Not long ago I hopped into the redesign VW Taos and was pretty surprised. The new model year offered more space, more premium features and kept its budget friendly pricing in tact. Turns out, it wasn’t an anomaly, it was strategic.
Recently I got to test drive the redesigned VW Tiguan, the brand’s #1 seller, and found the same thing: more premium features are included standard, a revised more modern look and at the top end, features more likely found in luxury cars.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. Also, I was a guest of Volkswagen, but all impressions and opinions are my own.
From $29K to $39K, VW Tiguan Offers Options Everyone Wants
VW offers four trims for you to choose from: S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line, and while starting at $29,495 with the front-wheel drive S trim, the standard is set to enjoy those nods to luxury styling without breaking the bank. And if you prefer, you may opt for the 4Motion across SE and SE R-Line Black. 4Motion is standard on the SEL R-Line trim and starts at $39,755.
I drove both the SE FWD and SEL R-Line 4Motion so I could compare the entry trim’s perspective to having it all with the top trim. With the 2025 VW Tiguan, safety, space, styling, and performance come from the factory.
Here’s how I think the 2025 VW Tiguan, a 2-row midsize SUV, could size up to fit your family’s needs perfectly with tech, safety, and comfort in mind.
The Tiguan’s Redesign Adds Modern VW Design Details
The 2025 makeover kicks off the third generation of the VW Tiguan. The new look updates it with VW’s new design language, seen on Tiguan’s siblings in the lineup: lighted badges, light bars and animated headlights, which all come together to give VW’s lineup personality.
The outside styling has an all-new look with an angular, expressive design that looks gorgeous in its color offerings of Pure White, Opal White, Pyrite Silver, Platinum Gray, Sandstone Uni, Avocado Green Pearl, Monterey Blue Pearl, and Deep Black Pearl.
Vintage Inspo Gives the Tiguan More Character
The 1974 VW Thing, a vintage 4-door convertible, inspired the Avocado Green Pearl color, but modern touches include cornering lights paired with the slimmer headlights, illuminated front and rear logos and the light bars. Like the Thing, the midsize VW Tiguan adds a bit of modern cool to what could be a mundane SUV.
The Tiguan’s intelligent, minimalist colors create a rich, bold personality. Paired with a higher hood line and shorter rear overhang, this midsize SUV sits pretty on new 17″ wheel designs in the entry-level S trim, and up to the 19- and 20-inch wheels on the top SEL R-Line trim.
But which color did I like the best? Surprisingly, as a queen of color who never shies away from anything fun and bright, I fell for the smart Sandstone Uni, but I also could not stop looking at the sophisticated Pyrite Silver and handsome Avocado Green Pearl.
We want a Fast SUV that Can Tow All the Toys, Too
How does the 2025 VW Tiguan go from dropping off the kids at practice to getting some solo driving time? Pretty well. I found it easy to accelerate around slower drivers in the fun but efficient updated 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that uses an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Accelerating is seamless, and I could sit back and enjoy the ride as we drove through the mountains of Montana. It was nice to take in the scenery and feel the power under foot without having to push the pedal down hard at all.
Despite an upgrade in horsepower to 201 HP (up from 184 in the second generation), the 2025 VW Tiguan offers improved fuel economy across all trims thanks to the 170 lb. weight reduction. The S trim front-wheel drive trim will get you a combined 29 miles per gallon average, rated at 34 on the highway 34 and 26 in the city. With slight larger wheels, the SE and SE R-Line Black, also front-wheel drive, average about 28 MPG combined. AWD models reduce MPG, of course; the SEL R-Line with standard 4Motion all-wheel drive, is estimated to get 25 MPG combined.
The 2025 VW Tiguan also has towing capacity at 1,800 lbs., up 300 lbs. from the second generation in AWD models. It’s nice to see savings and improvements , especially when our cars perform double or triple duty commuting, family outings and hauling extra gear.
Renewable Interior Materials and Ambient Lighting Are a Posh Step Forward
Driving this midsize SUV had the luxury performance I expect from a newer car with a quiet cabin, beautiful materials and bold contrasts that create a distinct, posh look. Life in the Tiguan is elegant and elevated thanks to all the material options at each trim level.
S trim models, the entry level, offer cloth seats with an embossed design and are made from bamboo yarns; SE and SE R-Line Black offer CloudTex perforated leatherette, and SEL R-Line has Varenna leather with quilted, diamond stitching on ventilated, heated, massage and power adjustable seats.
These attainable luxury features look even better in customizable ambient lighting that is seen throughout the cabin, with 10 color options across the S, SE, and SE R-Line black trims. On the SEL R-Line you’ll find 30 color selections.
I also really liked that designers moved the gear shifter closer to the steering wheel and that the volume control knob to turn and drive mode selector are push button for easy use.
And then, there’s Atmospheres. This allows you to customize your audio and ambient lighting settings to match how you’re feeling. It was a nice luxury touch that made the cabin feel even a bit more elevated.
A Spacious Second Row Spells Ample Legroom
Third row fans will be disappointed that the Tiguan no longer offers one, but this request came directly from VW Tiguan owners and fans. They’d rather have more rear seat legroom and keep the same cargo space, they said, and VW listened.
This two-row midsize SUV feels intentional with its functionality to make it easier to adjust the power folding rear seats for even more cargo space.
How Do Kids Car Seats Fit?
The added legroom allows for rear facing car seats as long as they are not behind an overly tall driver. And, there are two full sets of LATCHes on the left and right seats with lower anchors exposed and easy to reach. The three top tethers are across to the top rear of the seat backs to accommodate three car seats (as long as they are slim enough to fit without touching the door panels with the doors closed).
However, the middle seat is a bit narrow and not all car seats may fit; passengers who are expected to sit there may not be too happy squeezed between car seats, either. Still, you can stretch your legs out in the back seat, fold down the center arm rest, which has cupholders, charge your gaming devices, and and get comfy with rear air vents for cool, or warm, air.
READ MORE: The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Gives Us Spacious Spa Vibes
The Tech Doesn’t Overwhelm, And Fits Every Need
Tech in the Tiguan sets it apart: anchored in the center of your dashboard among the natural walnut decor, this 12.9-inch multimedia system standard on S, SE, and SE R-Line Black creates a digital sanctuary.
The multimedia system display is larger on the SEL R-Line trim at 15 inches. All trims receive a standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto,a 10.25-inch digital cockpit display, and illuminated touch sliders like on the ID. Buzz and ID. 4, drive experience controls for volume, drive mode, and Atmospheres.
With the SEL R-Line, we enjoyed the Harman Kardon premium audio system playing our favorite songs while the massage seats were going and browsing through the Atmosphere’s options. I’m thankful for the USB-C fast charging ports and cooling wireless charging, so we kept a charge to capture the snowy mountains and stunning views.
If voice assistance is your thing, you’ can enjoy ‘ll have fun changing the wake word used to activate it (or, keep “Hey VW”) and let this little luxury help you on your drive; just prompt the wake word to set navigation, cabin temperature or set the radio station. But if you ask me, the coolest, most important technology in the Tiguan, arguably, its standard IQ Drive safety system. It combines crash avoidance and emergency braking with adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring and other features to constantly monitor the road and help drivers avoid accidents.
Maybe my favorite feature is the 15W cooled wireless phone charge pad. The pad allows tyou to clip your phone in place to and will keep it cool while it charges, a much needed feature, especially when you need a charge, it’s hot outside and continual heat warning alerts from your phone starts to alarm you (Texas problems, maybe, but it happens more than you think!).
READ MORE: Thanks to Volkswagen, I Learned to Drive a Manual Transmission
Tiguan Was Great and Now, So Much Better
The 2025 VW Tiguan overall has a new design code and updated engine that speaks to a premium look and feel inside and out. With a tech-focused experience, better powertrain performance, and improved safety features, I think this is the new, attainable luxury you’re hoping for on the open road. And for those days when comfort on the commute is a necessity, Atmospheres to match your mood is a welcome idea; just so you know, my lighting will be pink.
VW isn’t done yet making over the Tiguan; 2026 will see a new engine offering with more horsepower, and probably a few other surprises. Even so, the 2025 VW Tiguan is a trendsetter with massage seats, bigger wheels, tech you know and love, luxe interior materials, and solid fuel economy.
After driving the larger, more luxe-filled Taos I was skeptical that the Tiguan could bring much more to the table. But it did, and its easy to see why the Tiguan leads the pack of SUVs under the VW flag.
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