2018 Volkswagen Tiguan review
Volkswagen Tiguan highlights
Customer rating
Pros
- Spacious interior
- Optional third row
- Easy-to-use multimedia interface
Cons
- Sluggish acceleration
- Trails competitors in EPA-estimated fuel economy
Mileage (EPA estimate)
21 city, 27 highway, 23 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
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2018 Volkswagen Tiguan marks the start of its second generation
2018 is a year of many changes for the Tiguan, Volkswagen's compact SUV. A complete redesign gives it styling inspired by the larger Atlas SUV. Inside, you'll find the Tiguan has premium-feeling materials, easy-to-use technology, and plenty of space for passengers and cargo. It also offers an optional third-row seat that boosts seating capacity to seven. The third row is small but useful if you have smaller children to carry. To avoid confusion as you shop for a 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, note that the company offered a 2018 Tiguan Limited, which was a special version of the first-generation model sold at a discount. If you prefer the compact size and styling of the first generation, go with the Tiguan Limited. If you want the latest tech and more cargo space, stick with the second-generation Tiguan.
All Volkswagen Tiguan years
What is new for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan?
- The Tiguan is available in a variety of new trims, including the SE and SEL Premium.
- The Sport and Wolfsburg Edition trims have been discontinued for 2018.
- Tiguan trims have been upgraded with Third Row Seat, Cloth Seats, Fold-Away Third Row, Blind Spot Monitor, Automated Cruise Control, Remote Start, Heated Steering Wheel, Parking Sensors, Lane Departure Warning, and Power Hatch/Deck Lid as standard equipment this year.
- 20 Inch Plus Wheels features are now available as options on select trims.
- The SEL trim now comes with Leatherette Seats as standard equipment.
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan trims
S
Includes Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, one USB port, a 6.5-inch display screen, and more.
SE
Adds leatherette upholstery, heated front seats, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, emergency braking, eight-inch display screen, and three USB ports.
SEL
Adds adaptive cruise control, remote opening liftgate, and available remote start. Remote start functionality may require the purchase of a subscription plan and/or a compatible device like a smartphone. See the owner's manual or manufacturer website for more information.
SEL Premium
Unlocks leather seats, heated steering wheel, lane-departure warning, overhead camera, and premium audio system.
Volkswagen Tiguan photos
5 reasons to buy the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
1. Seating for seven
Finding a small SUV that fits more than five passengers can be tricky, but the Tiguan comes standard with a third row and seats seven. All front-wheel-drive 2018 Tiguans have seven seats, but on all-wheel-drive models, the third-row pop-up seats are an available option. Choosing a seven-seat Tiguan gives you more flexibility to drive your friends and family than you would find in comparably sized SUVs.
2. Simple tech connectivity
The Tiguan makes it easy to listen to your favorite music or podcasts on the road by connecting seamlessly with your devices. The 2018 Tiguan comes standard with Bluetooth®, Apple CarPlay®, and Android Auto™ capability. These connect with the Tiguan's six-speaker audio system or the premium audio system that's standard on the SEL Premium trim. All 2018 Tiguans have USB charging ports—you'll find one on the base trim, and three on higher trims.
3. Plenty of driver-assistance features
These days, technology can help you reach your destination. The Tiguan makes the most of the latest tech, with a suite of driver aids including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic braking. These are standard on all but the base trim; at that level, you'll need a Tiguan with the driver-assistance package to get these features. The highest trim, SEL Premium, comes with additional driver aids like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist.
4. Room for all your toys
Whether you're having fun with a jet ski or getting chores done with a yard trailer, the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan is up for the job. All trim levels of the 2018 Tiguan come standard with a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which can tow an estimated 1,500 lbs, when properly equipped.
5. Available All-Wheel Drive
The 2018 Tiguan offers available all-wheel drive at every trim level—perfect if you live in a snowy climate or just like to get off-road whenever possible. All trims offer Volkswagen's 4Motion® all-wheel-drive system, which is designed to provide great stability and control no matter where you're driving.
Similar vehicles
If you're interested in the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, you should also check out these similar vehicles from Previous generation years.
The Honda CR-V feels like a compact hatchback with extra cargo and ground clearance. The 2017-present Honda CR-V features easy handling that creates confidence on-road, while the optional AWD lets you power through tough weather conditions and muddy trails. The 2017-2019 CR-V packs a 2.4L four-cylinder engine under the hood, with an optional turbo 1.5L engine available for more power and torque. For 2020-present, the 1.5L is the sole engine choice.
Standard features on the 2020 Honda CR-V LX include:
17-inch alloy wheels
Automatic climate control
Bluetooth® connectivity
So many features and functions make the 2017-2019 Nissan Rogue great for everyday life. For example, a kick-activated tailgate (SL trim) makes loading the trunk more manageable when your hands are full. In addition, adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist are included in the SL Platinum Package. Finally, enjoy the sound of music in a 2017-2019 Nissan Rogue SL with the nine-speaker Bose® audio system.
Standard features on the 2017-2019 Nissan Rogue include:
LED daytime running lights
Rearview camera
Bluetooth audio streaming
The Toyota RAV4 is a small SUV with a quiet and spacious cabin. 2017–2021 models come with a 2.5L four-cylinder engine with FWD or AWD and a suspension system that's tuned for comfort. Whether heading to the rink or the campsite, you'll have space for gear with 38.4 cu-ft of volume in 2017–2018 models and 37.5 cubes in 2019–2021 RAV4s.
Standard features on the 2017–2019 RAV4 XLE include:
17-inch alloy wheels
Dual-zone automatic climate control
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Ratings & reliability
Customer ratings
4.3 out of 5
16 customer reviews| 5 Stars | 10 |
|---|---|
| 4 Stars | 3 |
| 3 Stars | 1 |
| 2 Stars | 2 |
| 1 Star | 0 |
RepairPal gave the Volkswagen Tiguan an overall reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks Volkswagen Tiguan 27th out of 29 among Compact SUVs.
View RepairPal's full rating of the Volkswagen TiguanVolkswagen Tiguan features and specs
S 2WD 4D Sport Utility
Standard Features
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Alloy Wheels
- AM/FM Stereo
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- Automatic Transmission
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Bluetooth Technology
- Cloth Seats
- Cruise Control
- Fold-Away Third Row
- Overhead Airbags
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Windows
- Rear Defroster
- Rear View Camera
- Side Airbags
- Third Row Seat
- Traction Control
- Turbo Charged Engine
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Cloth Seats
- Full Roof Rack
- Running Boards
- Tow Hitch
Drive Wheels
Front Wheel Drive (2WD)
Engine size
2.0L
Horsepower
184
Torque (ft-lbs)
221
Engine type
Turbo Gas
Fuel capacity
15.3
Wheelbase
109.8"
Overall length
185.1"
Width
72.4"
Height
66.3"
Leg room
F 40.2"/M 36.5"/R 27.9"
Head room
F 39.6"/M 39.1"/R 33.8"
Front tires
P215/65HR17
Rear tires
P215/65HR17
Seating capacity
7
Transmission
Automatic
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan FAQ
The name Tiguan is a combination of the German words tiger and leguan, which mean tiger and iguana.
The 2018 Touareg is about three inches longer than the 2018 Tiguan. However, the Tiguan has great seating capacity, fitting seven people rather than five.
Yes, the VW Tiguan comes standard with seating for seven. However, all-wheel-drive models come standard with five seats, though a third row is an available option.
The SEL Premium, which comes with leather seats, heated steering wheel, and driver-assistance features, is the top-of-the-line VW Tiguan.
More about the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan
Exterior:
Cardinal Red Metallic
Dark Moss Green Metallic
Deep Black Pearl
Habanero Orange Metallic
Platinum Gray Metallic
Pure White
Silk Blue Metallic
White Silver Metallic
Interior:
Golden Oak and Black
Saffrano Orange and Black
Storm Gray
Titan Gray
Interior details
The 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan comes standard with seating for seven. This SUV has a middle bench, and two pop-up seats in the third row. All-wheel-drive models come with five seats, although the third row is an available option. The base level of the Tiguan comes with cloth seating, while the SE trim offers leatherette upholstery, heated seats, and blind-spot monitoring. That trim also has three USB ports, including one in the back seat. The Premium SEL trim offers the most upscale finishes, including leather seats and a heated steering wheel.
Child seat details
The 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan has LATCH anchors in the outboard seats of the middle row. All three seats in the middle row have car seat tethers and headrests, so they can all be used to install car seats with seat belts. The third-row seats do not have car seat tethers. Although technically three car seats could be installed in the third row, it may be difficult to get them all to fit.
Performance
All trims of the Volkswagen Tiguan come with a 184-hp, 2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine. The Tiguan can travel from zero to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 mph (according to the manufacturer, when new). The 2018 Tiguan gets an EPA-estimated 24 mpg combined with front-wheel drive, and 23 mpg combined with all-wheel drive.
Year comparisons
2009-2017 Volkswagen Tiguan (First Generation)
The first generation of the Volkswagen Tiguan had seating for five and did not offer the option for a third row. The vehicle was was smaller overall—built more like a crossover. It was 174.5 inches long, with 23.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row. The first-generation Tiguan had a 2.0L turbo four-cylinder engine that produced 200 horsepower. The 2017 model came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity.
2018-Present Volkswagen Tiguan (Second Generation)
The second generation of the Volkswagen Tiguan comes standard with seating for seven, though all-wheel-drive models come standard with seating for five. The second-generation Tiguan is about 10 inches longer than the previous generation and has additional cargo space. This generation introduces driver-assistance features, which are available on every trim level and standard on all but the base trim.
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