Used 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan Consumer Reviews
Best Value for Base Model Out in the Market
Tom Rasmussen, 09/20/2016
S 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
83 of 87 people found this review helpful
This car is for my daughter for use at college and to get home on holidays. We checked out all the standard SUVs and test drove: Honda CRV, RAV4, Mazada CX-5, Hyundai Tucson, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, and Kia Sportage. Our selection criteria was all wheel drive, good acceleration, elevated seating view, heated car seats and decent gas mileage. Each of the cars tested had it pro's and con's. We finally selected the 2017 Tiguan despite it's aged design; 2018 will have a major update. This review is based on the first two thousand miles. Pro's: all wheel drive, high quality leatherette, heated seats, XM radio, Apple Car Play, rain sensing wipers, acceleration (turbo), and lots of standard features in base model. Con's: uses premium fuel, gas mileage not as good as competitors, and limited cargo space (although decent with seats down). Sticker price was around $28K and you should easily get one for at least $3K off.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Loving my VW Tiguan Sport!
Rich G, 04/18/2017
Sport 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
21 of 22 people found this review helpful
Traded my VW Passat in for a 2017 VW Tiguan Sport in Black. I choose the FWD since I live in Florida and so far I have been very happy with the vehicle. My commute is 33 miles round trip which is fairly light and the Tiguan is averaging 21-22 mpg on premium fuel. I am not thrilled about the premium fuel requirement however the performance from the 2.0 TSI engine is great! If there is a downside to the vehicle I would say the ride quality with the Sport can be harsh over rough payment on the highway. Overall I am very happy with my Tiguan and I plan to keep it for many years. I think it is interesting how an 8 year old design still gets compliments from folks at the gas station etc. Great job VW and I will be back for another when the time comes!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
Hang On Cowboy (update)
RobBob F, 07/04/2020
updated 01/07/2022
S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
I’m really quite pleased with my Tiguan. I like how it looks. It’s got a nice sound system and you can hear it because cabin noise is low. It handles better than most, doesn’t drive like a family hauler. And wow. If you put your foot all the way into the gas you better hang on. And that’s just the S model. The factory tires were crappy and flatted easily. When the factory battery went weak it seemed like a major electric failure with idiot lights flashing everywhere. But it was only the battery and still in warranty. Heated seats are lovely. Oh, and my very short wife has no problem getting the seat where she wants it. And I at 6’1” can too. Update: 60k miles it’s worth more than it was a couple of years ago when I wrote the first review. Crazy world huh? Still running great too. Average 26 mpg after recent road trip. The low rpm torque of this engine makes this so fun to drive. Punch the gas and it pulls strong in immediately - no downshifting nonsense.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
I am sold on this Tiguan!!
Beth, 06/25/2017
updated 06/29/2020
SEL 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
21 of 24 people found this review helpful
I loved my 2001 Jetta with almost 190,000 miles on it, but had trouble getting out of my long and very h illy driveway when it snowed. I made up my mind I needed fwd, but didn't want to let go of my Jetta. That decision was made for me when I was rear-ended in February and the Jetta was totaled. I wanted to stay with VW as I love their turbo engine. I found a 2017 Tiguan SEL fwd with 6,000 miles on it. Basically a new car at a used car price! I love this SUV - going up the gravel drive is already much better and can't wait wait for the snow and ice. The small cargo area does not bother me as that was low on my list but am pleasantly surprised at the back seat room. Love the cornering lights, the rain sensor windshield wipers, the automatic headlights, and heated seats. The control layout is great and of course the fuel injection turbo is awesome. Good thing I didn't heed the bad reviews, it's a great vehicle!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Good car with major flaws.
LNorman, 09/02/2017
Wolfsburg Edition 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
35 of 43 people found this review helpful
This car is a good car; nice looking, nice interior, great sunroof. The car is not so good on fuel, engine is loud and there is a serious engine hesitation that may get you seriously hurt. When rolling to a stop sign and accelerating to turn left (mostly), the car stumbles and pumping the gas pedal to get it going doesn't help. One day, I'm going to get hit by somebody. I've taken it to the dealer and they can't fix it. The service tech owns the same car and has the same problem.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Sporty compact SUV
WC3, 07/14/2020
Wolfsburg Edition 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
This is a good car for the money. It has sporty handling and quick acceleration for its size. The ride is smooth and steering is responsize. Interior uses quality materials. It has leatherette with heated seats. The Panoramic Sunroof is a great addition. Little details like card holders and the Wolfsburg emblem add to it's charm. The controls and tech has enough technological advances and quality to aid the driver but maintains that classic German utilitarianism. Cargo space is lacking slightly and MPG is lower when compared to other SUVs in its class at 20/24 mpg. Premium fuel is recommended and so there is no getting around the fact that it's pricey at the pump. In summary the Wolfsburg Edition Tiguan is a good car with just a few drawbacks.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Snappy and thirsty
Gabe, 10/19/2019
S 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
Fun to drive, drinks lots of premium gas. Very safe and tight. Noisy transmission. Horrible voice recognition system
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Traded it for a Subaru
Ray, 11/14/2018
updated 05/23/2022
Wolfsburg Edition 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
9 of 11 people found this review helpful
We love it on the highway. Cruise control is precise. Accident avoidance w/ 4Motion is good. 2 Really close calls on the Interstate. Braking & lane changing saved us. No dents. The transmission is a real pain in city driving. Acceleration is not linear. Never sure what will happen when I accelerate slowly. Sometimes it downshifts and scoots, other times, not so much, while it searches for the right gear . Give it a lot of space in stop & go traffic. The electronics are fine for us baby boomers, but my kid brother called it "sparse". Best highway mileage is 29.9. City driving is in the upper teens. Transmission's constant shifting drove me nuts. Finally traded it for a 2017 Subaru Outback.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
New technology is crap
P. H., 08/27/2018
updated 03/05/2019
S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
17 of 23 people found this review helpful
Bigger not always better. Already have had it towed to dealership. Battery terminal issues, other odd nondescript engine issues, no power, bad acceleration, wants to die like starved for air. May leave the VW brand after many years.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great value
Eric Wical, 01/29/2017
Wolfsburg Edition 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
It seems like VW is trying to win back customers by giving great prices. This model gives a lot of value for the money we paid. Especially like the apple link.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
My Sassy Tiguan ! Love the Wolfsburg edition
Amy O., 08/23/2020
Wolfsburg Edition 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
7 of 9 people found this review helpful
I can honestly say I don’t miss my BMW and I love my 2017 VW Tiguan Wolfsburg edition price point is great, my VW is cute with 2 ton Black and Tan two tone interior, 4Motion I still have pep, interior makes me feel good, the drive and handling is excellent. Panoramic roof with sunroof is beautiful. I am beyond happy.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Would never buy another VW
Mike D., 04/06/2020
S 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
Own a 2017 Tiguan. The dash a/c vents cannot be maneuvered to blow air below your face. Idiotic. Gas mileage is not very good.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Steer Clear - Turbo Died at 65,000 miles
J Walsh, 07/31/2020
S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
5 of 7 people found this review helpful
Car is only 3 years old with 65,000 miles. Turbo failed. It cost $3,000 to repair.
What's up with the front AC??
Kim, 06/14/2017
Wolfsburg Edition 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
11 of 19 people found this review helpful
I seriously just wanted to point out one thing, the front ac vents are crazy limited as to where to can aim them. They literally only blow on my face. You can spin them and angle them. But that angle is so limited that it makes no difference. So on a hot day, I can either choose to cool down my face and/or my feet. But that's it. Wont even reach my shoulders. I have to drive with my elbows up to my ears if I want to cool them down. VERY DISAPPOINTING!
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
Get up and move
ttomtucker, 10/11/2020
S 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought the Tiguan in 2017 and have had no problems, love the oil change every 10,000 miles.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
The 2nd one was as great as the 1st!
A E Sallee, 11/11/2019
updated 11/15/2021
S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
I’ve had 2 VW Tiguans now and have no complaints! Comfortable to drive, reliable, with space for kids, car seats, lumber projects, work boxes or anything else I had to carry. *** UPDATED TO ADD, I looked at the new mode Tiguan and I am sorry to say my next car will likely not be a Tiguan. I don’t care for the rear “jump seat” addition. However, I’ll keep this car for now. I still love it! It has never given me a minute of trouble and it’s perfect for my needs.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
Perfect for me
Techdir, 03/19/2019
S 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
5 of 8 people found this review helpful
This car is the right size, fun to drive and gets me around in the worst snow.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Value
It's Not the VW of old
R Tanguay, 08/25/2018
updated 09/06/2019
Wolfsburg Edition 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
Take it for a long test drive. Hills and traffic. The 6 speed transmission can make driving less than intuitive. Constant up & down shifting is traffic was a constant source of irritation. In Aug 2019, we traded it for a 6 cyl 2017 Subaru Outback w/ eyesight and a nice smooth transmission.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Just what I wanted!
larry bilardi, 08/17/2017
Wolfsburg Edition 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
5 of 10 people found this review helpful
The Tiguan is comfortable and sporty.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
This is not the car for me.
KatieTR, 06/28/2018
S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
9 of 22 people found this review helpful
My husband leased the 2018 Tiguan & brought it home as a surprise. It’s a nice looking car and it drives well. It’s the day to day stuff that I hate. I have 2 kids in car seats. They are in the middle row (we have a third row). This renders the 3rd row basically useless. The only access to the third row is scooching and climbing in through the back hatch, because the access from the back seat isn’t possible with car seats installed. The design of the cab makes me and my two daughters get carsick FAR more than in any other vehicle I’ve ever been in. I’m talking almost daily. There is also something about the design that makes the sound when you open and windows almost deafening. It’s such a battle to get the windows all set at levels that can reduce that sound, that it’s just not worth the effort, so we miss out on being able to drive with the windows down almost ever. The auto-shut down is a nice feature for the environment, but it is more of a pain in this car than any other I’ve driven with a similar feature. You have to manually restart the car a LOT. The back area that is shown to be super spacious in commercials would only be so if you also put down the two middle seats. I like to refinish and make furniture, and I can’t even fit a small dresser in the back of this, which has made my hobby about impossible to work with. The back area also slopes toward the hatch door, meaning I have had multiple jugs of OJ, milk, some bottle of root beer, and several other things come crashing and exploding on to the ground when I’ve gotten home from grocery shopping. My phone can’t sit on the passenger seat without the seatbelt alarm ringing the whole time. It’s just a lot of little pain in the butt things that add up to me being really disappointed in this car. I’m extremely frustrated with it. We are a VW family. My Passat is now my husband’s daily driver, and he traded his Jetta wagon for this. I can just about guarantee that I will be looking at a different make when this lease is up or I figure out how to terminate it.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
VW is better than this.
JPotter, 01/25/2018
SEL 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
4 of 10 people found this review helpful
VW has fallen short with the new and improved Tiguan. Where to start? Does anyone make a navigation system that is intuitive? I now use google maps exclusively after wasting my time trying to get directions using the Tiguan nav system. The turbo engine has periods of fairly good performance interrupted by unsuspecting high revs with accompanying noise. The transmission is more in line with what you could have expected from a Yugo. It can’t seem to know if it should be in first, second, or third gear. This is very annoying. The entire driving experience is not what I expected from VW. I am disappointed. I am also disappointed that I didn’t buy the Subaru Forresterwhen 8 had a chance.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great Little Buggy
Teneo, 05/09/2018
updated 04/29/2020
S 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
The Tiguan is a sporty agile small tall wagon. Its fun to drive, handels welll and has excellent acceleration, the premium gas not so good. Excellent interior for the price. Overall a very good value!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Loved my Tiguan!
Kay, 01/31/2021
SEL 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I absolutely loved my Tiguan SEL, Premium SEL 4 motion. I had it for 4 years. I was going to give it to my mother but I loved it so much that I was slow to give it up. Meanwhile, while stopped at a red light, I was rear-ended by a big 4-door Ford F-150 truck. The drives said he was texting and didn’t see that I was stopped. The car was totaled and wonderfully, I had no injuries! I highly recommend the VW Tiguan. Also, it had elegant beautiful leather seating and nice supportive seats. It also had tremendous capacity of around 37 cubic feet of storage. I’m still looking to replace my beloved Tiguan. I was thinking of going into the luxury category or into more HP or more torque. Any suggestion? Thanks!
Not so safe?
Chris, 12/12/2016
S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
10 of 59 people found this review helpful
We wanted a new car for our daughter, as she is headed off to college... four and a half hours away from home. Our wishlist criteria was AWD, decent gas mileage, reasonable price, safety, safety, and of course safety. We looked at Nissan, VW, Toyota, BMW, Audi, Chevy, Ford, and Honda. The Tiguan was the only small SUV we tested that was not even available with any of the current safety technology. We wanted active braking assist, lane departure warning, blind spot detection, cross traffic monitoring, rear camera, adaptive cruise control, etc... Unfortunately, VW has deemed it unnecessary to offer any these features on this vehicle. I guess our kids don't need safety features. Other brands we looked at were nearly as bad, since they only offered the safety features on the high end models. Shame on them... to think less-affluent people don't deserve the option of safety features. They require you to purchase all the high end whiz bang gadgetry before being eligible for safety features. Supposedly, Honda is going to offer the safety suite on mid-level brands soon, but we don't have time to wait for that. Fortunately, Toyota has pulled its head out, and now provides a nice suite of safety features standard on its Prius. We don't get the AWD, but three out of four aint bad.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
Great Value
Dan Becker, 01/29/2018
SEL 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
I feel good driving this car. Looks and feels like it could cost a lot more.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Spiffy SUV quite ride,great performance
Philip Dominguez, 09/01/2018
Wolfsburg Edition 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Reliable,smart looking, fun to drive. Fast
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Suspicious upon buying one, love it one year later
Chris E, 05/14/2022
Wolfsburg Edition 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought mine last summer for around $18k ($CAD). It's going for $22k now... wow! It is a premium gas car, keep that in mind, but it's really not as bad as I thought. This is the best drivers vehicle I've ever owned. It's very quick off the line! I'm used to flooring my old Terrain to pass people, and when I do that in this vehicle I'll probably get my licence taken away. The rear seats fold flat, and so does the front passenger seat (super convenient). The interior is SOLID. Soft-touch dashboard, none of that cheap creaky plastic, no rattles, everything just feels solid and premium. Mine has leatherette seats, which are so easy to maintain (literally do nothing). You can pretty much brush off the seat and it looks brand new. Mine has just about 100,000kms on it and it runs and drives like new. Love the keyless entry feature, I always just press the touch-button on the door handle to lock it. Gas milage on the highway is super good, sometimes around 8-9L/100km. This is the PERFECT highway vehicle. Accelerate to 100km/h (60mph) in 7-8 seconds (even faster on a downhill onramp), turn on cruise control and the road is dead silent and SMOOTH. The seats are so comfortable with so many adjustments (regardless of manual or power seat options) I could sit in there for hours. Apple CarPlay is a great added bonus, works great, and the screen is very high quality. I don't know what else I could ask for in a crossover/semi-compact SUV. It looks amazing too. I was surprised to find out mine also has auto-wipers. I just keep them on now, and they wont turn on until it rains. It adjusts speed too depending on how much rain there is, and it does a really nice job! This is the best car I've ever owned.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
