The Volkswagen Tiguan: VW's Biggest Seller Takes a Real Risk
Both reviews credit real engineering progress in this generation — and both flag a reliability result serious enough that it can't just be filed as a footnote.
Illustration for editorial purposes
Changing Everything About Something That Wasn't Broken
When a model becomes a brand's best-selling product worldwide, the safe move is usually to leave well alone. This generation did almost the opposite, and reviewers are largely positive about the results on the road — with one significant asterisk.
Specs at a Glance
| Body style | Mid-size SUV |
|---|---|
| Engines | 1.5 eTSI petrol (129bhp/148bhp), 2.0 TDI diesel, eHybrid PHEV |
| Transmission | 6/7-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Electric-only range (PHEV) | Around 75 miles official |
| Warranty | 2 years unlimited mileage + 1 year to 60,000 miles |
| Price range (new) | Varies by trim and engine |
Full Review Summary
What Car?
What Car? praised the smooth, unobtrusive automatic gearbox and competitive plug-in hybrid electric-only range, though found the PHEV's regenerative braking abrupt around town compared with the smoother, more progressive brakes on non-hybrid versions. Their most serious finding was reliability: this generation performed poorly in their most recent survey, with 81% of surveyed owners reporting a fault, though they noted Volkswagen covered the cost of all repairs reported. Their standard warranty also trails rivals like Kia and Toyota by several years.
Autocar
Autocar's road test welcomed the new MQB Evo platform's improvements to interior quality, infotainment and suspension technology, and noted VW managed to avoid a significant weight increase despite the more sophisticated hardware. They found the diesel engine's low-end torque paired well with the dual-clutch gearbox, and highlighted the plug-in hybrid's extended electric range as genuinely competitive rather than a token gesture. Their overall take was that this generation represents real, substantive engineering progress rather than a cosmetic refresh.
Strengths
- Genuine platform and technology improvements over the outgoing model
- Smooth automatic gearbox across the range
- Competitive plug-in hybrid electric-only range
- Wide engine choice including diesel and PHEV
Weak points
- Poor reliability survey result for this generation specifically
- Shorter warranty than key rivals
- Abrupt regenerative braking on plug-in hybrid versions
Who It Actually Suits
Buyers drawn to the genuine engineering improvements and broad engine choice should weigh the reliability survey result carefully, particularly if buying outside of warranty cover. Worth asking about extended warranty options given the standard cover trails several rivals.
Common Volkswagen Tiguan Parts & Costs
- Volkswagen Tiguan Alternator
- Volkswagen Tiguan Battery
- Volkswagen Tiguan Brake Discs
- Volkswagen Tiguan Brake Pads
- Volkswagen Tiguan Cabin Air Filter
- Volkswagen Tiguan Engine Mount
- Volkswagen Tiguan Exhaust System
- Volkswagen Tiguan Fog Lights
- Volkswagen Tiguan Front Bumper
- Volkswagen Tiguan Front Suspension
- Volkswagen Tiguan Fuel Pump
- Volkswagen Tiguan Grille
- Volkswagen Tiguan Headlights
- Volkswagen Tiguan Radiator
- Volkswagen Tiguan Rear Bumper
- Volkswagen Tiguan Rear Shock Absorber
- Volkswagen Tiguan Rear Springs
- Volkswagen Tiguan Spark Plugs
- Volkswagen Tiguan Tail Lights
- Volkswagen Tiguan Timing Belt
- Volkswagen Tiguan Wing Mirror
More Volkswagen Reviews
Watch the Reviews
Volkswagen Tiguan review ↗ (same video, watch above ↗)