LOOKS

The 2025 redesign of the Volkswagen Tiguan carries over for 2026, and remains a sharp look. My test vehicle featured a paint color of Avocado Green, with a Deep Black roof. I liked the Tiguan’s wheel designs, and its front and rear light bars (and illuminated VW logos) were also a standout feature.

It’s worth noting that while the Tiguan competes in the compact segment, it is a longer and wider SUV than most rivals in the segment, and is on the borderline of being what I would consider a midsize SUV. So folks who value size might want to keep that in mind when cross-shopping.

Other exterior features include:
— 20-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires (sizes range from 17 to 20 inches)
— LED automatic headlights
— Adaptive Front Lighting System
— Poor Weather Lights (improves visibility in inclement weather)
— Power folding, heated side mirrors, with position memory and puddle lights (something rare to see on non-luxury cars)
— Rain-sensing front wipers and heated washer nozzles
— Power tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof

Moving inside the Tiguan, you’ll see why it is turning some heads with its upscale design.

My test vehicle featured a beautiful interior, including detailed stitching on high-quality and comfortable leather seats, attractive wood trim and a roomy interior for all 5 passengers, plus some cool multi-color adjustable ambient lighting options. It could easily be confused for a luxury brand like Audi, meaning it can compete not only with the usual non-luxury SUV suspects, but also entry level luxury SUV offerings.

Other key interior features in the Tiguan include:
— Three-zone automatic climate control
— Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel with shift paddles
— Heated and ventilated, power front seats with full-back massage, lumbar support and position memory
— Heated rear seats
— Stainless steel pedal caps

Due to the larger size of the Tiguan, it’s quite roomy inside for the segment, so all five passengers will have plenty of leg and head room, even taller folks sitting in the back seat.

Cargo space clocks in at 34 cubic feet with seats up, and 70 cubic feet with rear seats down. These are numbers you’re going to find hard to beat in the compact SUV segment.

HOW’S THE RIDE?

There are two engine options offered on the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan, and I was testing the more powerful version: A 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbo engine, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, and delivering 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.

My test vehicle also featured Volkswagen’s 4Motion AWD, but some versions of the Tiguan do come with FWD. A Start/Stop system is included on the Tiguan to help with fuel efficiency.

If you opt for the base engine, you’ll get a total of 201 horsepower, and up to 221 pound-feet of torque (with AWD). I would recommend getting an AWD version of the Tiguan, which is helpful for maintaining traction and reducing wheelspin, and especially helpful in climates with inclement weather.

I found the 2026 Tiguan to be a responsive and agile vehicle compared to rival SUVs, and even quite fun to drive on at times. Its 0-to-60 times were strong at the mid 6-second range for the upgraded engine (among the best numbers you’ll find in this segment), though they will fall into the mid 8-second range if you choose the base engine.

The Tiguan delivers a comfortable and quiet drive. It’s not a hot rod, but you get moving well enough. Braking is solid and the Tiguan handles curves well. The vehicle is not too large, but also not too small, which helps with drive quality and overall nimbleness and agility.

Drive modes offered include: Normal (balanced drive), Sport (more dynamic throttle response), Eco (boosts fuel economy) and Individual (customized settings).

If you get AWD on your Tiguan, you’ll also have the ability to set your profile based on road conditions. Settings include: Onroad, Snow, Offroad, and Custom Offroad.

This class of vehicle isn’t much for towing, as evidenced by the numbers on the Tiguan, which come in at 1,500 pounds for FWD models and 1,800 pounds for AWD models.


TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

Jumping right into the infotainment setup, I loved the large and clear 15-inch center touchscreen in the Tiguan. While it’s not quite as straightforward to use as some other touchscreen setups and menus could be simplified, overall it did its job effectively. There are two screen sizes offered: 12.9 inches and 15 inches, both of which are ample in size.

The extra-large screen is especially helpful for showing camera angles when you are backing out of tight spots. And if you want to skip the touchscreen altogether, voice commands are helpful and easy to learn.

A few old-school physical controls are also included, including a rotary volume dial.

Other key tech features include:
— Wireless phone charger (well-placed in the center console)
— Android Auto and Apple Carplay compatibility for phone mirroring
— Configurable digital instrument display
— Bluetooth connection
— Multiple USB-C ports 
— Satellite radio (90-day trial)
— Optional premium 12-speaker, 700-watt Harman Kardon sound system (which music lovers will appreciate); Standard audio system features seven speakers.

In terms of safety tech, Volkswagen does not disappoint on the Tiguan. It covers you on all sides, matching up solidly with the safest vehicles available today.

At the center of the safety setup is Volkswagen’s IQ Drive system, which is standard on all Tiguan models and features:
— Travel Assist (semi-automated driving assistance, including assisted lane changing)
— Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go
— Lane Assist (Lane Keeping System)
— Front Assist (Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian and Cyclist Monitoring)
— Active Side Assist (Blind Spot Monitor)
— Rear Traffic Alert

I found all these systems to be helpful in protecting the vehicle and passengers from any unexpected excursions, without being overly intrusive or sensitive.

In addition, the Tiguan includes a grand total of 10 airbags, an automatic Post-Collision Brake System, LATCH anchors for your children’s car seats and tire pressure monitoring.

The rear view camera system includes a handy overhead camera view that shows your entire surroundings. Light Assist system provides automatic high beam controls, and a Park Assist system is also available (which automatically parks the car into either parallel or perpendicular parking spaces).


MPG

The official fuel mileage numbers on my Tiguan test vehicle (SEL R-Line Turbo) with the upgraded engine and AWD were 22 city/29 highway/25 combined.

The base model with FWD offers higher numbers, coming in at 26 city/34 highway and 29 combined. SE and SE R-Line Black FWD models offer 25 city/32 highway and 28 combined. AWD models on the lower trims come in at 22 city/30 highway/25 combined.

These are decent numbers, but lag behind many rivals by several miles per gallon. Additionally, some rivals also offer hybrid versions of their SUVs in this category, while the Tiguan does not offer that option in the U.S.

In my experience driving the Tiguan, I averaged on the lower end of the listed numbers, around 22 mpg. But to be fair, the weather was downright frigid, which can affect fuel mileage. 

PRICE

The 2026 Tiguan that I tested was at the top trim level and priced just over $45K. The Tiguan’s base price starts about $31K for those on smaller budgets. Trim levels include: S, SE, SE R-Line Black and SEL R-Line Turbo.

The base engine comes on the lower three trims, and the upgraded power plant comes only on the top trim level — and it’s an enticing feature with its extra horses under the hood.

When comparing the pricing of the 2026 Tiguan to its key rivals — such as the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Nissan Rogue and Ford Escape — it falls pretty squarely in the middle, coming in slightly higher in price than some rivals, but below others.

Also, If you do opt for the top trim level, you’re into the mid-$40K range, which starts to enter the territory of some entry-level luxury brands and increases the list of options to consider.

Warranties are solid, but not the best in segment.

They include:
— New Vehicle Limited Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
— Powertrain Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
— Limited Warranty against Corrosion Perforation: 7 years/100,000 miles
— Maintenance covered at 1 year/10,000 miles and 2 years/20,000 miles
— 24-hour roadside assistance: 3 years/36,000 miles


BOTTOM LINE

The 2026 VW Tiguan is one of the best small-to-midsize SUV options available, offering a strong drive quality, luxury-level interior, sharp exterior design, and a large, user-friendly touchscreen.

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AutoTechReviews.com can be found on Twitter @AutoTechReview, or stay updated at the AutoTechReviews Facebook page. Follow AutoTechReviews on Instagram at @Autotechreviews or on TikTok at @AutoTechReviews.. Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu.