2020 Volkswagen Tiguan Review

Name: 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan Review
Brand: Volkswagen
Price: 14800 USD

Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4MOTION 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium R-Line 4MOTION 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

+69

The Volkswagen Tiguan impresses with its high-tech cabin and premium materials, both of which rank high in the ever-growing field of compact three-row SUVs. It doesn't falter in many areas, but its drawbacks — a thirsty engine and slow-to-react transmission — keep it from true greatness.

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2020 Volkswagen Tiguan Review

byReese Counts^{Vehicle Test Editor
Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at Edmunds in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.}

Pros

Ample space for passengers and cargo
Three-row seating is useful in a pinch
Intuitive tech interface

Cons

Subpar acceleration and responsiveness
Ranks low in fuel economy for the class
Optional larger wheels make for a bumpy ride

What's new

More driver safety features are standard equipment
Volkswagen's Car-Net communication system comes standard this year
SEL trim includes heated steering wheel and automatic wipers
Part of the second Tiguan generation introduced for 2018

Overview

The current Volkswagen Tiguan was redesigned a few years back, though it still looks and feels fairly fresh. The 2020 Tiguan's biggest selling point is its optional third-row seat, which is something you can't find on leading competitors such as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. That said, the third row is cramped and best left to shorter or younger occupants as leg- and headroom are in short supply.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 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

$174/mo

$201/mo

Avg. Midsize SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

Outside of the third row, we like the Tiguan's quiet and well-designed interior, easy-to-use tech, and variety of standard and available features such as smartphone integration and some driver assistance features. The sporty R-Line models give the Tiguan a bit more flair than some rivals, though we wish the package did more to improve the Tiguan's middling acceleration and lackluster driving dynamics. Fuel economy also fails to impress.

Ultimately, the Tiguan doesn't have enough positive qualities to truly stand out in the small SUV class. Unless you absolutely need the third row you'll probably be happier with the CR-V or another top pick such as the Mazda CX-5 or Subaru Forester.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Average

7.3

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

6.0/10

How does the Tiguan drive? On the performance front, the Tiguan underdelivers by the segment's already low bar. Most of the blame lies with the clunky, unresponsive transmission. A 0-60 mph acceleration time of 9.5 seconds is slow for the class. Acceleration is lethargic at partial throttle, especially when accelerating from a stop. Making an unprotected left turn requires planning well ahead.

Handling is also disappointing. The Tiguan is OK as long as you don't push too hard, but go around a tight turn and you'll feel a lot of body roll. If you enjoy more spirited driving, it's not the ideal vehicle. Competitors such as the Toyota RAV4 and the Mazda CX-5 do a better job of maintaining composure.

Comfort

8.0/10

How comfortable is the Tiguan? The Tiguan places a high priority on comfort, judging by the seats and overall pleasant ride. (Lower trim levels have smaller wheels, translating to a cushier ride over bad roads.) The third row is tight, but those up front are treated to well-bolstered and supportive seats. Second-row passengers get adjustable seatbacks, a boon for taller occupants.

Wind noise is minimal, and road noise is only apparent on atypical road surfaces (such as when traveling over train tracks or hitting bumps). The engine is quiet while cruising, but the transmission's odd shifting behavior may cause drivers to wring out the engine to get up to speed. The engine gets vocal above 2,000 rpm, and you'll hear a fair amount of turbocharger whooshing.

Interior

8.0/10

How’s the interior? As one of few three-row small SUVs, the Tiguan is unsurprisingly all about space and utility. There's an abundance of room in the first and second rows, though the third row is only suitable for kids. The large door openings make getting in and out relatively hassle-free, even for third-row occupants. Visibility is excellent thanks to large windows and small pillars.

It may, however, take some time to get used to the instrument panel's many features and controls. You may find the layout of the steering wheel's cruise control buttons and the ones controlling the SEL's digital instrument panel confusing, for example. Our staff was split over its intuitiveness.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? The infotainment system is one of the best in the segment, and the premium Fender audio system is also quite good. There's only a single USB port on the base Tiguan, but the SE and above add a second port in the front and one port in the rear. All models come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though we had some minor issues with the former during our test.

VW offers a lot of advanced driving aids on the Tiguan, but they don't feel fully baked yet. The adaptive cruise system is late to recognize cars merging into your lane and slow to react to the car in front leaving the lane. We also experienced some unwarranted inputs from the lane-keeping assist system in our test vehicle.

Storage

8.0/10

How’s the storage? There's plenty of room behind the Tiguan's second row to store several large suitcases. Room behind the third row is tight but better than what other compact three-row SUVs offer. You must also remove the cargo cover if the third row is raised.

A sliding second row and deep pockets near the hatch door make this space more versatile. The Tiguan offers lots of places to store small items, even in the third row. The front doors can fit two water bottles. A tray underneath the center console makes up for a relatively small bin underneath the armrest.

Fuel Economy

6.0/10

How’s the fuel economy? The all-wheel-drive Tiguan is rated at 23 mpg combined. It achieved 25.7 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation route, which is about what we'd expect. That said, the Tiguan is thirstier than rivals with base engines and even some competitors with upgraded engines.

Value

6.5/10

Is the Tiguan a good value? Build quality appears nice on the surface, but we were less than impressed with several rattles on our test vehicle, which showed just 6,000 miles on the odometer. A high price and below-average fuel economy translate to higher running costs for Tiguan owners. Volkswagen reduced its warranty for 2020, but it is still better than what most other automakers offer.

Wildcard

7.0/10

The Tiguan comes across as a bit more upscale than competing small crossovers. The tech, premium materials and handsome design help it stand out in a huge segment. But those qualities are somewhat undone by the Tiguan's lackluster driving experience. It's slow, clunky and dull, though it's relatively quiet and comfortable to sit in.

Which Tiguan does Edmunds recommend?

As with most new vehicles, the sweet spot seems to be right near the middle. We recommend the VW Tiguan SE, one step up from the entry-level S model. It's still affordable, but you get some appealing upgrades such as a power driver's seat, heated front seats and keyless entry.

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan models

The 2020 VW Tiguan is a two- or three-row SUV that comes in five trim levels: S, SE, SE R-Line Black, SEL and SEL Premium R-Line. All Tiguans are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine (184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque) that's connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional. Three rows of seating come standard with front-wheel-drive models, and two rows are standard on all-wheel-drive models (with a third row available as an option).

Standard features for the Tiguan S include a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat, a 6.5-inch touchscreen display, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Driver assistance features include forward collision warning with automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring.

The SE includes all that plus useful extras such as keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone climate control, simulated leather upholstery, heated front seats and an 8-inch touchscreen. The SE R-Line Black is pretty much the same thing but has larger wheels and sportier exterior styling elements.

Compared to the SE, the SEL and SEL R-Line come standard with even more features that include a panoramic sunroof, a power liftgate, remote start, a full digital gauge cluster display, more driver safety features, leather upholstery and a nine-speaker Fender sound system.

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 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan.

5 (56%)

4 (13%)

3 (9%)

2 (4%)

1 (18%)

3.8

45 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 45 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Better than all 3 Outback’s!!!

Jennifer D, 04/27/2020

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

Very solid vehicle structurally. Nicely equipped at the SE level, I have the third row and the sunroof. This is a solid performer, the only complaint that I would say I have would be initial take off. This is easily remedied with manual shifting which provides excellent acceleration with the 180hp, which is very peppy, considering the weight of the car. The roominess in the car is …

New to VW and Loving it!

James, 09/02/2020

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

This is a perfect, affordable, great looking SUV. Im new to the brand and I love how simple Volkswagens are yet they’re so practical and easy to use. I opted for the grey SE AWD model and I’m glad I did. The white leatherette styled seating (with seat heaters) are so easy to clean. Im putting to good use the wireless phone charger. It’s also super useful to have the built in WiFi for …

Affordable European Luxury

Dcisive, 03/12/2020

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

First and foremost perhaps my most important aspects of a car I would like to own is the seat comfort. Having test driven Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Ford, Chevy and Mazda before coming upon a SEL Tiguan, I was instantly struck with how inert my body felt in the seats of the Tiguan. It was as if it had been moulded to my back with NO pressure points and perfect positioning without fatigue. … There was NO equal that I'd driven and the love was beginning. The steering wheel feel was superb with the controls intelligently laid out. Speaking of intelligently laid out the Infotainment system needed NO manual to operate and was full with not just radio and CD features but a TON of adjustments which allowed one to customize the car to their needs or liking electronically. The climate control was also no brainer. I was quite impressed with the construction and material qualities. There were NO creaks or noises whatsoever to be heard when driving on less then perfect roads. The view outside the front, side and back windows was virtually unobstructed (unlike all the others). The suspension absorbed most all the imperfections in the road but the car still handled like a competent car not leaning when cornering at speed (taking a 25mph curve at 50 was no big deal). The car exuded solid construction, no wind noise at high speeds and it astounded me that after putting up for several years with a Nissan Rogue I couldn't even hold a conversation with my wife in at highway speeds could easily converse with her as well as listen to the highly competent entertainment system. The lights are exceedingly bright and the exceptional fog lamp system they use illuminates off to the sides of the vehicle as well not just forward vastly increasing ones view. The Panoramic Sunroof is a real treat as is the powered rear hatch with tons of storage space. Another thing that surprised me was the mileage. The rated highway mileage is only 27mpg. However I live in a fairly rural area where the highway to a town about 25 minutes away is at 60mph speed limit. I used the amazing cruise control that maintains my distance from the vehicle in front of me and if they start to slow down it adjusts accordingly with NO input needed........AMAZING! After a week of travel back and forth to the said town, I checked my mileage and noted I got 32mpg. If I take the interstate to the nearest large city it's at 80mph. Under a week of those conditions I would drop to 28mpg. Still not unreasonable. All in all both my wife and I have been truly enjoying all aspects of this vehicle. It conveys a very luxurious feeling when driving it. Glad I went this route and passed on all the competition, which in my experiences had more weaknesses then this model has. Highly recommended.

Excellet mid-size SUV

SoccerDad, 03/07/2020

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium R-Line 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

The Edmunds review appears to be directed at those in the market for a CRV, CX5 or RAV4 and considering the base Tiguan S and SE models. In that case, maybe one of the Japanese models is the way to go. If your budget allows for the higher trim SELP R-Line, the CRV, CX5 and RAV4 don't have trims that come close in my opinion. The SELP R-Line's competition includes the X3 and Q5 and it …

See all 45 reviews of the Volkswagen Tiguan

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2020 Tiguan Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$24,945
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	25 MPG
Cost to Drive	$174/month
Seating	7 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	12.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Tiguan models:

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

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 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 RolloverNot Rated

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
Good
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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2020 Volkswagen Tiguan Review

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 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.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Tiguan does Edmunds recommend?

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Better than all 3 Outback’s!!!

New to VW and Loving it!

Affordable European Luxury

Excellet mid-size SUV

2020 Tiguan Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 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.}