2023 Volkswagen Tiguan 1.5L eTSI MHEV OPF 7AT FWD (130 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Volkswagen introduced the third generation of its compact SUV, Tiguan, in 2023, and it was a big step forward for the vehicle compared to its predecessor in terms of styling, technology, and features.

The Tiguan started its career trying to catch up with Nissan Qashqai and losing most of the time. Volkswagen didn’t have the reputation of a 4×4 car maker, so its products suffered in that segment. But the German automaker didn’t give up and pushed harder on the market. The second generation, which it launched in 2016, performed better and took the crown as the best-selling VW. By 2023, the Tiguan had reached 7.6 million units sold and was on its way to success. That’s why its creator tried to make a better car and surprise its customers in a good way.

With styling cues carried over from its bigger brother, the Touareg, the Tiguan looked more up-scale than its predecessor. Strangely, there was no grille above the massive bumper, just a lower one needed to cool the engine and a pair of side scoops that housed a pair of air intakes. The LED headlights showed a new, more angular design than on the Tiguan’s second generation and flanked a strip that supported the carmaker’s badge. From its profile, the compact SUV revealed its sculptured doors and the widened rear quarter panels, creating a muscular image for the Tiguan. Finally, at the back, the tilted forward tailgate sported a roof spoiler. Also, at the back, customers could notice the lack of any exhaust, not even fake ones. For the sporty version, Volkswagen added piano-black trims at the front bumper, the B- and C-pillars, and the rear bumper.

Inside, the third generation of the Tiguan boasted a more luxurious cabin than its predecessor. It now featured a standard 10” instrument cluster and up to 15” touchscreen for the infotainment system. Just like the rest of the Volkswagen range, the multimedia unit didn’t feature a dedicated volume knob, but the automaker thought slightly differently. Volkswagen listened to its clients and ditched the touch-buttons from the steering wheel and replaced them with physical ones, which was a good thing. Between the front seats on the center console, it installed a rotary dial with its own touch-button inside that could control several systems, including the volume. The front occupants could access it from their comfortable seats designed for long journeys. In the back, the carmaker installed a split-folding bench seat that could expand the 652-liter (23 cu-ft.) trunk.

Volkswagen built the Tiguan on the MQB evo platform and installed a choice of hybrid, gasoline, or diesel drivetrains. All of them were prepared for the Euro 7 emission standards and provided not just good performance but also low fuel consumption figures. Furthermore, the 2023 iteration of the Tiguan was the first to completely ditch the manual gearboxes and featured just dual-clutch ones for the entire range.