2025 Volkswagen Tiguan First Drive

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan offers a little less space, a lot more style, and just enough fun.

James Riswick | 

May 28, 2025 | 5 min read

James Riswick

The Tiguan is Volkswagen's bestselling model in the United States, so a cautious evolution of the previous generation might've been prudent. That's not what happened.

Instead, the redesigned 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan gets a bold new look, a higher-quality and more tech-focused interior, and sharper driving dynamics. It makes for a distinctive compact SUV that can stand out from the crowd.

Prices range from the low $30,000s to the low $40,000s, including the $1,425 destination charge. For this review, I tested two versions of the 2025 Tiguan: an SE R-Line ($39,230 as tested, including destination) and a loaded SEL R-Line ($41,180).

James Riswick

Sharper Design but Less Practical

The new 2025 Tiguan is lower to the ground with a shorter overall length and a less boxy back end than the 2024 model. The size and shape changes contribute to what appears to be a smaller, less family-friendly cargo area.

The old Tiguan's cramped third-row seat is also gone, but the second-row seat picked up 1.5 inches of legroom. I'm 6-foot-3 and could comfortably sit behind my own driver-seat position. The second row further benefits from a huge door that opens wide, which is great when you're loading kids into the Tig.

The rest of the interior sees improved materials quality, though the range-topping SEL R-Line gets the most obvious upgrades, such as real wood trim and quilted leather. Every 2025 Tiguan has VW's latest infotainment system, too. There's also more standard power, slightly better fuel economy, and, based on my test drive, big-time improvements to the steering and suspension.

James Riswick

The New Tiguan Is Far Better to Drive

Dynamically, the new 2025 Tiguan dramatically improves upon the previous model. Whether around town or on a winding road, it is more responsive, confidence-inspiring, and engaging to drive, especially in terms of the steering. At the same time, the ride was composed and comfortable with both the 19-inch (SE) and 20-inch (SEL) wheels.

Every 2025 Tiguan has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 201 horsepower, up from the previous gen's 184. Torque differs by drivetrain: 207 pound-feet with front-wheel drive (FWD) and 221 lb-ft with all-wheel drive (AWD). The resulting performance is strong and a noticeable advantage while comparison shopping.

James Riswick

Unfortunately, there's a delay should you mash the accelerator from a stop, and the eight-speed automatic transmission can react slowly. Still, overall responsiveness is better than what you'll get from many rivals, especially those with continuously variable transmissions.

Despite improved fuel economy for 2025, the EPA estimates range from 22/30/25 mpg in city/highway/combined driving (AWD) to 26/34/29 mpg (FWD). Those numbers trail most competitors, and that's not counting the hybrid alternatives to the Tiguan. I averaged 23.4 mpg during my 40-plus-mile drive in the mountains surrounding Bozeman, Montana.

James Riswick

Tons of Driver Tech Available

The 2025 Tiguan includes a comprehensive array of driver-assistance technologies. I particularly liked the steering wheel button that cycles through the cruise control modes: regular, adaptive, and Travel Assist. The latter setting adds lane-centering steering assistance that worked well even in the rain and despite faded lane markings. These systems are some of the better ones I've experienced in the segment.

The Tiguan also features four new airbags: driver-knee, rear side, and a front-center airbag. I didn't test those. I did, however, test the new infotainment system and interior controls.

My recent experiences driving the Volkswagen Atlas, GTI, and ID.4 were inconvenient at best and infuriating at worst. Fortunately, VW isn't making the same mistakes with the Tiguan. For example, there are still rear-window switches on the front door instead of the dual-action nonsense in some VWs. The steering wheel controls are actual buttons, not ineffective touch-sensing buttons. The touch-sensing temperature adjustment sliders are illuminated after dark.

Unfortunately, the remaining touch-sensitive sliders and climate controls are still less than user-friendly. For instance, you have to click-wait-click to select air recirculation. Additionally, the satellite-radio controls remain nonsensical, and VW has replaced the volume-control slider with a big center console knob that doubles as a driving-mode controller.

James Riswick

Otherwise, I made peace with the Tiguan's touchscreen, which ranges from 12.9 inches to a gargantuan 15.0 inches. VW made it quicker to respond, the icons are easy to read at a glance, and it's more intuitive.

I could do without the new Atmospheres feature, also selected with the volume/drive mode knob. It oddly ties together pre-selected ambient lighting and display color choices with the audio system sound settings. However, the SEL's Harman Kardon audio system sounded particularly excellent when the Atmosphere was set to red.

The standard 10.3-inch digital instrumentation panel is impressive. It's configurable with multiple layouts and colors, looks good, and is controlled via those true steering wheel buttons. A cooled wireless phone charger is also standard, and located in a deeper center storage bin made possible by VW's switch to a column-mounted electronic shifter.

All in all, the cabin looks better, though apart from the swanky SEL R-Line, I don't think it enjoys much of an advantage over various competitors.

James Riswick

More Fashion Than Function

The 2025 VW Tiguan is now a distinctive compact SUV that's more akin to the luxurious and sporty Mazda CX-50 than the practical Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4. There's a chance it'll appeal less to families, but its sharper style and driving dynamics could attract a different set of customers. I think it's a smart change.

Volkswagen provided the vehicle for this 2025 Tiguan review and paid for airfare, lodging, and meals during the evaluation period.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.

James Riswick

James Riswick has been testing cars and writing about them for more than 20 years. He was the senior reviews editor for Autoblog and previously served multiple editor roles at Edmunds. He has also contributed to Autotrader, Car and Driver, Hagerty, J.D. Power, and Autoguide Magazine. He has been interested in cars forever; his mom took him to the Toronto Auto Show when he was 18 months old and he has attended at least one every year since (OK, except in 2020). When he's not testing the latest cars, he has a babied 1998 BMW Z3 in James Bond blue, a 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 Wagon, and a 2023 Kia Niro EV.