The 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan is all-new, and it’s substantially improved over the car it replaces in two ways. Firstly, it’s bigger, with Volkswagen moving the car into the booming medium SUV segment. And secondly, it now feels genuinely premium.
The Tiguan is a building block in Volkswagen’s goal of occupying its ideal niche: German premium player status, beyond its Japanese and Korean rivals, while retaining mainstream price points.
It’s a compelling offer that summarises the way many Volkswagen models already feel – in particular, the Golf, which is closely related to the new Tiguan.
Volkswagen have needed a larger SUV to give it a player in this crucial segment against established rivals like the Mazda CX-5. Buyers need the new Tiguan too, because it moves the medium SUV game forward in a number of ways.
In essence, the Tiguan feels like a larger Golf, offering SUV practicality. That’s a very good thing: the Tiguan introduces the Golf’s premium formula of great engines and sophisticated ride-handling balance into this larger segment.
And where five-seater SUVs can feel and look quite generic, the Tiguan looks and feels distinctive. It’s a capable car across the areas that matter – driving, comfort, practicality – and it feels like a quality product.
The larger form factor will give the Tiguan the practicality it needed, and with its traditionally-Volkswagen premium feel, the medium SUV class looks to have a new leader.
