Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves. A new Tiguan has arrived. Not too small. Not too big. Not too dull, in my opinion, just right. Meet the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan, VW’s compact SUV that’s had a growth spurt, lost some pounds, got a polish, and is hoping to hit the sweet spot.
Let’s rewind. The Tiguan has had two previous generations. The first was a bit too compact for an SUV. Then the next version was a bit lanky with awkward overhangs and questionable proportions. A bit like someone who’s had a growth spurt but left their shirt behind. This third-gen Tiguan, here for 2025, is Volkswagen’s attempt to get it ‘just right’. No gimmicks, two rows only, cleaner lines, and better aerodynamics. And yes—some of that excess weight has been trimmed off. About 170 pounds lighter, in fact. They kept the wheelbase the same but chopped front and rear overhangs. The overall length is shorter by a few inches
Power and Performance
Under the hood, the 2025 Tiguan kicks off with the familiar EA888 engine. That gives you 201 horsepower, with torque varying a little depending on whether you get front-wheel drive or VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive. On the FWD model, you get about 207 lb-ft; on 4Motion, about 221 lb-ft, which are decent numbers for its class. The transmission is the familiar eight-speed automatic. Fuel economy gets a lift, thanks to lighter weight and improved aerodynamics. Opting for the 4Motion will get you 30 mpg on the highway.
Wheels and Tires
The top SEL trim features 20-inch rims fitted with Pirelli Scorpion All-Season tires, sized at 255/40. This setup results in a firmer ride compared to some of the lesser models, which are equipped with smaller wheels.
Driving
The 2.0-liter turbo seems to fit the SUV’s size pretty well. It might not take the crown in drag races, but it doesn’t feel weak either. However, there’s definitely some room for enhancement. The throttle response could use a bit of smoothing out, and the eight-speed automatic could really use faster downshifts when you need extra power. It does its job, but a little more polish would make a big difference.
It’s generally cooperative, no jerks, no weird surprises, and there are plenty of drive modes, including one for off-road, which provides hill descent control. What you get, surprisingly, is great balance, firm enough to stop the Tiguan from feeling like a jellybean in the corners, but cushy enough that bumps aren’t being transmitted harshly. On winding roads, the new Tiguan felt stable, as the suspension absorbed even the worst potholes without shaking the cabin. Overall, the ride achieves a great balance, minimizing vibrations and providing a smooth, comfortable drive.
Steering’s improved and is a heftier feel than before. The previous model felt somewhat overboosted in its power assistance; this one’s more grounded. There’s still body roll; this is an SUV, after all, but it leans more confidently, less like a drunk giraffe. Brakes, though, take some getting used to; the pedal takes a lot of travel before you feel a serious bite. Once you’re used to it, it’s fine, but at first, you might pinch yourself, wondering whether something’s off.
Interior
Step inside, and you’ll notice the cabin has had a makeover, with more premium touches, more style, with an overall design that is softer and more organic. Stitching in more places. Less of the blocky, hard-plastic feeling. Materials are improved. The center console is larger, more useful, and helped by moving the shift lever up to a stalk behind the steering column, a bit like VW’s ID. Buzz. It feels more modern, gives you space.
Tech is front and center. The driver gets a 10.3-inch Digital Cockpit Pro gauge cluster configurable from the steering wheel buttons. The center screen on standard trims is 12.9 inches; the SEL R-Line gets a whopping 15-inch display. It’s beautiful, flashy, and capable, but yes, there’s always a gripe. Looking for settings is like playing hide and seek, for example, controls for the head-up display are hidden under “Vehicle,” not “Settings.
They’ve got touch sliders for temperature and volume, but they face upward toward the headliner, creating reflections and awkward angles. Thankfully, some physical buttons remain, like volume on the wheel and down where the shifter used to be. It’s not just for cranking up the tunes. Press it, and suddenly it moonlights as the car’s mood ring, letting you toggle between drive modes or pick an “atmosphere,” which tweaks the lights and sound to suit whatever vibe you’re going for.
The leather-covered front seats are comfortable and have multi-way power as well as a massage feature, which I didn’t get a chance to use. The cooled seats didn’t seem particularly cool on this car, but the seat heaters were very good.
Cargo and People Space
The cargo room is good. You get 26.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 58.9 cubic feet of max cargo space with the rear seats folded down, which is pretty decent for this class. Rear seat passengers get ample legroom and decently comfortable seats as well as vents, controls, and power.
Pricing
Price tag? It starts around $30,920 for the base S with front-wheel drive. If you want 4Motion? Add roughly $1,500. This SEL is $39,755 and has one option, Avocado Green paint, bringing the total price to $42,030.
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Verdict
Volkswagen set out to deliver a compact SUV that is ‘just right’. It’s not perfect, but it is far more balanced than what came before. With some small irritants, controls, lag, and travel in the brake pedal, it’s not flawless. But it’s more grown-up, more mature, more refined. If Goldilocks were shopping for crossovers, this might well be the one she picks.
2025 VW Tiguan SEL R-Line 4Motion numbers
BASE PRICE: $39,755
PRICE AS TESTED: $42,030
VEHICLE LAYOUT: Front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door SUV
ENGINE: Turbocharged and inter-cooled DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter inline-4
POWER: 201 hp @ 4,500 rpm
TORQUE: 221 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic
0-60 MPH: 7.9 Seconds (est)
CURB WEIGHT: 3,900 lbs (est)
CARGO VOLUME: 37 ft³, 73.5 ft³ with seat area
FUEL ECONOMY: 22/30/25 city/hwy/combined
OUR OBSERVED: 19.8 mpg
PROS: Improved interior, zippy 2.0 Turbo, handles well, good interior space
CONS: Irritating lag from a stop, still has sliders for the temp controls
2025 VW Tiguan SEL R-Line Review
