Our verdict:
In baseball terms, the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan isn't a grand slam, but it is a bases-clearing triple. So, almost as good.
With more room, more features, better fuel economy, and more competitive pricing, VW has gone a long way in fixing the previous Tiguan's many shortcomings.
However, the old Tiguan is a heck of a lot more fun to drive.
While it has lost some of its driving verve, the new Tiguan more than makes up for it with a level of everyday practicality its predecessor couldn't approach. In many ways, it shows that VW understands the needs and wants of the crossover buyer.
Utility, comfort, and style outweigh driving dynamics. After all, VW will gladly sell those who need cargo room, ground clearance, and driving fun a new Golf Alltrack wagon.
With the Tiguan, Volkswagen's SUV revolution is in full swing. The new car should be the brand's volume leader for SUVs this year. But with the way the market is trending these days, if VW steadily improves the Tiguan over time, it could very well become its overall top seller.
Thus, the 2018 Tiguan gives Volkswagen the crossover it has desperately needed for years. For the first time in recent memory, VW is properly equipped to do battle in the most competitive segment of US auto market. Should Honda, Toyota, GM, Ford, and Nissan be worried? Only time will tell, but things are looking good for Volkswagen.
What is the Tiguan like to drive?
Under the hood, all US-bound Tiguans are powered by an updated version of VW's venerable E888 2.0-liter, turbocharged, inline-four-cylinder engine. The motor has been updated to improve efficiency and torque delivery. In addition, the old Tiguan's 6-speed automatic has been replaced by a new 8-speed unit.
However, the overall output of the engine is down 16 horsepower to just 184 — all while it's gained more than 200 pounds in weight.
Even though peak power and torque are more accessible than the gen-one Tiguan, the new car lacks the pep and enthusiasm of the outgoing model. According to Car and Driver, the sprint to 60 mph takes a leisurely 9.1 seconds. Not good, considering the old car could do it in around 8 seconds.
For me, the Tiguan driving experience was solid, but not spectacular. The steering was responsive albeit a bit numb (common for crossovers) while the ride was compliant and comfortable. On the highway, the Tiguan's lack of power is apparent. The engine and transmission combo feel overwhelmed and winded during high-speed passing maneuvers. The Tiguan will summon up some power and speed, but there is a delay and you will have to put the transmission into sport mode.
Matt DeBord also complained of some roughness in the drivetrain and juddering at low-speeds. However, I couldn't replicate those symptoms on our test car.
These are all issues that, we believe, can be solved with a more powerful version of the E888 engine. The 235 horsepower unit found in the entry-level Atlas should do the trick.
One major area of improvement is fuel economy. The old Tiguan's fuel economy was appallingly poor for a four-cylinder compact crossover.
My personal vehicle routinely struggles to reach the 19 mpg mark. Loaded with people, groceries, and a large cache of apples fresh from a trip to the orchard, our all-wheel-drive test car managed to return about 24 mpg in mixed city and highway driving. Further, a front-wheel-drive Tiguan we tested earlier this year managed to deliver a stellar 31 mpg on the highway.
Speaking of cargo, it's a major improvement over the previous model. According to VW, cargo capacity up 58%. With the third row folded down, the Tiguan has 33 cubic feet of cargo room.
On the other hand, the third-row seat is almost pointless. It was too cramped for everyone except the smallest of children and is a $500 option on all-wheel-drive models. Oddly enough, it comes standard on front-wheel-drive Tiguans. We really only used it as a cargo divider.
Matt also thought it was much too small, but figured it could be useful of you suddenly had to transport an extra pair of kids.