VW Gets Serious With 2025 Tiguan

Volkswagen of America is getting serious about the compact crossover category, one of the hottest, most important segments in the U.S. market, with a redesigned 2025 Tiguan CUV revealed at the Los Angeles auto show. At least for now, though, it is going to compete without a hybrid version that has become de rigueur in the category.

Hybrid versions of the Tiguan and Atlas SUVs, though, are on the way to the U.S. market, say VW executives at a roundtable interview. VW Brand CEO Thomas Schafer says that the company's customers and dealers are both asking for hybrids "loud and clear." The hybrid versions will likely be traditional hybrids rather than plug-in hybrids.

The Tiguan, which has become VW’s best-selling nameplate, is fully redesigned on the MQB Evo front-engine platform with all-new sheet metal, a shorter rear overhang and a slight wheelbase increase. The cramped third row in today’s model is gone, more power is dialed in and it gets VW’s much-improved telematics system.

Under the hood is a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cyl. producing 201 hp, up 17 horses from the current model. Final EPA fuel economy for the new model is pending, but the company says reduced curb weight will improve the somewhat uncompetitive current model’s 24/31 mpg (10.2-7.6 L/100 km) city/highway. Toyota, Honda, Ford, Hyundai, Kia and Mazda all offer hybrid CUVs that achieve significantly better fuel economy.

VW has announced the introduction of a plug-in hybrid version of the Tiguan for the European market. The latest generation, different from the version sold in North America, includes PHEV powertrains offering an electric-only range of up to 62 miles (100 km) based on the European WLTP cycle.

VW introduced the Tiguan to the U.S. market in 2008 as a 2009 model. It was the automaker’s first CUV, but it was an export from Germany and was too small for the U.S. market and priced too high for the segment. The second-generation Tiguan was introduced to North America in the 2018 model year designed for the U.S., offering a longer wheelbase to accommodate a third row.

Manufactured at the automaker’s Puebla, Mexico, plant, VW hopes the new version can break 100,000 sales. The current model posted 76,000 sales in 2023 and more than 73,000 through October this year, according to Wards Intelligence data, so that mark might be within reach with a new model. Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V each sell over 300,000 units annually.

The outgoing Tiguan’s touch-sensitive controls and infotainment system is not intuitive to the point of being distracting to use while driving. The new infotainment system in the 2025 model, a 10.25-in. (26-cm) Digital Cockpit Pro system, is shared with the ID. Buzz. Options for upmarket trims include a head-up display, 15-in. (38-cm) infotainment screen, 10- or 30-color ambient lighting and a premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

The exterior design is evolved with a more powerful nose than the outgoing model, as well as slimmer headlights and an available LED light bar and illuminated logo that creates a distinctive light signature. At the rear, the roofline is extended by a spoiler that helps to optimize aerodynamics.

Pricing has not been announced, but it likely will be close to today’s model range of $28,880 to $38,880. The company has not announced the month it will go on sale.