2023 Volkswagen Tiguan review
Volkswagen Tiguan highlights
Customer rating
Pros
- Attractive exterior
- Quiet interior and nicely controlled ride
- Available third row
Cons
- Optional third-row seating has very limited usability
- Touch controls are frustrating
- Modest acceleration and mid-pack economy
Mileage (EPA estimate)
21 city, 28 highway, 24 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
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Stylish and practical, the Volkswagen Tiguan is a compact SUV with an available third row of seats
The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan has an attractive exterior that gives this compact SUV the look of a luxury model. The clean and uncluttered design is appealing, and the Tiguan also stands out as one of the few small SUVs to offer an available third row of seating, even if it’s only suitable for small children.
The front and second-row seats offer plenty of room, and the digital gauges and touchscreen look smart. On the road the Tiguan feels relaxed and refined, but not quite as fun to drive as rivals like the Mazda CX-50, which delivers sharper handling. The Tiguan’s 184-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder offers acceleration that's distinctly mid-pack, as is its EPA-estimated 26 mpg combined city/highway average. Adding optional all-wheel drive drops combined economy by 1 mpg. Fuel economy figures are based on EPA estimates for when vehicle sold as new. Fuel economy may vary for reasons like driving conditions and vehicle history. Unless specified, figures are for vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission. See fueleconomy.gov.
Unfortunately, an overreliance on touch-sensitive controls makes much of the Tiguan’s technology frustrating to use while driving. Additionally, when the third row is in use, cargo space shrinks to only about 12 cubic feet.
All Volkswagen Tiguan years
What is new for the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan?
- Running Boards features are now available as options on select trims.
- The SE R-Line Black trim now comes with Blind Spot Monitor, Panoramic Sunroof, Power Seat(s), and Sunroof(s) as standard equipment.
- The SE trim now comes with Lane Departure Warning and Automated Cruise Control as standard equipment.
2023 Volkswagen Tiguan trims
S:
- 184-hp, 221-lb-ft of torque 2.0L
- Power Mirrors
- Cruise Control
- Rear View Camera
- Cloth Seats
- Overhead Airbags
- Third Row Seat
- Traction Control
- Smart Key
- View our Volkswagen Tiguan S inventory
SE:
- Includes all features available on the S
- Leatherette Seats
- Remote Start
- Power Seats
- Lane Departure Warning
- Side Airbags
- Power Hatch/Deck Lid
- Satellite Radio Ready
- View our Volkswagen Tiguan SE inventory
SE R-Line Black:
- Includes all features available on the SE
- Parking Sensors
- Automated Cruise Control
- Panoramic Sunroof
- Rear Defroster
- Sunroofs
- View our Volkswagen Tiguan SE R-Line Black inventory
SEL R-Line:
- Includes all features available on the SE R-Line Black
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Leather Seats
- 20 Inch Plus Wheels
- View our Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line inventory
Volkswagen Tiguan photos
5 reasons to buy the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan
What We Like
Audi-like exterior: Styling is subjective, though the Tiguan has an undeniably premium look that could fool some people into thinking you’re piloting a small Audi SUV. Whether this pleases Audi dealers looking to sell far more expensive sport-utes is another story.
Interior quality: Like the exterior, the cabin of the Tiguan is nicely styled and looks a cut above many rivals in terms of its fit and finish. An eight-inch digital gauge cluster is standard, as is smartphone connectivity, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and heated front seats.
Three rows of seating: It’s a toss-up because the Tiguan’s optional third row is extremely snug, but it could be extremely useful if you have small children. It is a unique selling point, so long as you don’t expect adults to sit back there.
What Needs Improvement
Worth checking out the competition: The Tiguan does a lot well, though it doesn’t put much (if any) distance between itself and a number of rivals, some of which offer more power, better handling, or more interior space.
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Ratings & reliability
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
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Bluetooth Technology
- Cloth Seats
- Cruise Control
- Front Seat Heaters
- Overhead Airbags
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Mirrors
- Power Windows
- Rear Defroster
- Rear View Camera
- Side Airbags
- Smart Key
- Third Row Seat
- Traction Control
- Turbo Charged Engine
- Automated Cruise Control
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Cloth Seats
- Lane Departure Warning
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
109.9"
Overall length
186.1"
Width
72.4"
Height
66.4"
Leg room
F 40.2"/M 36.6"/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
Max towing capacity
150/1500 lbs.
Transmission
Automatic
2023 Volkswagen Tiguan FAQ
The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan is available in multiple trims, each with its own estimated fuel economy, here are the EPA estimates for each trim:
- S: 23 MPG City and 30 MPG Highway
- SE: 23 MPG City and 30 MPG Highway
- SE R-Line Black: 23 MPG City and 30 MPG Highway
- SEL R-Line: 21 MPG City and 28 MPG Highway
The Volkswagen Tiguan received a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars from RepairPal, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks the Volkswagen Tiguan as 26 out of 29 among Compact SUV
The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan has received an average 5.0 out of 5 stars from our customers. If you're in the market for a 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan, check out reviews from customers just like you. 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan Reviews.
The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan has a maximum towing capacity of 1500 pounds, when properly equipped. Various factors may impact towing capacity, including weight of passengers, cargo, and options/accessories.
Here is what's new for the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan:
- Running Boards
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Panoramic Sunroof
- Third Row Seat
- Fold-Away Third Row
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We hope you found this information helpful. This content is intended to inform and is not meant to indicate that a particular vehicle is currently available or recommended for you.
Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
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