Volkswagen Tiguan Review 2023

Volkswagen Tiguan At A Glance

4/5
Honest John Overall Rating
The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan is an upmarket alternative to SUVs like the Nissan Qashqai and Ford Kuga. It boasts a classy and spacious interior, and is comfortable and easy to drive.

+High-quality interior offers plenty of practicality, plus a strong array of standard equipment. Refined driving experience fits with Volkswagen’s upmarket image.

-Looks expensive alongside the very similar SEAT Ateca or Skoda Karoq. Not the most exciting SUV to look at. Other than the R version, not particularly thrilling to drive.

New prices start from £26,915
Insurance Groups are between 11–27
On average it achieves 83% of the official MPG figure

The family SUV market is vast, but the Volkswagen Tiguan has cemented itself as a classier alternative to the Kia Sportage or big selling Nissan Qashqai. It fills a gap between mainstream SUVs and true premium models, such as the Audi Q3 or even the BMW X3.

The Volkswagen Tiguan has become one of the German company’s best-selling vehicles across the globe, with buyers drawn to its blend of practicality and refinement. Even in the ultra-competitive SUV market, it stakes its claim as a top choice – and our Volkswagen Tiguan review will explain why.

Volkswagen was a little slow to the SUV sector, not launching the original, first-generation Tiguan until 2007. This was followed by the current, second-generation car in 2016, with the Tiguan rapidly becoming a key part of the company’s range. 

Following a facelift in 2020, Volkswagen has condensed the engine range offered for the Tiguan. Buyers in 2023 have the option of a 2.0-litre diesel with 150PS or a 1.5-litre petrol with either 130PS or 150PS. Volkswagen did previously offer a plug-in hybrid version of the Tiguan, while there is also the high-performance Tiguan R with 320PS. 

In line with the classy image of its Volkswagen badge, the Tiguan driving experience majors on refinement and ease of use. It steers and handles neatly, but without bringing too much excitement to the party. Although the ride is a little tauter than some SUVs, it never manages to feel uncomfortable.

Despite the reduced engine range, the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan still boasts an extensive array of trim options. Life, Elegance and R-Line are the core versions, alongside the Black Edition and R-Line Edition. 

Even the entry-level Tiguan Life comes well-equipped, featuring satellite navigation, front and rear parking sensors and a set of 18-inch alloy wheels. This helps offset the Tiguan’s relatively high starting price of more than £30,000, which looks expensive against alternatives like the SEAT Ateca and Skoda Karoq.

A high-quality interior includes plenty of soft-touch materials and neat detailing. All versions other than the Tiguan Life come with an impressive 10.25-inch digital dashboard display. An 8.0-inch multimedia touchscreen is used across the model range. 

As you’d hope for a family SUV, the Tiguan also delivers on practicality. It boasts a roomy 615-litre luggage capacity, while both front and rear passengers should have no complaints about space. And there is always the seven-seat Tiguan Allspace (reviewed separately) for those who need even more carrying capacity. 

Although the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan is nearing the end of its lifespan, it still has plenty to offer those in search of a family SUV. From a high-quality interior with plenty of space, to the no-nonsense driving experience, it does very little wrong. 

It might not be the newest or most exciting SUV around, but the Volkswagen Tiguan offers a complete package with an upmarket image. Little wonder it has become so popular with buyers throughout the world, and it remains worth your attention now. 

Ask Honest John

What's the best petrol car for towing a caravan?

"What petrol car would you suggest to tow a 15,000 kg caravan? It would also be used for short local journeys."
You do not say if you wish to buy new or used, but we would recommend the SEAT Ateca and Volkswagen Tiguan as capable tow cars, both with a braked towing weight of 2000kg. The DSG transmission models are excellent for towing and are very stable. The Toyota RAV4 is also a good choice with a petrol powerplant.
Answered by Administrator

Can I drive my Tiguan in two-wheel-drive for better fuel economy?

"Can a VW Tiguan 4 Motion be switched to driving in 2WD mode? If yes, will the fuel economy improve?"
Depending on which generation of Volkswagen Tiguan you own, if you use the On-Road driving mode the 4Motion system operates in front-wheel-drive and only sends power to the real wheels if it detects a certain degree of wheelspin. This means that for the vast majority of driving it will be operating in two-wheel-drive and will deliver the best possible fuel economy.
Answered by David Ross

Why has TMC stopped working in my Volkswagen?

"TMC has stoped working on my Volkswagen Tiguan and it appears to be an issue with several VWG vehicles. Do you know why? "
This issue seems to depend on which traffic data provider is linked to your vehicle. We understand that both TrafficMaster and INRIX historically provided traffic data to radio stations, but that the TrafficMaster service has now stopped. This may be because modern vehicles rely on internet data to provide traffic information and TrafficMaster has declined to continue the service. Unfortunately, unless Volkswagen decides to change their vehicles to accept the new provider that you will not be able to access this service. The alternative would be to use the in-built navigation (if fitted) to provide traffic information for your route, or app-based navigation such as Google Maps or Waze to provide information for your route.
Answered by David Ross

Can I change the profile of the tyres on my Volkswagen Tiguan for better ride comfort?

"I have 235/50R19 tyres on my Volkswagen Tiguan, I was wondering if I could change the profile from 50 to 45 to try and improve the quality and handling of the ride."
You do have the option of changing the profile of your tyres, but if you want to improve ride quality then you need a higher profile than the 235/50 your Tiguan is currently using. You could change to a 235/55 or a 235/60 profile which should help the ride quality, but it is worth bearing in mind that this will also affect the handling slightly. A taller profile will mean the sidewall deflects more during hard cornering and the steering response may not be as sharp, but you may feel that this is a worthwhile trade-off for increased ride comfort.
Answered by David Ross
More Questions

What does a Volkswagen Tiguan cost?