The New Volkswagen Tiguan Is a Huge Step In the Right Direction: Review
Volkswagen’s compact SUV finally feels like a real competitor.
The Volkswagen Tiguan has always been one of the better compact SUVs in its class, but even after 18 years on the market, it’s never quite matched the dominance of rivals like those from Honda or Toyota. That could change with the all-new 2025 Tiguan, which makes massive strides to better compete with the CR-V and RAV4.
With sleek styling and a well-equipped interior, the new Tiguan checks all the right boxes. Built on VW’s versatile MQB Evo platform, the updated model is 170 pounds lighter than its predecessor. Inside, it features higher-quality materials, a cleaner layout, and a large central touchscreen.
Photo by: Jeff Perez / Motor1
Power comes from an updated turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, featuring a new turbo and a revised fuel-injection system. Output rises to 201 horsepower (up from 184), and torque improves to 221 lb-ft of torque (or 207 pound-feet on the front-drive model).
Overall, the new Tiguan is an excellent SUV.
2025 Volkswagen Tiguan Pros
- Sharp Exterior Design
- High-Quality Interior
- Surprisingly Fun
- There’s a Volume Knob
The previous Tiguan was never much of a looker, but the new model is genuinely sharp. While the large gloss-black grille might not appeal to everyone, the overall design is clean, cohesive, and uncontroversial.
Up front, slim LED headlights are connected by a narrow light bar that stretches across the hoodline, giving the Tiguan a modern, upscale appearance. At the rear, a distinctive taillight design and an (optional) illuminated VW logo assure you won’t confuse the Tiguan for a CR-V.
Inside, the cabin is nice—really nice. This fully loaded SEL R-Line trim comes standard with perforated leather seats, ambient lighting, and a massive 15.0-inch touchscreen. Materials throughout the cabin feel premium for the class, with wood accents and high-quality plastics on the dash and door panels adding to the upscale feel.
Power from the turbocharged engine is sent through an eight-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive standard and VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system available. The model tested here came equipped with AWD.
In typical VW fashion, the Tiguan is a pretty fun thing to fling around. The turbocharged engine delivers strong low-end torque while still providing enough power higher in the rev range for effortless highway passes. The eight-speed automatic shifts quickly and effortlessly, too.
And finally—yes, there’s a volume knob. Despite adopting VW’s latest infotainment interface (complete with its typical touch-capacitive controls), the Tiguan has a physical volume knob just behind the gear selector. It doubles as a drive mode selector and proves to be surprisingly useful in everyday driving.
2025 Volkswagen Tiguan Cons]
- Still Not Enough Buttons
- Somewhat Stiff Ride
As welcome as the Tiguan’s new volume knob is, it doesn’t fully make up for the abundance of touch-capacitive controls. While the steering wheel thankfully replaces the previous controls with real buttons, you still have to deal with finicky touch-sensitive sliders below the touchscreen for adjusting fan speed, temperature, and other basic functions. It’s still very annoying.
Also mildly annoying is the ride quality. The Tiguan isn’t an uncomfortable SUV by any means, but it rides firmer than some of its competitors and doesn’t handle rough pavement or speed bumps nearly as well. That could be due in part to the 20-inch wheels on this SEL R-Line model; drop down to the base model’s 17-inch shoes, and ride quality should improve.
2025 Volkswagen Tiguan Verdict
Frankly, there’s not much to complain about with the new Volkswagen Tiguan. It looks sharp, offers a refined and comfortable interior, and is genuinely enjoyable to drive. At $30,920 to start for 2025 (with destination included), it’s still a bargain, too.
While the touch-capacitive controls and slightly firm ride may annoy some, those flaws are easy to overlook in an SUV that gets so much right otherwise. Honda and Toyota—watch your backs.
Tiguan Competitors
2025 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line
EngineTurbocharged 2.0-Liter Four-Cylinder
Output201 Horsepower / 221 Pound-Feet of Torque
TransmissionEight-Speed Automatic
Drive TypeAll-Wheel Drive
Weight3,801 Pounds
Efficiency22 City / 30 Highway / 25 Combined
Seating Capacity5
Towing1,800 Pounds
Base Price$30,920
As-Tested Price$41,180 (est.)
On SaleNow
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Top comments
Chris P
1 month ago
Too bad this vehicle is on the top of the list of unreliable vehicles. This vehicle is plagued with excessive oil consumption requiring oil top offs with gas fill+ups. Being a turbo engine that is a horrible problem to have.
It also seems to have daily infotainment issues that are dreadful enough for everyone to complain about, also intermittent electrical issues and the transmission has some jerking and shuddering that I’m sure leads to expensive outcomes.
This used to be a great vehicle but it seems they have broken it in its current form. Small turbos in SUVs is never a good idea. After the Ford focus fiasco with their power crap transmission anytime I hear of jerking and shuddering that’s a definite no-go from me.
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The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Is Better Where It Matters: Review
With dozens of minor improvements focused on the user experience, the Hyundai Palisade is that much better for 2026.
Photo by: Anthony Alaniz / Motor1
By: Anthony Alaniz
Aug 5, at 6:00am ET
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In an industry ever-eager to embrace gimmicks, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade feels like a breath of fresh air. Rather than subtraction by addition, the new Palisade goes heavy on minor improvements meant to enhance the overall driving experience and help keep the Palisade as one of the best three-row options for years to come.
Hyundai’s updates for 2026, many of which you can’t see, push the SUV closer to luxury-car territory without the luxury price tag. Most notably, the top-trim Calligraphy has all the goodies you’d expect from a luxury SUV, and it only costs a little over $57,000 as tested.
Driving it around Napa Valley and the Pacific Coast, the Palisade proves why it’s still one of the best three-row options out there.
| Quick Specs | 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy |
| Engine | 3.5-Liter V-6 |
| Output | 287 Horsepower / 260 Pound-Feet |
| Transmission | Eight-Speed Automatic |
| Drive Type | All-Wheel Drive |
| Base Price / As-Tested | $40,430 / $57,555 |
As mentioned, some of the Palisade’s best upgrades are the ones you don’t notice. Standard acoustic glass for the windshield, thicker glass for the windows, and a full-absorbing layer of carpet all help make the interior whisper quiet. The Calligraphy model also benefits from acoustic side glass for the front windows for even more serenity.
On the Calligraphy model, especially, very little noise reaches the cabin. Even at highway speeds, you’ll have no trouble speaking to passengers in the second and third rows.
As other automakers remove every last bit of tactility from their cars, Hyundai keeps physical controls for the most important functions. The various knobs and dials make it easy to adjust the cabin temperature or change the drive modes without taking your eyes off the road, something Hyundai has stressed the importance of in recent years.
Pros: Built-In Dash Cam, Tons Of Chargers, Power-Folding Second & Third Row Seats
However, that doesn’t mean the Palisade is devoid of technology; a 12.3-inch infotainment screen comes standard with Hyundai’s familiar user interface. One thing that is new on the Calligraphy model is the integrated dash cam, which records the car while parked and features both impact and motion sensors. The footage is accessible through the main display, and it saves data locally, so you own it. Unfortunately, though, you can’t view the data through an app.
Alongside that dash cam, the top-trim Palisade also gets exclusive 21-inch wheels, premium Nappa leather seats, leg cushion extensions, and “Relaxation” seats with a series of settings designed to rejuvenate you or your front and second-row passengers mid-drive with a massage.
The Palisade packs a new 3.5-liter V-6 engine, an evolution of Hyundai’s Lambda series, and it’s the standard powertrain across the range. It’s paired to a traditional eight-speed automatic transmission, and my tester has all-wheel drive, a $2,000 upgrade. Front-wheel drive is the standard configuration.
With 287 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, the Palisade Calligraphy has plenty of power from the jump, with the optional Sport mode livening up the throttle response and steering. However, I am curious as to how the Hyundai will perform packed with a family and a week’s worth of luggage while towing a trailer through the mountains.
Cons: Just-Adequate-Enough Powertrain, Controversial Design, Dash Cam Limited To Top Trim
A new Palisade hybrid will go on sale this fall, but it wasn’t available to test here. That version features a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors and makes a combined 329 hp and up to 339 lb-ft. If you want a three-row, fully electric vehicle from Hyundai, you could get the Ioniq 9.
And if you want something more rugged, Hyundai has that, too, with the launch of the Palisade XRT Pro, which Hyundai was eager for us to experience. The automaker set up an off-road obstacle course for the XTR Pro that required engaging the SUV’s Sand and Mud modes to navigate.
The downhill brake control works flawlessly, with the seatbelts suspending me in place as I stare at the dirt on descent. The forward ground view option, available through the Surround View Monitor, shows the wheels in relation to the pavement (or, dirt).
The Palisade XRT Pro comes standard with real off-road hardware: functional tow hooks front and rear, an electronic limited-slip differential, and a 1.0-inch suspension lift over the non-XRT Pro trims. The version I drove features prototype aluminum skid plates to protect the oily bits, which Hyundai says it will offer as an aftermarket accessory.
Hyundai thoughtfully updated the 2026 Palisade with a bold new design that could deter some more-traditional buyers, although it looks great in person. Little things, such as the second-row grab handle that makes it easier to get in and out of the third row, the 100-watt USB-C chargers, or the power-folding second- and third-row seats, which you can operate from the cargo area, all make for a better experience.
The new Palisade is an SUV that consumers will continue to flock to thanks to its intuitive, human-first design. With buyers begging for more buttons, switches, and physical controls, Hyundai is clearly listening with the new Palisade.
