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Introduction
Volkswagen has “Americanized” everything about its redesigned compact crossover SUV except the name. You can say Tiguan like this: teeg-wan. There now, doesn’t that sound better?
Based on Volkswagen Group’s modular MQB vehicle architecture – found under the Audi A3, TT, Q3 and upcoming 2018 Q5 as well as the Volkswagen Golf, Passat and upcoming 2018 Atlas – the new 2018 Tiguan is in excellent company.
Better yet, we get the long-wheelbase version of the Tiguan, the one specifically developed for Americans. It boasts a 4.4-inch wheelbase stretch to ensure that U.S. market customers find it appealing.
“The new Tiguan demonstrates how we plan to give American customers the usability and versatility they demand without sacrificing style or Volkswagen’s trademark driving dynamics,“ said Hinrich J. Woebcken, CEO of the North American Region, Volkswagen. “Every detail of the Tiguan has been thoughtfully engineered for our U.S. customers to maximize space and convenience, while retaining its performance, agility, and value. We plan to price Tiguan very competitively with other compact SUVs.”
Volkswagen introduced the new Tiguan at the 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Exterior Features
Characterizing the 2018 Tiguan’s sharpened styling as “clean and timeless design,” Volkswagen says the new SUV is wider, lower, and a whopping 10.7 inches longer than the outgoing model. Depending on the model, LED lighting illuminates the path forward, and the top trim level is offered with mighty appealing aluminum wheels.
Interior Features
Inside, the Tiguan’s materials and surface patterns create a premium look, and thanks to the SUV’s stretched wheelbase and bodywork, it accommodates up to seven passengers in three rows of seats.
The third-row seat is standard in Tiguans with front-wheel drive and is an option in Tiguans with all-wheel drive. A 40/20/40-split folding second-row seat also slides forward and back to make more room for passengers and cargo.
Boasting a 57 percent increase in cargo room, the new Tiguan is much roomier inside than before. Doing the math based on current Tiguan measurements, the new SUV ought to hold more than 37 cubic feet of cargo behind its second-row seat. The liftover height is lower, too, easing the pain of loading heavy items.
Optional Features
Among the upgrades that Volkswagen has confirmed, the 2018 Tiguan can be fitted with leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel.
An optional panoramic glass sunroof bathes the cabin in natural light, while the driver might appreciate the available Digital Cockpit configurable electronic instrumentation. Additionally, Tiguan buyers can install a Fender premium audio system and a foot-operated, hands-free power rear liftgate.
Under the Hood
An updated version of Volkswagen’s turbocharged, direct-injected, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine is the only engine choice for the Tiguan. It makes 184 horsepower, down 17 from the outgoing version of the SUV, but torque is up 14 pound feet to 221. The engine is available with fuel saving automatic stop/start technology.
An 8-speed automatic transmission powers the Tiguan’s front wheels. As an option, a 4Motion Active Control all-wheel-drive system makes quick work of inclement weather, and the driver can choose from four different driving modes to help ensure traction under a variety of conditions.
Also, Volkswagen notes that the Tiguan provides a 26-degree angle of approach that enhances off-roading capability.
Safety
Given how old the outgoing Tiguan’s vehicle structure is, and how well other vehicles sitting on the MQB architecture perform in crash-test evaluations, it is a good bet that the new 2018 Tiguan is going to be a much safer vehicle if it is involved in a collision.
Plus, the Tiguan is equipped with a standard automatic post-collision braking system, which is designed to bring the SUV to a halt as soon as is possible following an initial collision in order to reduce the potential for secondary collisions. Why bother? Because secondary collisions occur after airbag deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
Volkswagen hopes you’ll avoid a collision in the first place, especially if you equip your Tiguan with the available active cruise control, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and lane departure warning with lane keeping assist systems.
Technology
Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit technology is similar to Audi Virtual Cockpit. The digital instrumentation can be configured to specific preferences, and drivers can call up useful information like upcoming navigation instructions, which render in the space between the virtual gauges. It is an option for the new Tiguan.
Next-generation infotainment systems also arrive with the 2018 Tiguan, complete with flush smartphone-style display screens that supply shortcut buttons and both a stereo volume and tuning knob. Volkswagen’s Car-Net subscription services are also available for the new Tiguan, along with App Connect smartphone projection technology supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Mirror Link platforms.
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