2025 Volkswagen Tiguan Up Close: Supreme Shrinkage

Goodbye, previous-generation Volkswagen Tiguan — your somewhat odd, wagonlike proportions will not be missed. Hello, new Tiguan! My, don’t you look sharp for the 2025 model year on the floor of the 2024 Los Angeles Auto Show. Gone are both the in-between dimensions and the Tiguan’s third row; the third-gen SUV packs two rows only no matter the trim.

Related: More 2024 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

According to VW reps on hand, the Tiguan is the brand’s bestselling nameplate not just in the U.S., but in the global market. That’s big wheels to fill, but a slight reduction in length means VW’s redesigned compact SUV enters the arena occupied by popular boxes like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V — stiff competition, but class offerings from other automakers also enjoy strong sales, so VW likely faces smooth waters.

More Atlas Than Before

VW says much of the redesign away from the prior Tiguan’s shape was based on customer feedback, inspiring the SUV’s shift toward a (somewhat) blockier and hard-edged appearance. That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but it’s certainly more upright in person and channels more Atlas than before. The updated front lighting signature means it also channels VW’s electric ID family, with the unbroken LED bar and headlights ripped straight from the ID.4.

It’s a sharp lookin’ sled in person, though I spent all of my time with the line-topping SEL, a trim that packages the popular R-Line appearance package as standard. The Tiguan’s size is near perfect, too; it now falls right in the sweet spot between the subcompact first-gen Tiguan and the mid-size prior gen.

The 2025 Tiguan also should be nice to drive. The familiar turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine carries over, as does the eight-speed automatic transmission, but both have been updated. The engine’s 201 horsepower is 17 hp up over the old heart, with torque not expected to change from the prior 221 pounds-feet. Official EPA ratings are still being finalized, but VW says fuel economy — and towing — will improve. It’s still front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is available at every trim save the top, where it’s standard.

A Little Less Frustrating Inside

Inside the 2025 Tiguan is the biggest improvement. First off, glory of glories: We’ve got physical buttons, people. The steering wheel ditches those frustrating, smudge-magnet capacitive buttons for a traditional hard-toggle setup for the volume, cruise control and menu navigation controls. You’ll also find a new large, physical knob in the center console that’s standard and operates the volume; it features a nifty high-res mini screen in the center that can be clicked and swiped to change the knob’s function as selector for drive modes and display themes. It might sound confusing, but it’s a feature I can see becoming second nature after futzing around with it a few times.

The standard 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen is a big improvement over the prior 6.5-inch display, and the optional 15-inch display so equipped in this SEL on the show floor is well proportioned and ostensibly much improved operationally over older versions of VW’s hit-or-miss digital architecture.

The infamous touch-capacitive sliding controls for temperature and volume are still present at the bottom of the screen, but backlit illumination and nested redundant controls in the on-screen menus make it less of a frustration than before. Other notable tech includes two USB-C charge ports for the front passengers and an air-conditioned wireless charging pad in the now-larger center console, with rear passengers in the SEL enjoying their own USB-C ports, heated seats and dual-zone climate control.

Speaking of comfort, the SEL’s heated and ventilated front seats offer a 10-point massage function, which is potentially a segment exclusive. Really, the new Tiguan’s interior is a luxe place to be compared to other loaded SUVs of this size, offering premium leather appointments with nice extended stitching and piping contrasted by real wood trim (don’t worry, I checked). Without the third row, second-row comfort is improved: My 5-foot-11 self had head, shoulder and legroom to spare, and I found the seats rather comfy.

Pricing information isn’t available yet, but we expect to know more closer to the 2025 Tiguan’s production debut date next summer. Stay tuned.

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