Originally launched in 2007, the VW Tiguan crossover SUV has become Volkswagen's best-selling model, both in the US and globally. It offers a winning combination of practicality and versatility at an affordable price, helping it to sell over 300,000 units in the US in the last three years alone. The current generation of the Tiguan has been on the market since 2019, but for the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan model year, Volkswagen has given it a mid-life refresh.
Given the car's popularity, there was no need for VW to make any radical changes, and instead, the refresh focuses on updating the Tiguan's suite of technology and assistance features and bringing its styling in line with other models in the brand's lineup. Among those changes, there's a number of new premium options too, for those buyers who want something a little more fancy than a base-level model. Let's take a look at ten of the new Tiguan's best features and see why it's so popular with buyers worldwide.
10 All-New Front End
One of the biggest visual differences between the outgoing 2021 model and the new 2022 one is the front end, as it's been redesigned to better gel with its VW stablemates. There's more than a hint of the Atlas SUV's design in the new Tiguan, and it looks quite similar to the newly-unveiled Taos too.
There are new LED headlights and daytime running lights, and there's an option to get extra lighting that flanks the VW logo. It's no doubt a streamlined look, one that is quite athletic and sporty, and it's a change from the waves of other non-descript crossover designs from some of VW's rivals.
9 2.0-liter Turbo Four-Cylinder Engine
Powering all American market Tiguans is a 2.0L turbo four-pot engine, which puts out 184 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. Those are not market-leading figures, but then they don't need to be. The car is primarily aimed at families who need a comfortable and reliable family shuttle, and the four-cylinder is more than powerful enough to take a whole family and their luggage on a road trip.
The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission which VW says helps the car deliver smooth and consistent power while staying engaging to drive. Car and Driver agree with this sentiment, giving the car a 9.5/10 rating and praising it for being one of the most fun to drive cars in its segment.
8 Volkswagen's Digital Cockpit
Some might call this new feature a "virtual dash", but VW's Digital Cockpit essentially just replaces the traditional dials and counters with one big screen. The standard trim comes with an 8" display, but an optional 10" screen is available too.
It allows for a more easily configurable experience than a traditional dash and brings the Tiguan in line with more premium offerings from other German brands. There's also an App-Connect function built-in, so phones and other devices can be directly connected to the car.
7 Leather Steering Wheel on R-Line Models
VW's top-spec R-Line trim offers a few subtle extras over its standard siblings, including a leather-wrapped steering wheel for a better feel when driving. There's also R-Line trim on the exterior, and new bumpers and side sills.
The R-Line package comes in at roughly a $3,000 premium to the standard trim, with the cheapest S trim starting at $27,190. Mid-tier SE models cost $30,690, then the SE R-Line is $33,490. There's also a LWB version of the Tiguan available with R-Line trim for $37,790.
6 IQ.DRIVE Driver Assistance Package
Staying safe is always on drivers' minds, especially if they've got families in the car with them. VW's IQ.DRIVE suite helps to keep everyone protected, and it's standard on all but the base model. It includes industry-standard tech like Front Collision Assist, Cruise Control, and start-stop technology.
There's also a number of other assists included, like a blind spot monitor and semi-autonomous emergency assistance in case there's a medical emergency on board. There's also a feature called Travel Assist, which is a semi-autonomous virtual assistant for highway and traffic driving.
5 Car-Net and Wireless Charging
Keeping with the tech-heavy theme of the 2022 Tiguan refresh, there's also wireless charging available in the new model, so drivers and passengers no longer have to worry about whether they've got the right charging lead if their phone's low on power.
In-car WiFi is also available via Volkswagen's Car-Net service, although users will have to subscribe to a yearly data plan. Still, it means they can stay connected wherever they go, and make full use of streaming media to the newly-revamped infotainment system.
4 Range of New Colors
There's been a lot of criticism across the media about how modern cars tend to come in boring colors, and part of the reason for that is simply that many automakers don't offer as interesting color choices as they used to.
Volkswagen is attempting to remedy that, and give buyers a chance to express themselves a little more with the 2022 Tiguan. There's now a range of 8 colors available, including reds, blues, and the usual grey, white and black.
3 Heated and Ventilated Front Seats
It's hard to pick which one is worse: sweaty, sticky seats in the heat of the summer or cold, clammy seats in the winter. Well, 2022 Tiguan buyers can banish those thoughts to the back of their minds, as there are now optional heated and ventilated front seats available.
The company has even been so kind as to make heated seats standard on all models, so it's only the ventilation function that drivers will have to option on as an extra. Depending on how far north they live, they may not even need that option anyway.
2 4Motion All-Wheel Drive Available
On the subject of living in the North, it's always useful to have AWD on cars that regularly get used in bad weather, just for extra peace of mind. Sending power to every wheel can be the difference between getting stuck in the snow or not, and so VW made sure to include their 4Motion AWD system for the new model year.
It's optional on all trims, but it's probably worth adding on for most buyers. Combined with the torquey 2.0L engine and respectable ground clearance, 4Motion should make traversing rougher terrain off the tarmac a breeze too.
1 Fender Premium Audio System
Whether buyers are audiophiles or just love singing along to their favorite songs on road trips, the new Tiguan has them covered. There's an optional audio system available from Fender that greatly increases sound quality over the standard VW own-brand system.
It seems like the 2022 Tiguan offers an even more competitive package before, and its current level of popularity is unlikely to dip with the new model year. Volkswagen has done an excellent job with the car, making it accessible and affordable, and most importantly, still fun to drive even while being supremely practical.