The Volkswagen Tiguan family SUV is the brand’s best-selling model worldwide—and it’s not hard to see why that’s true here in the UK, too. With family-friendly practicality and a relatively upmarket aesthetic, the Tiguan is cheaper than premium-badged alternatives, including the BMW X1 and Volvo XC40.
However, while the Tiguan may undercut posher-badged family SUVs at the lower end of its lineup, that isn’t necessarily the case if you’re after a strong engine and plenty of kit. What’s more, it’s extremely similar to the SEAT Ateca and Škoda Karoq, two rival SUVs that are even more affordable.
The Tiguan’s engine options range from a 1.5L petrol with 128bhp (TSI 130) right up to a 2L petrol 316bhp exclusive to the Tiguan R sports SUV. There’s also the eHybrid, a plugin hybrid model, with an electric-only range of under 30 miles but company car tax–friendly CO2 emissions.
The Tiguan is designed more for the road than for challenging terrain, but Volkswagen 4Motion four-wheel–drive system is available with certain engines, and there are adjustable drive modes to help you tackle trickier conditions. But before we delve too deeply into the Tiguan, let’s check in with its key stats.
| Brand-new price range | £31,000–£50,000 |
| Car Planet price range | £9,000–£16,000 / £175–£328 a month |
| Trims | 4 |
| Engines | 5 |
| Available fuels | Petrol, diesel, hybrid |
| mpg range across all versions | 54–177 |
| Doors | 5 |
| Warranty | 3 years / 60,000 miles |
| Company car tax at 20% (min/max) | £829 / £3,614 |
| Company car tax at 40% (min/max) | £1,658 / £7,228 |
Equipment, options and extras
The Volkswagen Tiguan comes with a three-tier range, starting with the entry-level Life trim, with satnav, 18in wheels, parking sensors, wireless phone charging, adaptive cruise control and three-zone climate control. But if you’re in search of greater luxury, check out Elegance, with 19in alloy wheels, rearview camera, ambient lighting, panoramic sunroof, heated seats and steering wheel, and digital rather than traditional dials. It is rather pricey, though, and if you’ve got the cash then for similar ‘elegance’ you might want to instead opt for the Volvo XC40. Finally we have the R Line, which trades in some of the Elegance’s luxuries for sportier styling and big 20in wheels, but it’s hard for us to recommend given its price.
Costs, insurance groups, mpg and CO2
The Volkswagen Tiguan is pricier than its rivals the SEAT Ateca and Škoda Karoq, but less expensive than the similarly well-equipped BMW X1 and Volvo XC40. It’s a similar story with its PCP deals, with the Tiguan yielding slightly higher interest rates and lower deposit contributions.
If you’re buying outright, try to find a discount—depreciation is likely to be slightly heavier for the Tiguan than for its premium-badged alternatives. And while it compares well with the XC40 and Range Rover Evoque when it comes to fuel economy and CO2 emissions, it can’t match the Peugeot 3008.
Company car drivers looking to keep their BIK tax payments to a minimum will be drawn to the eHybrid, whose electric-only range and low CO2 emissions place it in a lower tax bracket than other Tiguans.
Safety and security
All versions of the Tiguan come with lane-keeping assistance and automatic emergency braking. Upgrading to the Life trim adds driver fatigue monitoring and traffic sign recognition. And if you want to pay extra for the Elegance or R-Line trims, you’ll also benefit from blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
Reliability
Volkswagen’s standard 2-year warranty with unlimited mileage can have an extra year added to it up to 60,000 miles. That’s par for the course among the competition, and can be extended for a premium.
The Car Planet verdict
The Volkswagen Tiguan offers generous space for its occupants and a big boot, as well as fine driving manners and a shedload of kit. Its rival the Škoda Karoq is better value for money, though, while the Volvo XC40 has a more upmarket interior.
Car Planet are experts in used cars in Watford and Hertfordshire. Our virtual viewings mean you can check out a car from the comfort of your own home, or you can come in and view our cars in person. Every car goes through a thorough 150-point check to ensure it’s totally roadworthy. We’re transparent, too: we always display the details of a car’s imperfections. We care about sustainability, which is why we plant a tree for every car we sell, and we provide a 7-day money-back guarantee to any customer who isn’t absolutely satisfied with our service. With our competitive finance deals and part exchanges, you’re sure to find what you need, so check out our selection of secondhand Volkswagen Tiguans today and let’s get the ball rolling!
