Pricier 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan Ups Standard Safety Tech, Shortens Warranty

Volkswagen’s Tiguan compact SUV will cost $675 more for the 2020 base S model with front-wheel drive. That means a Tiguan entry-level price of $25,695 including $1,020 destination, which is $25 higher for 2020.

Related: What’s the Best Compact SUV of 2019?

But shoppers considering the virtually unchanged 2020 Tiguan S versus a 2019 Tiguan still available will have to do some math to see which would be the better deal for them. The 2020 base model has additional standard safety tech: a front collision system with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, and blind spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert. Those features were part of an optional $450 Driver Assistance Package for 2019, so the effective 2020 base price increase is $225.

The 2020 also adds new free scheduled maintenance for two years or 20,000 miles, but it cuts the warranty coverage (as for all 2020 VWs) from the former six years/72,000 miles to four years/50,000 miles. Add it all up and it looks like if you plan to buy and keep a Tiguan, a 2019 might be a better deal, particularly if you can get a discount on the closeout 2019. But if you plan to lease, you could be dollars ahead with the standard safety tech and free maintenance since the new warranty still will cover the lease term.

The Tiguan is a two-time winner of Cars.com comparison testing of compact SUVs, and other changes for 2020 are minor. There now will be five trim levels (instead of seven), and all get the newest-generation VW Car-Net connectivity system and Wi-Fi hot spot capability (with subscription). Wireless charging is standard starting with the second-level SE trim. A new SE R-Line Black trim level adds some features and gets more aggressive R-Line appearance bits from the top SEL Premium R-Line trim, which no longer is offered without the R-Line package. The SEL trim level adds a heated steering wheel, auto-dimming rearview mirror and rain-sensing wipers, but it’s no longer offered in R-Line form.

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• Volkswagen Ups Tech, Safety Features for 2020
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Pricing also is higher for those middle Tiguan trim levels. The 2020 SE starts at $28,115 (all prices include destination), up $425 from 2019, and the new SE R-Line Black will start at $31,315. The SEL starting price is $33,265, up $475. The top-of-the-line SEL Premium R-Line gets a $75 price cut to start at $39,815, but the cheaper SEL Premium without the R-Line package ($38,190 for 2019) is no longer offered. All-wheel drive is available on all trim levels — it is $1,300, unchanged for 2020, and is standard on the SEL Premium R-Line.

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