2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Review

Name: 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Review
Brand: Volkswagen
Price: 10400 USD
Rating: 3.7 (151 reviews)

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium 4Motion 4dr SUV Exterior

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Edmunds' Expert Review

byDan Frio^{Reviews Editor
Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to Edmunds, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.}

Pros

Lots of space for passengers and cargo
Third-row seating can be useful in a pinch
Now offers comprehensive driver safety features
Revised tech interface is sharp, intuitive and quick to respond

Cons

Still ranks low in fuel economy, despite revised engine
Optional larger wheels make for a bumpy ride

What's new

Fully redesigned with more room and a third row
More fuel-efficient than last year
Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Part of the second Tiguan generation introduced for 2018

With the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan, it looks like the German automaker is finally ready to offer a small crossover SUV that many Americans will want. Though entertaining to drive, the previous generation Tiguan fell short of the competition because of its small cargo space, mediocre fuel economy and, more recently, a lack of now common driver safety aids such as blind-spot monitoring and forward collision warning. The Tiguan's premium price didn't help its case either.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$180/mo

$201/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

For 2018, however, the Tiguan is thoroughly overhauled. It rides atop a new platform that underpins Volkswagen models ranging from the compact Golf hatchback to the new three-row Atlas SUV. This Tiguan even shares its new muscular shape and style with the Atlas. It's also 10 inches longer than its predecessor, which VW uses for more cargo space, more legroom, and an optional third-row seat that's small but handy if you need to cart around a couple of extra kids.

Some of the Tiguan's traditional strengths carry over, including a quiet and comfortable ride, top-notch cabin materials, and a user-friendly tech interface that's now even easier and quicker to use. These upscale touches no longer exact a price premium either.

Overall, we think the new Tiguan is worth a look alongside other roomy small crossovers such as the Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue.

Notably, we picked the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan as one of Edmunds' Best Small SUVs for this year.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

With more space and a new third-row seat, the redesigned 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan is a significant improvement on its predecessor. It also boasts a muscular new look and advanced driver safety features. Overall, we think the new Tiguan is a solid pick if you're shopping for a small crossover SUV.

Driving

More a quiet, comfortable cruiser than a sporty curve machine, the Tiguan features a punchy turbo four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed transmission. The engine lags from a standstill, however, and overall fuel economy is not especially impressive compared to that of competitors.

Acceleration

The Tiguan's turbocharged engine feels punchy when you put your foot down at speed.

Braking

It feels more buttoned-down than some other small crossover SUVs, but it's still shy of being a sporty driving experience.

Drivability

We're not fond of how the Tiguan reacts slowly when you take your foot off the brake pedal and go for the gas. The delay is pronounced enough that you'll need to look for larger gaps in traffic when making turns into oncoming traffic.

Off-road

Optional all-wheel drive and 7.9 inches of ground clearance should give the Tiguan enough capability to handle moderate bumps and ruts en route to trailhead, campsite or kayak launch. Automatic hill descent control and a customizable off-road mode come with all-wheel-drive models.

Comfort

A quiet, comfortable ride remains one of the Tiguan's strengths. The front seats should be comfortable on long drives.

Seat comfort

The cloth upholstery is more durable than it is comfortable, but cushioning remained supportive on an hourlong drive. Simulated leather is available in middle two trims; real leather is reserved for the top trim. The latter is more attractive and luxurious but doesn't breathe as well on a hot day.

Ride comfort

You'll likely enjoy the quiet, comfortable ride for your daily commute. We recommend against larger wheels since the 19-inch wheels on SEL Premium test car produced a sharp, heavy impact when running over sunken manhole covers. The 17-inch wheels on the base model proved much more forgiving.

Interior

The classy interior that looks and feels solid and well-built — another traditional Tiguan strength — remains intact. Design and parts influenced by (and perhaps borrowed from) the Atlas SUV give the Tiguan a much-needed style update.

Utility

The Tiguan's ultimate utility depends on whether you opt for a third-row seat. The three-row Tiguan offers less cargo space overall, but it still measures up well to the rest of the field. The standard roof rails give a head start for outdoor adventure seekers and their gear.

Technology

The 2018 Tiguan comes with VW's latest infotainment and safety systems. Overall, it's an appealing mix of features.

Audio & navigation

A revised tech interface is a key highlight on new Tiguan. The base S trim gets a 6.5-inch touchscreen; others get an 8-inch display. The interface is similar to earlier models, but the system has quicker responses. The top trim gets a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system.

Smartphone integration

Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink come standard. Certain functions, such as remote door locking and unlocking, can be controlled via the VW smartphone app.

Driver aids

Glaringly absent from earlier models, the new Tiguan offers a comprehensive list of driver aids. Essential features (blind-spot monitoring, auto emergency braking) are optional on the base trim and standard for everything else. You can get more safety features on the upper trims.

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan models

The 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan comes in four trim levels: S, SE, SEL and SEL Premium. There can be some confusion, however. Volkswagen is also selling the old Tiguan this year. It's called the Tiguan Limited (reviewed separately).

Standard features for the Limited include 16-inch wheels, black cloth upholstery, a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, a 5-inch touchscreen display, and an audio system with radio, CD player and SD card reader.

The first step up is the Tiguan S, and it's the base trim for the redesigned Tiguan. The new Tiguan features a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine (184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque) that's connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional.

Tiguan S features include 17-inch wheels, roof rails, heated side mirrors, automatic headlights, adaptive foglights, a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, a 6.5-inch touchscreen display, a USB port, a six-speaker sound system and VW's Car-Net App Connect, which controls select smartphone apps from the touchscreen and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

The optional Driver Assistance package adds forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

The SE includes those Driver Assistance features, plus heated washer nozzles, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone climate control, simulated leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite and HD radio, voice commands, two extra USB ports and the Car-Net Security & Service (remote access to the vehicle through a smartphone app, automatic crash notification, and monitoring services for young drivers). A panoramic sunroof is optional on the SE.

The SEL comes standard with the sunroof and adds 18-inch wheels, a power liftgate, remote start, adaptive cruise control, navigation and Car-Net Guide & Inform (displays real-time traffic, weather and nearby fuel prices).

Finally, the SEL Premium adds adaptive LED headlights, automatic wipers, a hands-free liftgate, a digital gauge cluster, leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, a nine-speaker premium Fender sound system, and extra driver assistance features including a top-down parking camera system, lane departure warning and intervention, front and rear parking sensors, and automatic high-beam control.

The R-Line package offered on SEL and SEL Premium trims includes larger wheels (19-inch for SEL, 20-inch for SEL Premium), sportier exterior styling elements and, for the SEL, front and rear parking sensors.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

3.5/5Above Average

#27 out of 29 among Compact SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Volkswagen Tiguan from 2008-2022.}

$569/yr

vs. $465/yr
for Average Compact SUV

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

1.69x/yr

vs. 1x/yr
for Average Compact SUV

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

12.7%

vs. 11.5%
for Average Compact SUV

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan.

5 (46%)

4 (20%)

3 (8%)

2 (10%)

1 (16%)

3.7

151 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Getting used to it!

Jody, 11/22/2017

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

This is my first VW since the late 80's. Must say, they've improved the interior! Everything is sleek and attractive. I do have a rattle, but haven't been able to get to the dealership yet. Annoying! The road noise when going slow speeds or engine noise when accelerating is noticeable, but highway speed is quiet. There are too many neat little things to list - but here are a …

You want speed? Sport mode!

JH Reese, 02/21/2018

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

Before I say anything else, to those who complain about acceleration, I have two words: Sport mode. Your Tiguan defaults to Eco mode when you turn it on. So, if you want to jump off of the line, when you shift into drive, give the shifter an extra pull down and, voila, your Tiguan is a precision tuned acceleration machine. Now go forth and own the road! Pros: Pretty much everything but …

best compact suv for 30k

Adrian, 09/30/2017

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

I did a lot of research for a compact suv and the last 2 standing were the tiguan and the mazda cx5. While the cx5 drives a little nicer and has a sportier look, the tiguan is more comfortable (by far) and a lot roomier. First test drive with the tiguan was in normal mode and I almost ran back to the mazda dealership to get the cx5. But once in sport mode, the tiguan is driving quite …

Stylish and modern

gbdito, 01/08/2018

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

The car looks very sleek, the headlights with unique signature daytime running lights give it a confident and modern look. Interior build quality is excellent (front), more basic in the rear. Infotainment and controls are understandable and very easy to use. It is loaded with the latest safety tech (crash prevention systems and driver assistance features). Seats are very comfortable. 19" …

See all 151 reviews of the Volkswagen Tiguan

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2018 Volkswagen Tiguan video

2018 Volkswagen Tiguan First Look

The all-new 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan is 10.7 inches longer than the 2017 model and now offers an optional third row.

2018 Tiguan Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$24,595
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$180/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	12.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	6 years / 72,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Tiguan models:

Forward Collision Warning: Warns driver if a frontal collision, including with pedestrians, seems imminent. If necessary, can apply automatic emergency braking.
Blind-Spot Monitor: Uses rear radar sensors to warn driver of vehicles in adjacent lanes. Also illuminates icon in side mirror when a vehicle enters blind spot.
Lane Assist: Warns driver with flashing LED of vehicles in blind spot. Can also apply countersteering to nudge vehicle back into its lane.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver3 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover16.8%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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