The Tiguan is Volkswagen's entrant in the compact class and best-selling vehicle, competing against rivals that include the Honda CR-V, the Mazda CX-50, and the Toyota RAV4. For 2025, it receives a full redesign to kick off its third generation and promises a more luxurious cabin, new tech features, and improved efficiency.
2025 Volkswagen Tiguan Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan
The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan receives a complete makeover, with revised styling inside and out. It continues with a similar four-cylinder engine and is built on an evolution of the previous platform, though this time around, the Tiguan only has two rows of seats. The biggest changes happen on the inside, with significantly improved materials and a new Atmosphere feature that bathes the cabin in light and sound.
Design
The new 2025 Tiguan maintains its overall size and shape, but it's the details that give it a more modern appearance. The grille and headlights are narrower, mimicking the front fascia of the all-electric ID.4, while an optional illuminated grille bar helps it stand out from the crowd. The fenders are more squared-off than before, giving the Tiguan a slightly more angular and broad-shouldered style. Those fenders are also filled with new and larger 19- and 20-inch wheels.
Around back, the Tiguan's taillights are now joined by a single light bar. A hint of the front grille is echoed in the rear bumper, and up top, a larger roof spoiler gives this SUV a sportier demeanor.
Powertrain
Under the hood of the 2025 Tiguan is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that is similar to the last generation's. Power jumps from 184 horsepower to 201, and overall, the vehicle weighs about 170 pounds less. Both of these should contribute to better fuel economy and acceleration, though official EPA figures are not yet available. The previous Tiguan accelerated to 60 mph in about nine seconds, and we expect this new model to be a few tenths of a second quicker. We expect it will also come standard as front-wheel-drive (FWD), with all-wheel-drive (AWD) available as an option.
Interior
The new cockpit features a touchscreen that looks identical to the one found in the ID.4 and ID.Buzz, but the instrument panel is integrated into the dashboard for a cleaner and more intentional look. The gear selector has been moved to the steering column to free up more space in the center console, and materials are noticeably nicer than before.
There are now more soft-touch materials that blend well with genuine wood trim, creating a warmer and more inviting cabin. VW dips its toes into luxury territory by offering premium leather upholstery, massaging front seats, and the new Atmosphere feature that combines the interior ambient lighting and curated music to create an environment to match your mood. It's similar to Mercedes-Benz' Energizing Comfort system, and much like that option, it seems like a novelty that may wear off with time.
Technology
All 2025 Tiguans come standard with a 10.25 digital instrument panel, a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a wireless charging pad. Unfortunately, VW's frustrating capacitive touch controls are placed at the bottom of the touchscreen and handle temperature and volume. Thankfully, there's a new dial controller on the center console that can also adjust the volume, as well as select drive modes and Atmosphere themes. Options include a 15-inch touchscreen, a head-up display, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.
Safety
All 2025 Tiguan models come with VW’s IQ.DRIVE driver-assistance features that include frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, parking sensors, and a safe passenger exit system. A semi-automated parking system is available as an option. The new Tiguan also adds further protection in the form of driver knee, center, and rear passenger side airbags.
Pricing and Release Date
The new Tiguan will start showing up in dealerships in the summer of 2025, and we expect pricing to remain in the $30,000 to $40,000 range. This will keep it competitive against the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, while the Mazda CX-50 should be slightly more expensive and the Kia Sportage should be the affordable alternative.