Text by Tom Appel
2024 Volkswagen Tiguan SE R-Line Black AWD
Specs
Class: Compact Crossover
Color: Kings Red Metallic
Seating Capacity: 5
Miles driven: 123
Real-world fuel economy: 26.1 mpg
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | A- |
| Power and Performance | C+ |
| Fit and Finish | B+ |
| Fuel Economy | B |
| Value | B+ |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | B+ |
| Tall Guy | A- |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 184-horsepower 2.0-liter |
| Engine Type | Turbocharged four |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Driving mix: 60% city, 40% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 22/29/24 (city, highway, combined)
Fuel type: Regular
Base price: $35,705 (not including $1350 destination charge)
Options on test vehicle: Special paint ($395)
Price as tested: $37,450
Pros and Cons
The great: Upscale look and feel, sporty demeanor
The good: Decent fuel economy, comfortable long-distance ride
The not so good: Only adequate power, glitchy infotainment system
Overview
Big changes are in store for the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan. Among a number of new features, the ’25 lineup will include for the first time a plug-in hybrid model. Watch for updated exterior and interior styling, as well. That said, we’re not suggesting your wait until the 2025 models to arrive to purchase a Tiguan, as there is much to like about the ’24 edition–though not everything was perfect.
The Tiguan is VW’s compact crossover, and slots in the German brand’s U.S. lineup between the subcompact Taos, and the midsize Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport. Worth noting is that Tiguan is available with 3-row seating, taking passenger capacity from 5 to 7. As you might expect, rearmost seating accommodations are limited, and shoppers serious about long-trip comfort will want to move up to the very-roomy Atlas.
Prices and Trim Levels
For 2024 the Tiguan is offered in four trim levels, entry S (about $30,000), popular SE ($33,000), stylish SE R-Line Black ($36,000), and premium SEL R-Line ($40,000). Previously unavailable on the S—but standard otherwise—is VW’s IQ.Drive suite of driver-assistance features. For 2024 IQ.Drive is standard on all Tiguans. Volkswagen’s 4Motion-brand AWD system adds $1500 to the bottom line of every trim level, save for the SEL R-Line, on which it is standard.
Serious compact crossover shoppers will also want to test drive the Chevrolet Equinox, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, Mazda CX-50, and Toyota RAV4.
Consumer Guide recently spent a week behind the wheel of an AWD 2024 Tiguan SE R-Line Black Tiguan in Kings Red Metallic with AWD. All told, including destination charge, our test car came to $37,450, and was not equipped with 3rd-row seating.
Design
Like most VW products, the Tiguan comes off looking like a luxury vehicle from the outside. We like the simple creased lines and the generally restrained use of trim. We also find the black wheels, which come standard on the SE R-Line Black model, contrast nicely with the extra-cost red paint.
The cabin is equally classy, eschewing obvious wood and chrome bits for subtler, but still high-quality materials. Assembly quality also appears to be top notch. The general feel, inside and out, is one of classy, crisp, efficiency.
Connectivity
Cabin controls are also clean looking, though we found the Tiguan’s touch-screen driven infotainment setup less straightforward to operate than systems in other small crossovers, as operation isn’t always obvious, and the screen can be slow to respond to inputs. Bluetooth phone connections were likewise tenuous, as the system repeatedly reported that this author’s phone was not in proximity to the car, despite the fact that the phone was, indeed, in the car. To remedy this situation, it was occasionally necessary to delete the phone from the Tiguan’s memory, and subsequently reconnect. This five-minute process is frustrating to repeat multiple times a week. Despite the Bluetooth issues, we did find the standard, non-branded audio system especially high quality, and impressive at this price level.
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Room and Comfort
Tiguan serves up ample front-row space, and better than adequate 2nd-row room. That said, this big & tall editor found the Tiguan’s forward-seating row to be especially accommodating.
Ride, Handling, and Performance
On the road the Tiguan mostly impresses, and will ingratiate itself with any driver who still recalls what VWs used to feel like. While the 184-horsepower engine isn’t much more than adequate, the Tiguan boasts sporty, responsive steering, firm, reassuring brakes, and the kind of control in corners that is rare in modern crossovers. Also, the Tiguan rides well. Though the suspension is tuned to be firm, the VW’s well-controlled highway attitude makes it an excellent long-haul companion. The cabin is generally quiet, too, though perhaps not as quite as the other crossovers in this class.
In testing that favored city driving, our test Tiguan averaged a little over 26 mpg, beating the EPA combined estimate by 2. And, the Tiguan runs just fine on lower-priced regular-grade gasoline.
Review and Summary
The electronic bugaboos frustrate us, because we want to love this crossover. It is lean and smart looking, fun to drive, and generally practical. We enjoyed driving the Tiguan, though wouldn’t mind a little more power, and would really appreciate it if our phones stayed connected to the car.
Still, in our opinions, the “pros” outweigh the “cons,” and we recommend adding the Tiguan to your test-drive short list.
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2024 Volkswagen Tiguan SE R-Line Black Pictures
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