch wheels and darkened exterior accents for many who need a tuxedo search for their crossovers. The complete-fat SEL R-Line comes customary with all-wheel drive and prices $41,180, roughly according to its opponents’ flagship trims however providing some section rarities like massaging, ventilated entrance seats and actual wooden trim.

There’s quite a bit to advocate the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan. The corporate’s devotees will love its pleasantly styled, tech-heavy inside after they commerce of their previous fashions, and the added effectivity will guarantee a cheerful union for years to return (or at the least till the lease is up). In the meantime, would-be Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai buyers may admire the VW’s rediscovered Teutonic driving manners, which really feel extra substantial than these of the CR-V, RAV4, and Tucson. A wholesale enchancment over the already well-liked outgoing Tiguan, this newest mannequin places Volkswagen in a really aggressive place in its section.