2025 Volkswagen Tiguan First Drive Review: Increased Luxury, Diminished Character

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      The second-generation Volkswagen Tiguan achieved significant success in North America, quickly establishing itself as the brand’s leading model. Its appealing design, upscale yet thoughtfully crafted interior, and Golf-like driving dynamics contributed to its popularity in the crossover segment. It was impressive enough to make its way into my own driveway; I owned a 2018 Tiguan for almost four years and thoroughly enjoyed it, as it felt like a larger version of the Mk 7 Golf in all the best ways. Therefore, I was quite eager to test the new, third-generation 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan upon receiving the invitation.

      As VW's top-selling model, the company needs to excel with this third-generation Tiguan. They made bold changes. While the exterior still retains its Tiguan identity, it features a different appearance with larger wheels and a more aggressive front design. Inside, the cabin looks significantly more upscale, boasting an attractive design, plenty of ambient lighting that customers requested, and an impressively large infotainment display.

      Volkswagen has also added luxury elements, including options like exclusive massaging seats. However, this infusion of luxury and sophistication may have muted some of the charm that attracted customers like me to the second-generation model.

      Although it’s not unattractive, I personally struggle to connect with the design of the new Tiguan. Its swooping, flashy appearance, especially with the illuminated front and rear badges available in the SEL R-Line trim, seems to rely on a large, darkened front grille as a substitute for actual character. Sometimes, simplicity is best, and this new Tiguan comes off as overly complicated. I find the previous model much more visually appealing and believe it will age more gracefully.

      The interior has its strengths and weaknesses. Visually, it impresses, showcasing stunning seats with a diamond-stitch pattern, even in the base cloth version, and they provide excellent comfort. This is one aspect where the new model surpasses its predecessor, as the base leatherette seats in my Tiguan SE were too firm and flat. The door panels now feature more premium materials, such as stitched leather, and the dashboard looks fantastic, especially with optional authentic American Oak trim. However, some materials feel cheaper compared to the old model, like the door grab handles and certain components of the center console. On a positive note, I appreciate the sliding armrest borrowed from the GTI.

      VW has addressed many usability concerns, eliminating the previous haptic touch buttons on the steering wheel in favor of traditional buttons. The climate control sliders are now backlit, although they remain cumbersome to use, and you can now experience frustration with them even at night. The touchscreen infotainment system, while still complex, has received a new user interface that includes fixed shortcuts for climate and vehicle settings.

      However, these updates come with their own set of annoyances. VW replaced the old console-mounted shift lever, which was nearly perfect, with the ID 4’s cumbersome column-mounted electronic shifter that requires twisting to engage drive or reverse. This new shifter feels and looks cheap, and its operation is frustrating. I understand that it creates more center console space, but I'd prefer a better shift lever over an extra cubby that’s not particularly useful. The drawbacks of the new shifter are compounded by the merging of wiper controls into the left turn signal stalk, making it more confusing to use. VW claims this was done for consistency with the ID 4 and ID Buzz, but those models are not the right standards for interior ergonomics. It’s frustrating to see VW move further away from the excellent ergonomics achieved in the Mk 7 Golf generation in the name of “brand familiarity.”

      Fortunately, the driving dynamics of the new Tiguan are still quite similar to those of the previous version. However, the steering isn’t as refined. I maintain that the second-generation Tiguan has the best steering of any crossover I’ve driven, and I chose to own one for that very reason. This new model comes close, offering good on-center feel and reasonable weight, but it lacks the connected sensation and spirited character of its predecessor. That said, the front end grips well, and the handling responsiveness exceeds what you might expect from a compact crossover. This tester was equipped with 20-inch wheels and Pirelli Scorpion tires, which might lead someone to believe they were Michelin Pilot Sport 4Ses based on their performance.

      Another improvement is the ride quality. Despite its larger wheels and 40-profile tires, this new Tiguan rides surprisingly well. While Montana has some beautiful, winding mountain roads, the potholes can be treacherous, yet even unavoidable ones are handled gracefully. The ride and handling balance has been well-calibrated for the average driver; it may not be as engaging as the outgoing model, but it offers greater comfort—a tradeoff that 90% of customers are