2022 Volkswagen Tiguan review: Compassionate conservative

The up-to-date Tiguan has a shiny, smiling facial area.


Craig Cole/Roadshow

Even though it really is a compact SUV, the Tiguan is a large offer. Not only is it Volkswagen’s finest-marketing product in the US, it really is also the German automaker’s most well known nameplate globally. So for this vehicle’s redesign, VW well performed it protected, sprucing up the Tiggy with a several small enhancements instead than tossing every little thing and starting off from scratch. This conservative method isn’t really the most fascinating, but it really is tough to argue with the effects.

Don’t Like

  • Cease-begin could be smoother
  • A little lethargic throttle

New, but you may possibly not recognize

If you might be unable to location the variations in between the up-to-date Tiguan and the outgoing product, I are not able to blame you. Visually, minimal has altered — and that is not a poor thing. This SUV has usually been cleanly built and experienced, dressed in styling that, if not pulse-quickening, is almost guaranteed to age effectively. The similar are not able to essentially be stated about the new Hyundai Tucson, for instance.

So, what is new for 2022? Commencing front and middle, the Tiguan’s facial area has been reworked and the overall body has sharper lines right here and there. LED headlights are normal fare and sure types feature illuminated trim on the grille. New wheel designs are offered, with sizes ranging from seventeen to 20 inches. As for paint colors, Oryx White and Kings Crimson be a part of the palette, and ’round again, the Tiguan name is now found on the middle of the liftgate for a far more top quality appear.

Compassionate conservative

The Tiguan’s conservatism carries by means of to its cabin. Whilst maybe not as wonderful as what Mazda’s CX-5 offers, the Tiguan’s appointments are unquestionably in the vicinity of the leading of its course, easily outshining the Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4. This variety-topping SEL R-Line tester has acres of comfortable plastic, decent-good quality leather and lively distinction-shade stitching and piping. Everything is effectively built and good, in addition the ergonomics give minimal to complain about.

For additional ease, keyless entry with pushbutton begin, in-car or truck Wi-Fi and heated front seats are all normal. From the SE product on up you also get remote begin and dual-zone local climate management with contact-delicate controls for enthusiast velocity and temperature. This appears like a horrible strategy, but they perform mainly as effectively as a physical switch or dial, responding promptly and correctly. It can be the similar tale with the Tiguan’s contact-delicate steering wheel controls. They perform significantly greater than what you get in some Mercedes-Benz types these times.

This SUV’s interior is upscale and comfy. 


Craig Cole/Roadshow

An 8-inch digital instrument cluster is normal devices, but the fanciest Tiguan offered comes with a 10.3-incher. Over and above that, S types are equipped with a six.5-inch touchscreen, while all other variants feature an 8-inch panel. Regrettably, the infotainment method that life on this crisp, simple-to-reach display screen is middling. This multimedia array is mainly performant, but the person interface is significantly from the most intuitive in the business. But hey, if it really is a dilemma you can usually use Android Vehicle or Apple CarPlay. Both smartphone-mirroring units are normal.

The Tiguan SEL R-Line’s 8-way ability-adjustable front bucket seats have all the topographical variation of Florida (browse: they are flat), but in spite of getting much less contoured than a bocce ball court, these chairs are however surprisingly livable, getting each supportive and effectively angled for extended-haul comfort and ease. The again bench is practically as wonderful, seemingly tailor-produced for lanky adults since it offers miles of home for heads and legs.

Front-wheel-generate Tiguans occur with a 3rd-row seat, anything that can be helpful in a pinch, but all-wheel-generate variants are two-row only. The installation level of 3rd-row seats in all-wheel-generate variants was only about 10%, so well, the automaker nixed it for 2022. You can find a great deal of cargo house in this SUV. You get 37.six cubic ft of home guiding the 2nd-row seat and up to seventy three.4 when that rear backrest is folded down, which you can conveniently do from the cargo place by pulling a pair latches. Front-generate types are a bit much less capacious but however a great deal roomy.

Drop the rear backrest and this car or truck can haul a great deal of cargo.


Craig Cole/Roadshow

No surprises, no dilemma

If you might be common with the Tiguan, there are certainly no surprises beneath the 2022 model’s hood. This SUV is once again motivated by a 2.-liter turbo I4, and as just before, it delivers 184 horsepower and 221 pound-ft of torque. On paper, these figures appear very lackluster, but the Tiggy’s overall performance is surprisingly robust. It has no trouble accelerating at any velocity and feels a great deal punchy from 2,000 rpm to about 4,five hundred. Even though this engine’s peak figures haven’t altered, it really is been tuned to provide far more midrange oomph and be far more productive.

This swanky SEL R-Line product with 4Motion all-wheel generate should return 21 mpg in the town and 28 mpg highway. Blended, it really is rated at a competitive 24 mpg. In mixed motoring I’m averaging just about that significantly. An entry-degree, front-generate Tiguan is, by natural means, a bit far more productive, stickering at 23 mpg town and thirty on the highway. Possibly way, the car or truck is a bit far more affordable than very last year. Relying on product and trim, it really is about one mpg far more productive.

Refinement has usually been a hallmark of Volkswagen’s EA888 2.-liter turbo motor, which does a convincing task of imitating a excellent V6. In this application, the motor is as clean as at any time, with scarcely any vibration getting felt in the passenger compartment. Positive, it can audio a minimal grumbly at moments, but it really is in no way obtrusive. The Tiguan’s normal 8-velocity computerized transmission is just as refined, quickly swapping cogs as wanted and willingly downshifting when you need to have to boogie. Prompt and polite, this gearbox is every little thing you could ask for.

As usually, Volkswagen’s 2.-liter turbo-four is a minimal jewel.


Craig Cole/Roadshow

For all this drivetrain’s virtues, it does have a pair small downsides. 1st, the normal, fuel-preserving computerized stop-begin method, while tremendous swift, is a little bit jerky, causing the motor to judder when it fires up again. And 2nd, the Tiguan feels a small little bit comfortable when using off from a standstill, like the throttle reaction is dulled. This is a small complaint that can be rectified by getting a minimal far more intense than standard with the go-pedal.

Luxurious-car or truck refinement

When pushed, the Tiguan requires it all in stride. No, it really is not keen to engage in, but the Tiguan can cope with roughhousing devoid of concern.  No matter whether you might be hammering it by means of corners or bombing down rutted backroads, this SUV feels as good as bedrock, like its construction is produced from depleted uranium or some other exceptionally dense materials. The Tiguan has seemingly zero chassis flex and emits no squeaks or rattles, which tends to make it sense far more like a luxurious car or truck than anything built by a mass-sector maker.

That structural stiffness interprets into a tremendous-refined ride. The Tiguan is firm over bumps, but in no way punishing, even with 20-inch wheels. Its ride is also surprisingly absolutely free of vibration or grittiness, which even further underscores its luxurious-rivaling refinement. As for steering sense, it is course competitive: Mild to the contact but swift sufficient to sense agile.

Warding off mishaps, forward-collision warning, blind-location checking and rear cross-site visitors warn are all normal. Upping the ante, Volkswagen’s IQ Travel suite of aids is also incorporated on all but the foundation S product, and there it really is priced at just $895. This involves lane-retaining assist, computerized crisis braking with pedestrian detection and rear cross-site visitors warn. Travel Assist — VW’s model of adaptive cruise management with stop-and-go capacity and lane centering — is bundled, way too. In the Tiguan, this feature works as marketed, smoothly altering the vehicle’s velocity as essential and retaining it in between the lines, though the lane-centering method isn’t really quite as good sensation as in cars from other producers.

You could do a large amount worse than the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan.


Craig Cole/Roadshow

Just one of the finest

The up-to-date Tiguan should be obtainable at Volkswagen sellers soon. If you might be purchasing for 1 of these SUVs, four trim ranges are on the menu for 2022 alternatively of five like very last year. The far more streamlined variety now involves S, SE, SE R-Line Black and highfalutin SEL R-Line, the product evaluated right here. This instance checks out for about $38,000 like $one,995 in supply costs, not at all an unreasonable sum provided how highly-priced cars have turn into. The foundation product is about 10 grand less expensive, with the S trim kicking off at $27,190, a starting off value that puts the Tiguan right in line with competitors.

Many thanks to its spacious and richly appointed interior, over-the-street refinement and generous capabilities, the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan is 1 of my beloved compact SUVs. I easily like it over a Chevy Equinox, Ford Escape or Toyota RAV4, but irrespective of whether it really is greater than a Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson or Mazda CX-5 is more challenging to say. Still, the fact that you can mention this VW in the similar sentence as people section leaders is great for the automaker and even greater for drivers.

Maria J. Danford

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