Used 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Consumer Reviews
Used Tiguan for sale
Getting used to it!
Jody, 11/22/2017
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
63 of 63 people found this review helpful
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 few: the side mirrors roll up when the car is locked (no parking lot dings!), the side mirrors go down when reversing for better visibility; adaptive cruise is outstanding!; the sill of the door lights up so you can see to get in; the headlights light to the right or left when turning so you can what you are turning into!!!! On the driving side, some reviews mentioned it being 'under powered'; I thought that, but then realized I just had to get used to the turbo lag. In Sport mode, the lag is gone and accelerates fine. It certainly accelerates a LOT better than my 4 cylinder Subaru Outback! The shifting is a bit rough in Normal or Eco; again, Sport mode smooths it out. My fuel economy is much better than advertised - about 31 highway and 34 city! and it is true mileage; I've calculated it when refueling. And a 72 month warranty! Do wish I had a green one instead of grey, but all in all, a purchase I would make again!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
You want speed? Sport mode!
JH Reese, 02/21/2018
updated 08/23/2021
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
48 of 48 people found this review helpful
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 the headlights; Cons: The only real criticism of the vehicle that I have are the headlights. The brights are acceptable, but the normal headlights do not illuminate far enough ahead, in my humble opinion. *Update* We still love our Tiguan and our experience with Volkswagen made us also consider Audi. We have added an A4 to the stable and we'll be looking to add a VW I.D. Buzz next year!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan for sale near you
Showing 3 of 95 listings
- S 4dr SUVMSRP: $11,72935 mi away
- SEL 4dr SUVMSRP: $18,98894 mi away
- SE 4dr SUVMSRP: $18,99935 mi away
See all 95 listings
best compact suv for 30k
Adrian, 09/30/2017
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
104 of 109 people found this review helpful
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 nicely. You can also customize it any way you want: steering, suspension, transmission, etc. The deciding factor in the end was the warranty: 6yrs / 72k miles! Plus I got a great price through edmunds ($2.5k under msrp for a SE 4Motion with sunroof) and 1.9% apr with vw finance. The real life mpg is great (better than advertised): for the first 100+ miles, 70% highway, it shows 30mpg. All in all, definitely an suv you should consider. If you live in the Chicagoland area, I had a great experience with the PUGI vw dealership in Downers Grove. They do go the extra mile to earn your business.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Value
Stylish and modern
gbdito, 01/08/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
19 of 19 people found this review helpful
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" wheels look great and do not compromise ride comfort by much (compared to 17" and 18" on other trim levels). Fender Audio system is good but not great. Digital cockpit is cool and useful. Panoramic roof with ambient lights and overall interior ambient lighting is all LED and look amazing, especially shining down on the storm gray giving it a lounge feel. Some squeaks on the exterior b-pillar trim can be heard when handling the doors but nothing dry lube can't fix in 2 minutes. The cargo area (5 seater) is perfect for most people's needs. Easy open/power lift gate work great.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Plays above it's class
Scott K, 11/07/2017
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
26 of 27 people found this review helpful
The 2018 Tiguan is criticized for poor engine power and fuel economy, but after driving it for some time there are some important related notes. Our true MPG has been well above the highway rating of 27. It consistently achieves over 30 mpg, and we don't baby it at all. Also the engine's not fully broken in yet so should even improve a little over time. If the AWD was engaged, I assume the 27 would be realistic. As for the low power complaint, there is a small amount of turbo lag so put your foot into it for quicker response and use the sport shift mode around town. It really makes a difference. Manual shift also works well. We came from a 2015 Ford Edge which is considered a larger higher end SUV and the Tiguan is very comparable in terms of interior space and sophistication. The exterior appeal is more subtle but it has some nice details and a classic SUV overall appearance. Since it compares well to the next size and price level of SUVs, its actually $4-5K cheaper than similarly equipped bigger sport utes.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Tiguan over Outback
Windy City driver, 03/27/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
35 of 37 people found this review helpful
For about a year I had planned to purchase a Subaru Outback. My wife and I already own a Crosstrek and love it but I wanted something slightly larger for my next vehicle. I had already driven the Outback and had all intentions of purchasing it but decided to go to the Chicago auto show as a formality. While there we checked out a few other SUV’s and then happened to see the new Tiguan as we left the Subaru display. The new style caught my eye and had to check it out further. We test drove it while we were at the show and I was very critical as to quickly rule it out of consideration and go back to my Outback, but couldn’t. For the next week I researched and compared the Tiguan and Outback as to make a final decision and I decided to purchase my first VW. I’ve had my Tiguan SE with 4motion now for about five weeks now and have put about 2,000 on the odometer and loving it. I mostly drive on the highway and put about 25,000 mile on an odometer each year. I was originally somewhat concerned with the Tiguan being a new model year along with some of the criticism I had read about it’s performance but I’m happy to say that I'm impressed. The interior trim has an expensive feel to it much more so than most other SUV's in it's class. Over all it has a very solid feel to it with doors that have a firm and secure feel. As for performance, it has more than enough acceleration to easily merge into fast moving highway traffic and also has more than enough to pass slower moving drivers. The ride in both city any highway is very comfortable. The only complaint that I can come up with if you can call it that is that the transmissions has a bit of a hard shifting pattern for the first two or three gears when accelerating from a standstill but nothing that is uncomfortable. The Tiguan engine and transmission also seems to be a bit louder than most of the SUV's with CVT transmissions I've been accustomed to, but again nothing extreme. I'm being a bit critical and am extremely happy with the Tiguan so far.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Blue Tiguan SEL 4 Motion
Tom Shelestak, 08/29/2017
updated 10/05/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
51 of 55 people found this review helpful
Outside and in suv is very nice. Couple of things I need to get use to. Needs better engine. Loved my former TDI Jetta's power on the low end. Shift changing starting out is sometimes wacky when accelerating slowly. Trying to find the right gear?? Stop start engine at red light is different for me.Test drove Rogue, Cx-5, Honda, and both Subaru Suv's. This suv seems more refined less cluttered inside and simpler. I am older and heavier. Lotta room, seats comfortable.. adjustable back seat. Easy in and out of car. Very quiet and softish ride. Great steering and brakes. Less than 500 miles. Not exciting to drive but very competent. Multiple driving scenarios. I choose ECO. Haven't played too much yet with them. Fits my driving style. 6 yr -72000 mile warranty!! Bought suv. All in all I love this vehicle a lot. At about 16000 miles and 1yr 2 months in... Engine seems adequate after a year. I do not like initial acceleration, especially if your trying to beat traffic coming at you. From a stop, If you hit the accelerator hard there is a major delay from stomp to go. Actually scary and I believe a safety issue. SUV sort of sits there for a second. Besides this problem, I love this vehicle.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
So far, so great
Jacob, 06/26/2018
updated 10/15/2019
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
I purchased this vehicle a month ago, and so far it’s been a great choice. The day after we bought it we left on a mini road trip which was about thousand miles round trip. I’ll start with the positives: first off, there’s plenty of cargo room; we fit two teenagers, two small dogs, and all of our gear with room to spare. The engine performs really well and is responsive and engaging, but the acceleration does take a hit fully loaded. Gas mileage during our trip exceeded my expectations, I averaged over 30mpg on the freeway and around 24-26 in the city. The ride is really comfortable with little road noise. I haven’t experienced any noticeable rattles as of yet, and the cabin design is very clean and intuitive. The technology and safety features are outstanding, and the 6 year/72000 mile warranty was definitely a selling point for us! On to the negatives: VW car net is vastly overpriced at $199 a year. Enrollment gives you access to navigation, remote locking/unlocking, vehicle health reports, gps, and more. Some of the services are convenient, but I chose to add my own gps, and I use my phone for everything else since the car comes equipped with Apple carplay. In my opinion, it’s not worth the price. The third row seat option is a bonus; however, with those seats up it cuts out a significant amount of cargo space, and would be a very cramped fit for an adult or larger teenager. As I mentioned prior, acceleration can be sluggish depending on how much weight is addded and the terrain, and no V6 options are available. Overall, I really don’t have that many negatives, and this has been a great vehicle so far. It’s fun and engaging to drive, quiet, comfortable, and fuel efficient. ** UPDATE ** It’s been a little over a year, not much has changed since my initial review. We’ve had zero mechanical issues to date, but we did have a weird issue with the blind spot detection system. After a recall repair on the sunroof lighting, the blind spot system stopped working all together. It took about four trips to the shop to figure out, and VW eventually had to get their engineers involved. It did get fixed, but was a really frustrating for awhile. I’ve gotten used to the sluggish acceleration, but it can be annoying at times. Once moving the engine is really responsive and quick, but I definitely get passed up from a stop. Sport mode does helps with that issue. Important note, like most VWs I’ve owned, these can have personalities of their own. All in all, it’s been a great car. Even with the quirks, I’d still recommend it. Just have patience at times and embrace its grumpy days
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Wish it was from Germany!
SignDoc, 10/21/2017
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
105 of 115 people found this review helpful
I bought one of the first Tiguans (SEL Premium 4 Motion) in July. I have owned many other VWs (Touareg, Jetta, etc) and many other German makes. I wanted a more simple car though, one not to worry about as much as my last (Porsche Cayenne Diesel). I like the styling of the new Tiguan but have some concerns. Below is the good and the bad: GOOD: Nice styling and lots of room, safety technology on the SEL Premium is excellent it can almost drive itself with the adaptive cruise and lane departure capability, the digital cockpit is very cool, MPG is at 30mpg combined with actual calculation (hope VW isn't cheating somehow as it's much better than the window sticker and I have the 4 motion too), very quite ride, relaxing to drive. NOT SO GOOD: Build quality is concerning. I feel Audi / VW is making a huge mistake producing these cars out of Puebla. It is clearly evident in this vehicle and the new Q5 as well. There are loose trim pieces on the exterior, some pieces don't line up. The leather seat quality is inconsistent. My driver seat leather looks great, the passenger seat is all wrinkled. I noticed this in the Audi Q5 too, you would never see this out of Germany. I am amazed how they left all the part stickers and identification throughout the vehicle. As for other areas that are concerning, the engine power and noise is not good, it feels cheap and under powered and it's loud inside the car....not a good loud either. The steering is light and the handling is OK, but it doesn't have a VW personality or feel at all. The seats are comfortable, but not as comfortable as the seats on my son's previous Jetta....they don't have enough thigh support. The electronics are spotty, sometimes it takes a few minutes for the satellite radio to connect and sometimes the Android Auto freezes up the entire infotainment. Perhaps some of the issues are a result of the first model year of the new design, but I don't know if I will continue to buy anything that comes out of Pueblo, the quality just isn't there.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Value
Initial Build Quality Issues
Matthew Crawford, 09/27/2017
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
138 of 152 people found this review helpful
I bought a 2018 Tiguan SEL Premium Plus. I was very excited about the styling and the quality of the drive. The model that was delivered to me in the color combinations I wanted (Silk blue with stone interior) had several issues immediately. The rearview mirror, for example, wasn't attached correctly. The lane-keeping aids only rarely showed green, rather than orange/yellow. Most irritating was a clicking sound that came from the B pillar(?) next to the driver window. The While the dealer was able to fix the rear-view mirror (after waiting a week for the appropriate adhesive) and then another week when they decided to replace the windshield entirely, the other issues were never addressed. In fact, they had an Engineer from VW personally go through the car. The lead mechanic wasn't able to get the rear hatch to open with the foot swipe gesture reliably. Even though they said the car was solid and checked out, a quick trip around the block demonstrated that the clicking/torquing noise from the B-pillar was still there.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Worth more than a look
Richard Thomas, 07/11/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
First of all I don't know how this SUV is rated small or compact. I have had many cars and SUV's over the years and I would rate it at least a mid size. It's going in for its annual oil change and multi point inspection next week , without any serious issues, however it only has 4K on the clock so its not had a major test. The fact that its made in Mexico should not raise any quality issues as from accounts I have read their plant there is the most technically advanced operation in North America. I have had several VW vehicles and they have all performed well, however none of them had a 6 year warranty, this does, so I will have no out of pocket surprises, if at all, as I don't keep my cars that long. But what a great resale feature, being able to pass on the remainder of your warranty to the next owner. I have the SEL 4motion,the upcharge for the premium was just not worth the extra money, although some of the features I would have liked. My real beef with the Tiguan is the way VW market the features in the various trims. Features with marginal value are often included and features which are must haves are only available if you bundle the package at significant cost, much like Cable TV which is a continual irritation. For instance my last VW was an SE model however it had more useable and useful features than my current SEL, which you would have thought should be the other way around. To get all the feature that were on my SE, I would have to buy the SEL premium. The full safety package needs to be available on all models, at extra cost if need be. Are the leather seats worth the extra cost, is the Fender audio worth the extra cost. I don't think so. I had the Fender audio system on my SE and you can't justify the difference in additional cost, that's unless you live in the car, which I don't. Other features like remote start have little to no utility to me, although for some it might be important if you leave your car outside in the cold or excessive heat, which I don't. I have used remote start once to see if it worked, it does, but for me its a useless addition. Park Pilot is very useful, it was on my SE but not on my SEL. So I have features I would pass on and some I would like. I also have the question of technical redundancy, as an example the navigation system which is built in to the SEL. However, it also has Android auto and Apples rendition. I don't use the built in navigation, only Android which I find operates in real time and have had several for instances where this has helped me. The built in navigation is an historical system that needs updating at extra cost. Android with Google maps changes and updates to actual conditions and I have had several unexpected routing instructions only to be pleasantly surprised once realizing the reason. So I have an extra navigation system I don't need. What I would like to see is a menu of choices, not infinite, as it would be a logistical nightmare. Each model trim should have a list of basic features with the expensive upgrades itemized as optional, I don't want to have to buy leather seats and Fender audio to get Park Pilot. Overall the Tiguan works very well for me, right size, better than stated fuel economy, comfortable ride and well equipped. You won't be doing burn outs in this vehicle but power is perfectly adequate.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Many Features for this Price Point
Christina, 02/21/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
I was between the Tiguan and the CX-5. I chose the Tiguan because of the roomier interior & comfort, the infotainment & safety features, and panoramic roof, which is all provided at the midlevel trim level. Its slow on the pick up, but adequate enough to get you around town and while entering ramps on the highway while in sport mode. A little noisy during acceleration, as to be expected with some 4 cylinders, but handles well on the road. I don't regret my choice one bit.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Quick Overview Based on Test Drive
Adam E, 11/04/2017
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
28 of 30 people found this review helpful
I test drove an SEL Premium AWD model (5 seat). It has a lot of interior room. I love how the back seat can be adjusted - tilt and backwards and forwards. The driver's seat was quite comfortable and I had copious legroom. The trunk space is quite large and looks like it can handle long items without even putting down the rear seats. The VW "cockpit" display was a pleasure to use. The vehicle handled reasonably well at all speeds. Unlike some others, I found the acceleration perfectly fine, even in Normal mode. There is an occasional odd momentary hesitation when accelerating from a stop - not sure if this is turbo lag or how the transmission is programmed. It felt almost like a dual clutch transmission. Other than that, acceleration was perfectly adequate at around town speeds and on the highway. It's not a sports car, but it's perfectly fine in the handling and acceleration department for a family vehicle. The interior looked very practical, with several useful cubbies. The fit and finish was OK, but not perfect. I've rented or test driven almost all the compact SUVs on the market. Up until the Tiguan, I had felt the 2017 CRV was the best (with the 1.5L turbo). The 2018 Tiguan is not perfect, but it's the only compact family SUV that I would buy over the CRV.
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
One year and loving it.
Dan, 11/26/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
20 of 21 people found this review helpful
This car is a great value. I leased my SE with no money down tax and tags for 289.00 per month with not one penny out of pocket. I turned in my BMW X1 and wanted something with great handling. This car handles really well, and is pretty peppy. The X1 was cramped and I needed more space. The car strengths is the touch screen infotainment. I have had no problems what so ever. I took the car on an eight hour trip and the seats are great (on the firm side) but no aches driver fatigue or restlessness. Good thigh support and lumbar. It amazed me how I could pass from 60 to 90. I never feel the car is underpowered. I am aggressive driver and this car was on par with the x1 even though on paper its not. I did have some turbo lag in the first six months, putting the car in sport mode eliminates that completely. I have the car for almost a year and just floor it and no sport mode no turbo lag. I guess it was the break in period. I have read the other reviews and people concerns but sport mode eliminates that completely so it really is a nonissue. The blind spot monitoring works great and you can adjust its sensitivity in settings. The hd rearview camera with rear traffic works flawlessly. I back out and if their is car coming in any direction it sounds a warning sound. I did not think I could live with a lower trim but I am glad I chose the se. I do miss a heated steering wheel. That is the only con for me. I never had a car without auto wipers and that was a big concern but the car has an extra set of adjustment so it works great. I definitely plan on getting another one after this lease is up barring any mechanical issues but one year down and two to go I have total confidence in this car and am extremely happy with this lease. I waited one year to post a review. I read all the reviews in my car leasing decision so I feel obligated to post one.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Poor ride quality
Lars T., 06/05/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan S 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
I did three short test drives, and a full day loan of the car which was a 2018 Tiguan S 4Motion, I drove on washboard roads in addition to the street. This was the base S 4MOTION version with cloth seats (I hate sitting on vinyl) I tested in "sport" mode which shifts a little more aggressively and has a little less steering boost. I found the acceleration to be OK, it really isn't as bad as many the reviews make it out to be. It is faster than a Forester, or a base CR-V, it can keep up with traffic. I wonder if some reviewers had their cars in "ECO" mode? For me the Tiguan shifted very well with very little turbo lag. My complaints are that the front seats are uncomfortable, and the suspension does not have much compliance. Every rough spot in the road transferred right into my butt. I reduced the tire pressure from the recommended 41PSI to 36PSI and it improved the situation somewhat, but that is probably not a recommended solution. I expected the seats and ride quality to be as good as my 2015 Passat S manual and it was not. This is critical to me as I have a herniated disk and cannot tolerate rough riding cars for long trips. I am a VW fanboy and wanted to like the Tiguan especially at the current price and warranty. I think that the tiguan suspension is not calibrated very well. It is fine if you just drive it on smooth roads, but my Passat does much better on dirt washboard roads and general street driving. the Tiguan is 800 LBS heavier than the Passat, so it should have driven smother, but it doesn't. The suspension seems to me to be calibrated as if it is a big GTI on stilts. I am looking for something that will do well on rough roads. I don't think that is the tiguan.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
Disappointed
Tanya Roberts, 10/21/2017
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
42 of 46 people found this review helpful
Three times in shop already. Gear box and passenger side window broken when car was purchased. Learned no key to unlock lug nuts was provided after having flat tire. Took 3 times in shop to get right window piece. Horrible grinding sound when backing off incline. Dealership couldn't recreate the sound, so nothing fixed. Advised grooves already in rotors, but nothing they can fix until it has more miles. Picked up brand new from lot on 9/8/17. First and last vw. Everything reported to vw, but still had to drive away from dealer service today, hugely disappointed
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Developed love (quitely)
S Jana, 09/28/2018
updated 12/13/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
19 of 20 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car hurriedly in July 2018 after my 2011 2.4L Hyundai Tucson got totaled in an accident. My budget was really tight (25K ish) like my time was. Just took test drives on CRV 2.5L and Outback 2.5L. Finally I ended up with the handsome grey colored Tiguan SE front wheel (third row seats standard). It was almost love at first sight, particularly the straight forward design and very neat interior layout where a third row was kind of a bonus. But, let me tell the truth, I really didn't feel any power under the hood while taking only half a mile of test drive in city. I was kind of mesmerized with the interior feel. Now I really lament that both the other cars I test-drove before have much, much better acceleration than this handsome VW. The purchase was smooth, I got a decent deal considering 72000 miles btb transferrable warranty that comes with all tiguan. May be it was another very strong reason for me like many others behind the purchase of my first German car. The VW credit is a spoiler, as they gave me @4.99 % although I have a score hovering around 800 ! So, planning to pay off in full within six months J. Now the second part... After taking the delivery I and my wife literally enjoyed the interior, took few short trips with my little son around DC area. The good thing is this Tiguan gives a nice fuel economy on highways around 30-31 mpg, which is much better than the EPA estimate. Although, I don't have any idea whether it's tricking with any software like before, J. But, city driving, it hardly gives 20 mpg even without AC !! But at the end of almost two months, when the 'love at first sight' phase is over I am getting sick and tired of its slow acceleration and a loooong turbo lag. Thanks to its 2.0 L turbo charged engine, J. I don't know what technology they used in this car, but as a research scientist by profession I understand that when you are paranoid about gas mileage, you consider sacrificing the power, but when you go for a powerful engine then you're just prepared to put more gas. Surprisingly, this car doesn't fit in any category and lags behind from all competitors of its class. As far as acceleration is concerned, only one good thing about this car is that VW somehow managed to provide a sport mode anticipating its sluggish acceleration, by which you can get relatively better feel on highways (but also pay more on gas!). The really big thing that SE trim comes loaded with industry leading safety features at a very decent price. VW deserves a full credit on that. My family loves the car because they only enjoy the comfort and safe ride. This is an update: The ride has become more smoother than before. Now I really enjoy the smoothness on both city and highway drives. Most importantly, I am getting used to the turbo lag, may be it's little more than most of its competitors, but I don't feel it annoying any more. The acceleration is plenty if you get used to the initial turbo lag. Now I am loving my Tiguan, and surprisingly with it's great fuel economy of 28-29 mpg for my daily 40+ miles drive comprising 60/40 highways vs city. Some recent reviews also mentioned this awesome numbers much above the EPA numbers. VW can make a huge, really huge difference in the American crossover segment if they can refine the engine to minimize the initial turbo lag and also recall all of their 2018 Tiguans they sold already to tune a little bit. I bet all the negative reviews will become very positive and help VW in long run.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Tiguan has hits & misses
Twin1chrissy, 11/02/2017
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
38 of 42 people found this review helpful
I've been driving my 2018 SE Motion Tiguan now for two full months. I have a love-hate relationship with it thus far, I love to drive it on long road trips (500 miles plus) and hate driving it around town. It's very quiet and comfortable for long drives, the cruise control has smart technology, the back is very comfortable for the kids, and the gas mileage is awesome for the size vehicle. Unfortunately, most of my daily driving is around town and it's terrible! The acceleration of the vehicle is so weak, the best way to describe it would be a sputtering from a complete stop. I've found a way around that, I know put it in Sport mode when I accelerate from a full stop and once I'm at a cruising speed I put it back in Drive mode. It's a bit extra work, but I have more confidence pulling into traffic when doing that. One of the biggest issues I have with the car that I did not notice during the test drive and of course the salesperson didn't mention was was there is NO hatch release in the car or on the key fob and there is no button to automatically close the hatch, which is very heavy! How can an MSRP $32K vehicle (I didn't pay that) in a competitive market not have a hatch release?!?!? When I discovered this I brought the vehicle back to the dealer and asked them to show me where the release was, they couldn't find it and stated, "oh wow, that's a big miss for VW. They'll definitely be fixing that on next years model!" Really, what am I to do then?! I've already reached out to VW with my complaints and customer care associate was surprised too! I'm waiting for an aftermarket product to come out and will have it installed. One last issue I had was the car completely died on me in a parking lot while waiting for space. It went into the energy mode (which I had activated) but when I went to accelerate I just floated. I had to put my foot on brake put the car in Park and restart the car. I called dealer immediately and went there the following day, they ran their tests and couldn't find anything wrong. I got corporate involved, went back to the dealer and still haven't found the problem. It's been two weeks since the incident and hasn't happened again, so not sure what caused it.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Comfort
- Value
Love my Tiguan but...
MelissaC, 08/29/2018
updated 09/07/2021
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
17 of 18 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2018 VW Tiguan SE 4-Motion in February this year. Here is what I love about it: 1. The all wheel drive (4 motion) is awesome. I drove 47 miles each way to work and I always felt safe on snow and ice. 2. The interior features are really nice i.e. panoramic sunroof, leatherette, smart play, USB ports, cargo is spacious, adult leg room is plenty even for tall people. 3. The MPG’s are awesome! Again my drive used to be 47 miles one way to work. I averaged from 32 to 36 mpgs. Here are the downfalls: 1. I received a recall notice on the panoramic sunroof. The LED lights can cause a fire. 🤦🏻♀️ 2. Here is the biggest downfall...I took my Tiguan in on August 18th for my first oil change and I tell them about the recall and how my car when I try to accelerate it almost feels as if it stalls. It doesn’t do it all the time. As a matter of fact, it is quite peppy when it’s working properly. VW Findlay tells me that it is a safety concern and that they are putting me in a rental car until they find out what is wrong. I called yesterday and the update was that they do not know what is wrong and the 34 Tiguans they have, including mine, are on another lot until they know what to do. They said to expect a call from headquarters to tell what to do next. I’m super frustrated and want my car back. Update: never got my car back. I upgraded to an Atlas. Love this car! But VW USA made it right and gave me three choices to fix the situation. Now I want the AtlasSport. Waiting until 2022.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
SEL FWD: Outstanding Value In Class
Don, 06/10/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
This review is based upon my purchase of a 2018 Tiguan SEL 3 weeks ago. It is also based upon the context of other compact/mid-size SUVs in it's class. Do I wish it had more power, yes (I also Own a Dodge Viper, so I know what power feels like). But it's awfully nice when you compare it in class and consider the price. I say mid-size, because the new Tiguan is 185 inches long and provides 3rd row seating (although I never intend to use the 3rd row). That puts the Tiguan somewhat in between some other 5-seat and 7-seat SUVs. I bought the car for the immediate impression it gives of high build quality, high quality materials, and extremely high technology. Before purchasing, I compared it to the Hyundai Santa Fe (much more expensive for like features), the Hyundai Tucson (also more expensive, and smaller), and the Ford Escape (good value, but too 'upright' in its exterior presence, no matter how juiced the engine that they offered with it). I also considered, but quickly dismissed the Toyota Rav4 and Mazda CX5, the former for its juvenile styling and the latter for it's perceived lower build quality and 'plasticy' feel inside. I wanted a crisp and handsome but efficient SUV, with a sporty edge, without paying $35K. The Tiguan SEL is that for me. The car feels German the minute you start to drive it, with intuitive steering. The technology and sound system are awesome. The full panorama moon roof is impressive. The leatherette interior feels like leather, but I like that it will be easier to clean. I bough my SEL FWD in the high $20s but well under $30K. Nothing else comes close in it's class. You could pay more with 4Motion and/or SEL Premium, but I think I found the value sweet spot.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Reliability
- Value
2018 Tiguan SE - In service 18 days and counting..
W. Gallup, 10/27/2017
updated 10/30/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
79 of 90 people found this review helpful
Purchased a new 2018 Tiguan SE on September 15th - within a week I started hearing a rattle from both B Pillars, excessive road noise from the drives door and a flicker with the back-up camera. Took the vehicle in for service on 10/9 and have yet to receive the vehicle back. VW corporate is now involved, including their resolution department and they have attempted to stall my filling of a lemon law claim until 10/31. My only request is they buy the car back and return my deposit and first payment. I have lost all faith in the Volkswagen brand based on the way I have been treated. *Update* The B Pillar rattle is a known issue and this vehicle was purchased back by Volkswagen.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Look at something else
Brian, 12/26/2017
updated 07/02/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
53 of 60 people found this review helpful
The car has a great look and smooth ride down the road. That's where it stops. The 8 speed transmission feels like riding with someone the first time they drive a manual transmission. They told me that's normal for the new 8 speed transmissions....except it's not. I have since driven most of the competitors and the shifting is smooth in all the rest. The biggest issue is the noise in the B pillar (support post between the front and rear drivers side doors.) Also, rattles in the front passenger door persist. They tried fixing the problems and tore out the entire interior but with no luck. They said it was a manufacturing issue with not enough tack welds between the seven layers of metal in the pillar so when the car flexes they rub. Needless to say, I dropped it off October 4th and haven't seen it back. I've been in a loaner car for 3 months. I gave them an opportunity to make it right rather than file lemon law paperwork as they said it would be quicker and they could do more for me. I should have filed. I opted not to do another Tiguan and to get into an Atlas. My latest update is my replacement it's due mid January. Communication was lacking between VW corporate customer care and my dealership. I have been stuck in the middle. After over 30 emails and numerous calls over the last three months hopefully I'm about 3 weeks away from being in a new vehicle. They are finally talking to each other. Hopefully the Atlas is a better build. The people are nice but the process is horrible and vehicle defective. Update: Total time in the loaner was 4 months. My Atlas arrived. I took it for a test drive and there was a rattle in the roof by the sunroof. They took it out with me and said they would have to have the regional guy come out to look at it because the Atlas is a new model. It would be a week. I bought a Jeep the next day. It took another 4 to 6 weeks I believe but VW honored their word on refunding my entire purchase price, clearing the loan and reimbursing for GAP insurance, WeatherTec floor mats ect. Hopefully I was just really unlucky and this is not representative of the majority of vehicles.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Don’t buy
Al say no to VW, 09/20/2018
updated 09/20/2019
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
21 of 23 people found this review helpful
Owned this Tiguan 3 months been back to dealer 6 times and after last visit car was there 2weeks for 1 part then find out they said there is a recall for sunroof lighting so they disconnnected feature which at that time I never received a recall. This is the first and last VW been 2 months and no cure for the lighting which we all paid for they knew about this problem but still sold them. Filled out a survey from VW and still have not heard from them after they ask if I wanted to be contacted from VW. They should buy them back with all the problems with this vehicle. BUYER BEWARE DONT BUY.UP DATE I got rid of this vw traded it off bought a Honda with no problems can actually hit the gas and it goes not like the Tiguan hit the gas it would fall down on it’s face it has a serious safety issue when pulling out better give yourself a mile before pulling out in front of anyone
- Safety
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Was Excited about this Ute. upset about shifting
C Frizzell, 03/06/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
21 of 23 people found this review helpful
I dont have noises or quality issues with materials or rattles. I am VERY unimpressed with the Gear shifting from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd. Doesnt matter if you are in D or Sport. The Vehicle feels like you are in a manual transmission and often makes your tires scratch in wet weather due to the violent shifting. Its almost like your in a manual vehicle with a VERY novice driver. Its NOT smooth, it does bother me and I have to correct how I drive to not have it throw me off. Dont like it, and wishing I made a diff move.
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Value
98% Awesome, 2% "What the hell?"
John S., 05/29/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
15 of 16 people found this review helpful
To start, I love this car... more than any other car I've owned (well, almost - I had a 2011 BMW 550i, but it was so expensive to buy, keep, maintain, and sell - like $40K more than this car - I don't put it in this equation). The color, the build quality, the top-notch materials, the dealership, literally EVERYTHING except two (2) things, are absolutely fantastic. I'll get to the two things in a second. I leased a Habanero Orange, 2018 SEL Premium 4Motion AWD Tiguan two months ago. I'll start at the front. The grill and headlights look terrific. The LED headlights are terrific, they swivel with the steering wheel and the light of the corner your turning into lights up and is actually useful when driving at night. The auto on-off works well and quickly. Moving back, the rims are really good looking and top notch quality. The engine is... well, 90% of the time (this is one of the 2 things dragging the score down to 98%), great. However, at slow speed - such as switching from a slow lane to a faster lane - this engine will scare the crap out of you. I really mean that. You drop the accelerator pedal and... nothing happens. For, like, two seconds nothing happens. What the hell!. After two of the most stressful two seconds of your life, the engine accelerates briskly. It is genuinely terrifying when you're not used to it. I cannot figure out what is happening. It does not feel like turbo lag or the engine waiting for the gearbox to shift down. It simply feels like you have caught the engine taking a nap. Once it wakes up (if you're not dead from the faster traffic you were trying to merge into), it kind of shakes a bit and then gets back to the business of being a really good VW Tiguan. Everything else about the engine is great. I've managed to get over 27 mpg on my morning commute. I'm ok with that. It's not spectacular, but (not counting the 2 seconds of terror noted above) considering how peppy the engine is most of the time, I'm ok with it. The front windshield is great, the view is great, the front dash is great, the view out of all the other windows is... great. What's not great? What's not great is the other thing keeping this car from being really great... the windshield wipers. I know, it seems like a small thing. They either work or they don't, right? Well, the wipers "auto" feature is simply useless. If it just did not work, I'd almost feel better. You turn it on through the menu screen and, once selected, your suppose to turn the wiper stalk to the first position and the auto feature should take over (I think that's how its suppose to work. The manual isn't really clear as to whether, when armed, the wipers will work automatically no matter what position the stalk is at or is at the first position. I chose it because it appears to be the most correct.) I have tried every combination I can think of but the same thing happens each time. When the feature is on, and in the first position, they work as I expected... for about a minute, i.e., if its really raining, they will come on and go faster, if its intermittently raining, they will work intermittently. After that first minute, all hell breaks loose. They may go full force, they may go to long pauses in-between wipes or anything in between. What they will not do after that first minute is work correctly. They are useless to the point that I've turned the feature off and do the wipers the old-fashioned way. I guess i'm thankful I can turn the feature off. Also, I don't know why this feature not working correctly bugs me so much, but it does. After the "HAL" of windshield wipers, their is simply not another flaw in this car. The seats are great and work as advertised AND are very comfortable. The ride is terrific considering the large tires the car rolls on. The AWD system is seamless. All the safety bells and whistles work perfectly (auto cruise control, lane keeping, auto stopping, etc. - the camera system is the best I have ever seen. Very clear with lots of choices of views and the back up feature beats my old 550i by a country mile.). The speedo and tach display were the new video-screen kind. All I can say is, I will never go back to the old analog dials. The Tiguan’s is AWESOME! Truly exceptional. Again, except for the 2% described above, this is the best car I have ever owned, period. Lastly, the dealership (Honolulu VW) was terrific. I’ve had good dealers and I've had bad dealers and these guys were truly the best of the best.
- Performance
Don’t buy this lemon!!
Heather, 11/09/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
26 of 29 people found this review helpful
I was so excited to be making my first SUV purchase with Volkswagen back in June. Needless to say, stay far away from this vehicle!!! I’ve owned it for about 5 months and it’s been in for repairs 5 times for 8 different issues. From day one it had issues! The first day I purchased it, the CarPlay did not work but they reassured me that they probably just forgot to put the fuse back in from it being shipped overseas. It ended up going back 4 times just to get it to work. Meanwhile, one day while I was driving, the rear view mirror just fell off. Then while it was being fixed for that there was a recall for the ambient lighting for the sunroof because it was a fire hazard. The solution for the sunroof was to just unplug it which is not acceptable! About a month later I noticed that there was engine oil leaking from it and when I would brake, the drivers seat would slide forward. So again, it went back in for those two major things along with a rattling noise on the drivers side and sometimes the driver side window would make a hesitation sound when opening and closing. They told me that the housing for the oil filter had cracked and they needed to replace it. Then for the seat, they basically had to replace everything but the actual seat itself, which is another huge safety concern. Whilst it was in the shop this time, I received yet another recall!! This time it was for the hood cowl which was allowing water to get into the cabin of the vehicle and the appalling solution for that was water tape. After I saw the recall, it dawned on me that my car had been recently having this musty smell come through the vents, which to me would mean water damage. They told me there was no water damage and couldn’t resolve the smell so they put a deodorizer in the vents. Lastly, for the window they told me there was dirt in my windows track so they cleaned it out and the rattling wasn’t currently present while it was in. However, as soon as I get a video, it’s going back in and also once the deodorizer wears off and the musty smell comes back. I totally understand that there are going to potentially be some recalls on new vehicles because it’s so hard when they are being mass produced and have so many parts because something is bound to malfunction. However, this is unacceptable for only 5,600 miles. You would totally expect all of these issues on a vehicle with 80,000 miles or more but for a brand new vehicle, this is totally unacceptable. When purchasing a new vehicle, you should be excited and have total confidence in the vehicle for years to come. It makes me sick to stomach to think I just spent my hard earned money on a lemon and not knowing what’s going to go wrong next. I will say, the dealer has had excellent customer service and taken really good care of me but this vehicle is absolutely awful. Update: 11/23/18 It is going back in next week again already!! Now the rear windshield washer is not coming out. The musty smell has come back since the deodorizer wore off. Now this morning there’s something wrong with the stereo. There’s absolutely no bass now and the music sounds very tinny and cheap.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Owned the car for about a month - no regrets
St. Paul, MN, 11/20/2017
updated 05/20/2019
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
20 of 22 people found this review helpful
Bought a Habanero Orange SEL 4Motion w/ third row seating. This is my wife's car and she says it is the best car she's ever had. We have bought VW for years, but also have owned a Dodge minivan and Mercury Villager minivan. We are nearly empty nesters, but being able to haul adult kids and their significant others' for dinner (in a pinch) w/ the third row is great. The engine has enough power to move the vehicle, but it defaults to "ECO" mode which results in what many would consider inadequate performance. Shift points and acceleration can be adjusted. My wife likes to optimize for fuel economy and doesn't mind the quirks. The engine is somewhat loud during acceleration but the vehicle is ridiculously silent when cruising. We owned a Jetta TDI (diesel) and I would compare the noise to a diesel. The interior is beautiful and well laid out (German). The car works great and we love it. Lots of compliments on the color. Much better MPG than what the EPA says. UPDATE: Have owned for about 18 months and are still very happy. Zero mechanical issues or concerns. No creaks or rattles. Wonderful handling and excellent highway ride. Excellent highway mileage. EPA estimates of mixed driving are accurate. We paid to have the VW approved trailer wiring installed at time of delivery. We've experienced some intermittent electrical issues with that module and VW is working with us to resolve. This is not a significant problem however.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Nice to look at, a chore to drive and maintain
Joe Newman, 09/28/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
25 of 28 people found this review helpful
We purchased the Tiquan based upon its interior comfort and room, the layout and ease of use of the electronics and overall appealing appearance. After owning it for 13 months we are extremely disappointed in oil consumption (yes, this is a new car!), jerky performance from a stop in any kind of acceleration and the VW dealership (s) attitude when it comes to addressing these issues. We shopped several other SUVs in this class but liked the overall roominess and comfort afforded by the Tiquan relative to others. During the test drive, we did not notice the sales person had disabled the automatic engine turn off switch (yes, I know this is standard on many autos as a gas saver) so didn't notice this feature during the test drive. I did notice the car seemed to accelerate unevenly when taking off from a stop using moderate to heavy acceleration but having owned a VW CC with the same 2.0 liter turbo charged motor (or so I thought) I figured it would be a matter of getting used to it. After 15k miles, if anything it is more uneven in acceleration than before to the point neither of us can make it accelerate in a smooth manner and its very noticable to riders without us mentioning the issue. Just before the first maintenance service at 10K miles, the amber oil light came on. I checked the oil and sure enough, it was slightly more than a quart low. I brought it in for service (after adding the recommended 0-10 weight oil at $9 per quart) and was told that either the car was low on oil when we took delivery or it would correct itself now that it was broken in. When we mentioned the uneven acceleration they indicated no messages indicating issues with the engine or transmission so likewise indicated we would get used to it recommending we turn off the engine shut off switch manually (no automated way of doing this) each time we drove the car which we were already doing. We drove the car and at 12K miles the amber engine oil light came on, after checking the oil (after only 2000 miles! since the oil change!) I added another quart of expensive oil and again at 14K miles. THIS IS A NEW CAR! The response from the dealer was pretty much that the 0 weight oil is so light the car is burning it and there is nothing to do about it. The acceleration issue is related to the turbo charger set up on this motor and again, nothing can be done.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
I love my new Tiguan but
Gia Gianni, 05/02/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
I have owned my Tiguan for a few days and these are my feelings: first what is not so great. Yes there is a slight turbo lag, sometimes when you need that half second to cross a busy intersection or if you are switching lanes in heavy traffic you may notice it. Also this is a minor grip but there is no adjustable arm rest and if you drive with your right arm it can get uncomfortable. Another minor grip is the flat area at the bottom of the steering wheel I don't see the upside to this, in my Jetta I could use my knee to steer for a few seconds now I can't because the bottom of the steering wheel is flat. Back on the acceleration: On the upside there is a "custom mode" which you can change settings to your liking. I think given enough time to test I could tune the car to my driving style. I think this is what the engineers at VW had in mind for this mode (or maybe not) the car handles really well, it rides very smoothly and once it gets going it has plenty of power. The sound system sounds amazing! and the infotainment system is very good the only suggestion I have is that it needs a wheel or joystick next to the shift stick like many other car manufactures have. Touching the screen while driving is not ideal and also the screen gets dirty very quickly with finger prints. So far I have no had any of the rattling issues reported in other reviews and I love everything else about the Tiguan.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Value
Five stars, but not during the first few weeks
R M Mathew, 10/19/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
13 of 14 people found this review helpful
If you are looking for an affordable SUV, with peppy acceleration, good handling, good finish, and German styling, then the Tiguan is for you. This is week six with my 2018 Tiguan SE, and I really love driving it. I get a lot of questions and very positive comments about the look and style of the vehicle. Let me start with the one draw back with this SUV - Turbo lag and 8 gears. During the first few weeks, the lag you feel when you start to move after a stop is very disconcerting. At times, I felt that the truck was going to stall, and I had to floor the accelerator to get the truck moving. However, after a few weeks of very aggressive (and scary for passengers) driving, the system seems to learned my style. Now, I have no problems with the stop and go process. VW needs to address this issue. Now that this issue is addressed, the truck is fun to drive. The entertainment system is functional and striking. I also find the diving aids (e.g, warning of car in next lane) to be very helpful. The driver's seat is comfortable and the heating and lumbar support are very useful and helpful. The automatic shut down of engine at stops is an interesting feature; it was initially a bit annoying, but I am used to it now. I haven't used the third row, but the trunk space is spacious and functional. All of the standard automated features - keyless entry, automatic lights and others are helpful. I have owned two VW Jettas and an Audi A4, and I will say that the quality of the materials and drive are improving. I recently saw the JD Power rankings and the Tiguan had the second highest score for performance in mid-side SUV category; most of the scores, except one, were 10 out of 10. I think the high rating is justified. Tiguan is a great SUV, but it has a break in period. I would recommend it without reservation.
- Interior
Updated Review. 26,000 Miles and all is well.
Adam Knox, 06/20/2018
updated 11/08/2019
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
12 of 13 people found this review helpful
I have recently crossed the 26k mark, after about 17 months of ownership, and I'm still loving my purchase. I've still not had the infamous B-Pillar rattles I've read a lot about. It has developed a couple of other rattles that I've been able to engineer out of the car...LOL. Another complaint I have read about is the lack of power. Yes, it could use a little more, but it's fine for my needs (mixed highway/city commuting). I really only notice it being a problem at highway speeds if you go to pass someone. You have to plan ahead a little bit. But as far as any serious lag, I haven't experienced that. In sport mode it scoots along just fine, and I disable the auto start/stop if I'm in a position where I don't want the engine to shut down. Now I will say this......under light acceleration from a stop, the transition from 1st to 2nd gear is a little jerky. It's clearly geared more for efficiency than performance, but it takes a little getting used to. If it's more moderate acceleration off the line, I don't notice it. I'm not sure if the tranmission adapts to my driving habits, or if I've adapted to the transmisson, but it's not a HUGE deal, just a minor annoyance. Fuel economy continues to be around 24-25 with mixed driving. Strictly highway trips have been getting me about 30-31 (it's rated at 27 highway). I saw a review about someone getting 40mpg.....I've not gotten anywhere near this number. Keep in mind the highway rating is 27mpg. It's had 2 trips back to the dealier for a recall of the LED light ring (around the moonroof). And recently it had a service campaign to replace a defective coolant overflow bottle. I've always loved VW interiors, and the Tiguan's is nice. Seats are super comfortable and supportive, and all the switchgear makes sense. The Fender audio system sounds awesome, and the Apply CarPlay is a nice touch. I was hoping VW would get with the times and upgrade the semi-useless CarNet App to include remote start. I hear that starting next year with the new Atlas Cross Sport, they will offer that feature, but they have no plans (at this time) to offer software upgrades to prior models with the App to include the remote start. So, to sum it up again.......no vehicle out there is perfect, but for me, the Tiguan ticked all the necessary boxes to be a good choice for me. It's a comfortable riding vehicle that makes my 60 mile daily round trip commute a little less annoying. It has enough space for me and the dogs, and any other gear I need to take along. It has great option content, and the 6 year / 72k mile warranty was a definite plus. I hear VW is reducing that starting with the 2020 model year though. It's definitely worth putting it on your test drive list.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Less than 700 miles- stranded twice
Jln, 08/31/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
29 of 34 people found this review helpful
This car has been issue after issue. Purchased car on July 8 First issue occurred Tuesday, July 10 - info tainmemt center went out. Only 75 miles on it. Second issue Saturday, July 21 - EPC light came on. 470 miles Third issue Sunday, July 22 - Notification car can't go above 4000 RPM. Car shuts off and leaves us stranded on the road 480 miles. Towed the car to the service shop. Car was returned Thursday, August 9 Forth issue Thursday, August 16. Car shuts off and leaves us stranded on the road again. 697 miles. Car has been in the shop ever since.
- Performance
- Reliability
- Value
Do NOT purchase a 2018 Tiguan in any trim
Steve M, 09/28/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
32 of 38 people found this review helpful
I purchased my 2018 Tiguan SEL 4-Motion in January of 2018. The car test-drove well, and I was happy with my purchase. Within a few months, however, I started to notice a problem with the way the transmission of the car operated. From a stop, and at low speed, the car hesitates very badly. At times, with the gas pedal to the floor, the car does nothing for 2-3 seconds, and then very sluggishly starts to move forward. Other times, pressing the gas pedal leads to the transmission finding NO gear, resulting in the engine revving to high RPM, before finally finding a gear, and causing a jerky start. These are all common and repeatable occurrences, and have led to multiple near-misses with respect to potential accidents. When attempting to making a left turn against traffic, or when pulling into traffic upon making a right-hand turn, the unreliable transmission leaves you taking your life into your hands, and hoping that the car will actually move forward when you need it to. The car has spent 3+ weeks at the dealership for diagnostics and repairs, including representatives from VW Corporate. The service department confirmed and acknowledged the problem. The loaner Tiguan I was given during this period has the exact same problems. However, after many weeks of "repair", and apparent discussion among VW engineers, I was told that "this is a feature of the vehicle", and that nothing would be done to address the problem. This is absolutely unacceptable. The car is unsafe, and is most certainly NOT what I test-drove. VW's indifference is stunning; apparently they're waiting for a serious injury or fatality before they take the matter seriously. RUN AWAY--Do not buy this vehicle, in any trim, at any price.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Value
More time in shop then on road
Richie, 08/02/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
15 of 17 people found this review helpful
I leased the car and first few months enjoyed it. Two months later the remote starter failed, and check engine light came on. Later that day the passenger seat airbg light came on, no passenger in the seat. Then in the rain, the front sensors shut down disabling the cruise control. Brought car to dealer, car was there almost a month. The air bag was due to a water leak. They said they reset all faults and all should be good. Its now 7 months since i've had the car, its been in shop 5 times, most of fuel system has been replaced and remote starter still doesnt work right and car is sluggish. Dealer returned it to me yesterday and light came on again. Car would be great if theses problems didnt exist
- Performance
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Love Our Silk Blue Tiguan S 4 Motion
Michael, 07/19/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan S 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
15 of 17 people found this review helpful
Well, we've had our Tiguan only a few days, however, both my wife and I are in love with our vehicle! Let me begin by saying it is superior in nearly every way over the previous generation (we owned a 2017 Tiguan S that was totaled in a crash). The new Tiguan is much more refined, and I love the layout of the dash, particularly the vents (never did like the round, directional vents in the old Tiguan), and the instrumentation and controls are not unlike what exists in all other VW products, which is to say they are superior! We love the comfort of the seats (I've even sat in the back seat and found comfort there even though I'm 6'6" tall) that have a much more supportive thigh cushion than the previous model. Fit and finish are what one would expect from VW, which in my view, is just as good as anything else that has German roots. We opted for the S model because that was what we were willing to spend and for $24,000, I think we purchased a lot of value. Having recently ridden in my father's Honda CRV, which I was not overly impressed with ride, comfort, or fit and finish, the Tiguan blows it away. For those expecting a race car, you'll want to look elsewhere. But if you want something that can keep up with traffic, drive close to speed limits, and a comfortable highway cruiser, the Tiguan is great. Fuel economy so far has exceeded EPA estimates and if the Tiguan is like my 2017 Golf S, will exceed EPA highway figures substantially. I honestly cannot find any fault with the vehicle and I gotta say, I like driving an SUV that doesn't look like every other SUV on the road. It's design is timeless, it has a clean, fresh appearance, and avoids all the swoopiness of those Japanese, Korean, and some American models, of which some are just downright homely. And we took delivery of our vehicle just in time - my wife had to prepare for an art show this week and the items we needed to fit into the cargo area, including a large tent, fit just fine in this model and wouldn't have fit in the previous generation. The Tiguan was the right choice for us and we look forward to many years of happy driving.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
RUN RUN RUN!!!!!!!!!
Meika B, 02/18/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
22 of 26 people found this review helpful
I have had VW for four years. I recently leased the new 2018 Tiguan. Mine rattles terribly, it's very loud. While I am driving I can feel the steering wheel vibrate in my hand. I have not had mine for thirty days. One day while driving on the freeway, it broke down leaving me stranded on the side of the road. After awhile (about twenty minutes) I was able to get it started, but all the orange lights were on. I drove it directly to the dealer and they kept the car for a day. They called me and told me they had to order some parts for it. They also told me that it would ride better now that the problem was fixed. The moment I picked the car up, I knew the problem was not fixed. They told me to drive it through the weekend and if still does not drive right to bring it back in. So I have two more days to drive it. Yesterday I was going to the pharmacy to pick up medicine for my daughter, and the car cut off on me. After about ten minutes it came back on and we were able to get home. I am so upset with this, I don't know what to do. It has no pick up at all. When taking off from a stop it's no better than being on a tricycle. It's actually really embarrassing. I don't know how they can say it has a quiet ride, because mine sounds like i'm driving a 20 year old car that has never been serviced.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
6,600 Miles of Fun
Brian Reed, 10/07/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
10 of 11 people found this review helpful
This is an impressive vehicle. Mine is a 2 row version mostly because I don't want nor need 3 rows of seating. I started my lease in February of this year on a 15k mile/year for 3 years. I have had it now for 7+ months and love to drive it. The engine sounds growly and aggressive and pulls well when needed. During its learning stage or break-in period, the transmission seemed a bit jerky in 1st gear - it would sometimes lag as it tried to learn how I typically drive. But, once I got past 5,000 miles on the odometer, everything has smoothed way out. This little CUV pulls and is super smooth all thru the RPM range. Now, for a turbocharged engine with 221 torques at 1,600 rpm, you'd thing the MPG would be fairly pedestrian. WRONG! My wife and I are seeing 28+ mpg city and nearly 36 mpg on extended freeway drives. I have even seen well over 40 mpg on some shorter drives on the freeway. And that's in Utah, with mountains and hills and rough roads. This Tig is frugal. The seats in both rows offer tons of space for occupants and cupholders abound. Cargo space is also generous. USB ports, satellite radio, Carplay/Android auto and an awesome bluetooth system moving thru crystal-clear speakers make for enjoyable roadtrips in the car. 5 stars. GET ONE!!!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
AC problem from the start
Tim, 12/27/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I bought my blue SE in March or April of last year, within two weeks we noticed that periodically the driver’s side AC vent would start blowing hot air, and I mean straight off the engine HOT. Even with the system turned to max AC the driver’s side would blow hot for 20 or thirty seconds and then go back to cooling. Took it in and dealer diagnose a bad sensor which they had to order. Took the car back two weeks later to discover they had sent the wrong sensor. Ordered new sensor and contacted corporate. In July they installed the new sensor , on the way home it did the same thing. Took the car back and they kept it for three or four days, finally saying they found a bad wire. The car has been fine until late November when the AC did it’s thing once while my wife was driving and twice while I was driving. I took it in yesterday and haven’t heard anything yet. This is my third VW and may be my last.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
good if you ignore lag, transmission and noise
Brad, 02/07/2018
updated 02/07/2019
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
22 of 27 people found this review helpful
Update - Ive now owned this vehicle for 23k miles, and my impressions remain the same. poor acceleration, poor transmission, poor noise control. Windows still dont intermittently work. B pillar still rattles on occasion. and i gave up on all these issues after 5 trips to the dealer didn't fix it. The car does drive nice at speed, the utility is good, it handles nicely, brakes are good, there are no major mechanical issues. Definitely would not buy another one. So buyer beware. ------------------------------------------ Traded a 2015 Tig for the 2018. wow, has quality gone downhill. I traded because i need more room and the new Tig has the right amount of space and features for the price. Drove the car 1000 miles in the first week. Overall it was an ok experience. Acceleration is weak but the car is drivable. Didn't feel unsafe. Just needs the GTI tune so that it feels how it should. the 1.4 Liter Jetta has twice the get up and go. The biggest issue is the quality. Its been at the dealer since due to a rattle in the b-pillar. the one touch power windows are hit or miss if they work. the b-pillar issue is a good reason to not buy this car. I mean who doesnt put enough welds in the roll cage to the extent that there is enough body flex to that you get a clicking/rattle noise in normal non- stressed driving? Id take my 2015 Tig back as my 2018 has been at the dealer more than its been on the road.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
So far, STILL so good.
Jowibo, 01/24/2018
updated 01/24/2019
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
12 of 14 people found this review helpful
I am coming from a 2013 VW CC, so I was a little hesitant to get a Mexican VW (although I'd had 2 in the mid to late-1990s and didn't have any trouble with them, the quality difference between Mexican- and German-made VWs is noticeable). The 6 year/72K warranty (and the metallic dark moss green and oak brown seats!) were enough to make me take the plunge. Overall, though, I think it seems well put together and while there are plenty of cheap flimsy bits and the cost cutting is evident throughout, I think it is generally a smart purchase. I got the 7 passenger model, just because that's what they had in the colors I wanted. I don't personally know anyone who would fit back there--it says in the manual they shouldn't be over 5'3" and even some kids in booster seats wouldn't fit back there, as they would be too high up and hit the ceiling. So I'll just leave them folded down until I meet someone who will actually fit back there. The extra seats cause the floor to be a little higher than normal in the back, but there is still lots of room to haul stuff back there. I've only had it a couple weeks, but I've already put over 1000 miles on it. Gas mileage has been great. Not hard to get low 30s at all. The automatic start/stop works well, although I learned not to take my seatbelt off at a light. You will have to restart it with the button. I mostly use economy mode. (I'm never in such a hurry that I would need anything else.) Back (middle) seat is especially capacious. My elderly parents much prefer riding in this than the CC, and my mother says it is easier to get in & out of than their minivan. For some reason, the 7-seat AWD SE model doesn't come with fog lights. (But the 5 seat does.) I don't usually use fog lights, so not a big deal, but it is more black plastic on the front, which I despise. 7-seat also does not come with cargo cover, so I bought one off of Amazon for about 1/3 of the dealer price that works just fine. There is no compass, but using my phone with the Apple CarPlay will tell you where you're going. The infotainment touchscreen works well (hope it holds up), although I hate all the finger prints. I'm just going to keep a tiny bottle of water and a microfiber cloth in the console to clean it fairly often. Safety features abound, and my insurance actually went down, which surprised the heck out of me. All in all, it seems like an awfully lot of bang for the buck. UPDATE: I've had it a full year, and still there is little to complain about. At this point my only real complaint would be throttle response. It does seem rather sluggish in that regard, but I understand there is a way to reprogram that to get a more instant response. I do keep it mostly in sport mode now and haven't noticed a decrease in MPG.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Awesome SUV
Don, 03/22/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
The acceleration is a little slow, but not as bad as some say. The ride is super and the interior is very classy. I am please with the handling and tech in the car. Android Auto is a plus and the large screen is very nice. Over all I would rank it higher then other SUV's I have test drove. The Rogue, The Edge and The Equinox doesn't hold a candle to the VW SE Tiguan in my opinion.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Smooth ride, great handling
Heidi, 10/05/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I traded in my rav4 for the Tiguan and I couldn’t be happier. It is such a smooth ride, well thought out interior and very roomy passenger backseats. The technology can be overwhelming but once you learn how to use everything, it makes sense. The car play is a great feature. I highly recommend this vehicle.
Repeat owner
G.W. Hammett, 11/04/2018
updated 12/01/2022
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
This is our second Tiguan, and our fifth VW. My only disappointment is the power. Our last Tigger would smoke the tires if needed. The new one, you better allow some space! Just rolled 51k miles. Still Lov'n It!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Tiguan SEL - continues to be faultless
BJ, 10/06/2018
updated 04/09/2021
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
With over 6000 miles, the Tiguan continues to be faultless and a joy to drive.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Quality of Build
Lee Puddefoot, 07/04/2018
updated 07/05/2019
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan S 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I have owned multiple VW Models from GTI and currently own a 2017 Passat, 2013 CC and now the 2018 Tiguan. I gave the 2013 CC to my son as he got his license and to be honest the CC has a stage 2 tune and cannot be compared to the other cars. The 1.8T in the Passat has better performance than the 2.0T in the Tiguan, but the CC just seems to be built better and not sure whether it came from Germany is the reason rather than the plant in Tennessee. I do the like the space that the Tiguan has and great for carrying people and golf stuff and it rides very smooth. The computer is telling me that I need an oil change already in 12 days. Did VW switch to every 5000 miles instead of 10,000. I have always had great service from VW of Fort Myers and they take very good care of me and my cars and the plus with the Tiguan is the long warranty.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great Car and Good Value!
Jose Braga, 11/07/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
I replaced my 2012 2.0T Audi Q5 for a new 2018 Tiguan. With two new babies at home, I needed a larger and less expensive car and I am really happy with this change. The third row seat is tight but it can accommodate a small person when needed. After customizing the driving style as “sport” (Only for the powertrain), I can assure you that the performance improved a lot and the gear box became much smoother than before (most of the complains are related to the 8 speed gear box that is slow and is not much accurate). I believe that the standard set up aims to reduce fuel consumption but is very badly programmed. With the sport mode on, consumption and comfort remain the same but powertrain runs much smoother and delivers a sufficient power. Bottom line, I am really happy with the car and so do my wife! I definitely recommend this car.
A lot of SUV for the price
CGP, 10/19/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
I was very concerned about getting this SUV because it seemed underpowered. After taking it on a road trip from LA to Montana and back, I am less concerned. It is by no means quick, but it is adequate. Is is very comfortable and roomy, easy to drive, and has tremendous visibility all around. Gas mileage was just ok at 30 MPG but it is practically a mid-sized SUV. The biggest upsides are the size (almost a mid-size), price (about 4K less than similarly equipped competitors), and the warranty, 6 years 72K miles. I also find the classic VW styling to be more pleasing than the more elaborate folds, twists, turns and trim pieces on the bodies of the other brands. Before purchasing this we drove the Sportage (2nd place), CRV (3rd place), Rogue (driver leg room too small), CX5 (too small inside so didn't actually drive), Audi Q3 (dated interior, expensive), Volvo C40 (expensive, nice).
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
A year old now and still a GREAT car.
Bruce, 07/11/2018
updated 07/15/2019
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
I've read the other reviews and have to say that I'm not running into any of the problems with the Tiguan that some others have commented on. The auto wipers work fine... there's an adjustment on the top of the wiper stalk for the sensitivity of the wipers in auto that works just fine. The engine doesn't hesitate or lag from a stop OR when I want to switch into a faster lane on the highway.. I tend to think that the drivers have to get used to how the transmission works.. I have a dual clutch automated manual in my last car and the hesitation was much worse with that set up. Maybe because I was used to that set up, it makes the 8 speed automatic feel much more responsive to me. I just love the safety features. I really like the parking assist with the 360 degree view or my car.. I can park pretty much anywhere and be confident that I won't hit anything or even come close to banging into anything.. (yes I've backed into something in my last car that had no cameras and a lousy view of just about anything from inside. The deal maker for me was the design and the 6 year 72 Thousand mile bumper to bumper warranty that the VW comes with the purchase . Last car I had to purchase an extended warranty for 7 years and 100 thousand miles, bumper to bumper no deductible coverage and a 1700 price..and I sure am glad I did with that car.. (to remain unnamed but it wasn't a VW) All in all, I'm very happy with this purchase Great Ride Great quality and the review still stands but the car is even better...
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
6 years of 72K Mile Warranty ...Your gonna need it
TonyinGA, 05/09/2018
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4Motion 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
17 of 21 people found this review helpful
Looked at Honda CRV/Mazda 5/Subaru for my daughters first car. The warranty, safety, and ride comfort, were the strong points of the Tiguan. The turning radius and it being slightly under-powered engine were also plus's for me (Don't want a teenager with a powerful engine). The issue I have is that the roof leaked and molded up the carpets. Of course the dealership initially said there was no leak and or that it could not be found until I refused to take it back then they found the leak in the sunroof and that the whole headliner needed to be replaced. I asked that they ensure that there was no mold or mildew in the car. they said they would..but 15 days later...Mold/mildew in the carpets. Unbelievably this was the result of them troubleshooting for the leak. They planted the car for hours under a hose. Now we'll be without the car for another week as the replace the carpets and service for the mildew/mold. They have a technical bulletin on the sunroof drainage issue so make sure you validate that your car is not part of the batch with issues. I'd have to say that with better/more proactive dealership service I'd feel better about about the vehicle. As of this review I can't recommend this vehicle.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
No Go
Frank Bailey, 07/14/2018
updated 07/17/2020
2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
19 of 24 people found this review helpful
The Tiguan has NO go power whatsoever. If you need to merge onto the freeway or get the heck out of the way of a truck, good luck. After hitting the gas, it will take a good 2 seconds for the thing to decide to go. Wish I had never bought it. Air conditioner is barely effective. Auto braking system is defective. Driving to work early one morning with no other vehicles within a half a mile, the auto braking engaged. Thank goodness there was no one behind me. I have read online that other owners have had issues. This car is going to kill people because of its glitches! It does ride fairly comfortable on road trips for such a small car.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value