It's not a sports car. It's a high ride with tons of room, great pick up on the high, the handling of lower end Audi, no size issues for parking and with conservative styling that wont look outdated in three 3 all for about $30k (at time of this post). All with the VW stamp. It's a great car.
The Wife and I grabbed one (SE with Golden Oak interior) about 2 weeks ago.. so far she loves! I feel like it takes it a bit long for it to get up to speed, but I drive a MK6R (and that's what I'm used to). We thought we'd be giving it back after the lease, but with the 6/72 warranty and the fact that she likes it enough, it might keep us in it for the long haul.
MrPhaetonX, we just purchased our silk blue Tiguan S on Monday and we are fully delighted with it. Maybe it's because I'm old, but all this talk about the car not having enough oomph, or getting poor mileage just doesn't seem to reflect the reality that we see with ours. Plus, in my view, it's the best looking small SUV on the planet. I just cannot like the looks of the Hondas, Mazdas, the Toyotas, the Nissans, the Kias, the Hyundais - they're trying to all accomplish the same look with swoopy, curvy lines and they just end up being cluttered and ugly. This design, on the other hand, is timeless, graceful, functional, clean. My father has a new Honda CR-V that my wife and I rode in recently prior to our purchase and I must say, I was not impressed how it rode, the comfort level, or the quality. And everyone has one. The Tiguan S at least, is far less money ($24K is what we paid) and is seldom seen on the roads of Oregon right now, and in my view, blows away the CR-V. Maybe it's not as quick, but how fast do you need to go? The Tiguan gets up to speed more than adequately and I suspect, once we take a long road trip, in reality will exceed the fuel mileage of the Honda. My Golf gets 47 mpg on the highway, exceeding EPA estimates by 11 mpg. I suspect this Tiguan will achieve in the low 30's easily on road trips. Anyway, we just couldn't be happier and we love the color!
Been driving VW for 20 yrs . 4 GTI’s into the Tiguan in 2012 when I became a family man ! Car seat pretty tight in GTI Just traded a 2015 Tiguan for the 2018 a few days ago ! It’s growing on me . Less power , slower take off ! Interior is definitely better ! More room in cargo area a plus ! More plush , feels a bit more classy. Dash is designed a lot better as well . Get a lot more gas for the money as well ! Been buying premium for 20 yrs on the 2.0 T All in all a better ride than the 2015 Tiguan Nice job on the review! Thank you sir
Have you experienced any rattling issues? I am debating if I should purchase a 2018 Tiguan, but I see a huge amount of individuals complaining about this noise.
Just got mine a couple weeks ago. Everything you said about the acceleration is on point. The way it shifts when you are taking off from a stop makes it feel like it doesn’t know what it’s trying to do. Other than that, I love it so far. Great review, thank you!
I have had mine for 4 months now and love it. I had a 13 Passat and traded for the Tiguan. I got the SEL model. It could have more power on takeoff and the stop start feature is hard to get used to. One thing that bugs me is that it does not have the auto dim rear view mirror. You would think for $35K it would have that. Mine also has the third row seat and it is very tiny, small kids only. Great review.
Thanks. I actually am mixed on auto dim or “anti dazzle” as VW calls it. (I love saying that phrase. The newer ones may be better but before you couldn’t tint the back window because the light sensor would stop working right.
HumbleMechanic, love all your videos, been following your "Tiguan-story"! Agree, the post-2016 European Mk2 Short-Wheel-Base Tiguans addressed some of your Mk1 issues - roomier, quieter, very refined, much better seats, adjustable arm rest! In the UK, we test drove a 2017 7-speed DSG TDI 4Motion SWB SEL for a week, and it was very smooth and effortless. And gave up to 50mpg on a run. Interesting you've had to lay up your Mk1 due to lease mileage, and you're now getting a truck! Great videos, many thanks.
Still usefull in 2022 just bought a 2018, went from a ford escape 2013 to that, really loving it so far the only big downside is the arm rest :( coming from a big 6"5 guy gonna try to stick something on top of it
I test drove two of these today and both had jerky shifts from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd. They were both SEL versions with 219 and 163 miles on the odometer (dealer lot cars). I also observed excessive vibrations in the cabin while the engine was warming up ( we were in P and there was a visible headrest shake, on both of them). The V6 Atlas was better, no vibrations or shady gear shifts. +1 for the adjustable armrest
Your car reviews are really great. All things that I would notice or bug me if looking at a car. The mechanics of how things work play a big role when I buy a car.
Picked up a 2020 R line and that acceleration from the stop hasn’t changed. It’s like the trans starts in 2nd for a split second then feels like it’s in 1st. Waiting for the 2021 or 2022. Next Tiguan is going to put out over 300hp. Then the Tiguan would truly feel complete to me.
Good comparative review between the two generations. I have a 2013 SE which I love but smaller cargo and fuel consumption are the nit picky things I'm not crazy about.
I am in stop and go traffic for 26 miles on the way home from work, I can't imagine the wear and tear on the engine with that type of driving. I am not impressed with that feature. Great review, thank you.
I drive a stick and I just leave some buffer space and roll at 5 - 10 MPH. 1st gear clutch engaged Less stopping and more going. Though not to fast that's for sure.
My wife and I just leased a 2021 Tiguan and we like it. A lot of the stuff you mentioned I notice, and also don’t like: the arm rest, the start stop, and the lack of power. But all in all we both like it.
We purchased our new 2018 Tiguan in December 2017 after trading in out 2014 TDI Golf Wagen and love it. I do agree about the arm rest, It should be adjustable.
That was a good review. I get why a lot of people really prefer the new Tiguan... it's more practical. Though I had a chance to compare the "Big-wuan" to the Limited a couple of years ago and found the old style was just more fun to drive.
As always, a good video review, Charles. I own one of these newer Tiguans and my wife and I like it a lot. Yes, she hates the engine shut off at stops, and the fingerprint stains on the digital display are annoying, but overall this is a good daily driver, people hauler and vacation car, in my opinion. Although some may hate that it is somewhat under powered, I have found it surprisingly strong enough to pull an 800 lb trailer and be able to merge with highway traffic despite the added load. Even a few 6% grade mountain roadways did little to slow me from keeping a safe 60 mph speed in traffic. To boot, I still got an average 26 mpg on the highway hauling that trailer from California to Oklahoma.
There’s a fix for the annoying start stop now! There’s a harness that plugs in between the button and OEM harness that makes the auto start stop be off at start. I’m about to order one.
Drove my friends Tiguan (2012ish?) just before he got rid of it, handled like a minivan. He traded it in for an A3 and now he complains it's too small and he wants a Q5. The joys of leasing. SMH I just can't wait to see the prices on the TDIs when they flood the market after getting fixed.
We have a 2018 base model Tiguan, now almost a year old since purchase. Adding to the comments of Charles, I can say that in my real world experience so far, my MGP has far exceeded what Charles had mentioned in the VID. My best, on a long 1200 mile trip recently was an average right around 35 MPG. Granted, this is only a 2 wheel drive vehicle, but I would think the 4-motion that Charles was reviewing should get no worse than 4 MGP less than this model. The other features I like about this VW is good visibility in front and back; no big pillars to block your side view. I agree with all the small negatives that Charles mentions, with one more: the lack of heated seats. Heated seats have been around for the longest time and not a new technology. It should be a standard in all vehicles, not just in the upscale trims levels.
Heated seats should be standard on all cars. I like my buns warm. LOL I think they have added that to the trim on the newer models. Glad to hear the MPG is better than I saw.
Your average of 35 mpg though is not the "norm" for this car though and especially not for one with AWD. If your doing 60mph on a long trip with no hills and no a/c on? I believe ya... Question is in the year you have owned it has it been in the shop yet? Have you had any problems? These are things people want to know because honestly? MPG's is just way to subjective.
Is it true that this car costs more in repairs and maintenance down the line as compared to something like the rav4. I really like the vw and vw are good cars I’m just unsure about the reliability. Help me out thanks
Cristy I own a 2019 Jetta SEl and a 2018 Tiguan SE and so far we love them both. I hear people bring up the maintenance complaint alot and I feel it is unwarranted. Pretty much any new car that needs repairs is not going to be cheap due to electronics and computers. VW has addressed two of these concerns. The VW's use all synthetic oil so you only need to change the oil every 10,000 miles vs 3K or 5k with other cars. The second thing VW did was by providing a 6 year 72,000 bumper to bumper warranty on every 2018 and newer VW. So should there be any repairs they will be covered. The warranty is leaps and bounds above Toyota and Honda, who still offer only a 3 year 36,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. When looking at cars I compared VW, Honda, and Toyota and found VW to have the best quality of finish and fit. VW's are built to a higher quality and it shows.
Thank you of an honest review of the new Tiguan. I took three different Tiguan’s on test drives. I couldn’t get over the weirdness of the takeoffs from a stop. It was enough to ruin my opinion of the suv. It really needs more power too. Sadly, I’ll be looking to a different brand.
I had to turn in my leased 2016 Tiguan which was the basic version that had heated seats and keyless entry which are a requirement for me in Colorado. I'm not a big fan of the 2018 even though I got it. The sound of growling in the first two gears drives me nuts. So I am glad you mentioned it. I'm not crazy! I miss the covered cup holders, cubbies and card holders of the 2016 and the interior color choices. I don't like dark interiors and the new grey interior is really only the seats so when you drop something you still can't find it. I didn't need the extra space in the 2018and actually liked the size of the 2016. However, the Tiguan Limited, which is the same as the earlier versions, is VERY limited. I do like the safety features of the 2018 and the handling, so I guess I shouldn't be so picky. Still makes me cranky...
That harshness on tip in throttle is because of the 2 profile cam lobes. Put it into sport and the Valve overlap and lift are better and feels like the old Tiguan engine power. They changed the stroke cycle when in non sport mode for fuel economy #’s
Ahhh, noo. Apr listed tune is for european Tiguans with other engine code. American tiguans are less powerful and no tune yet from Apr. Higher compression engine makes gains harder to achieve only via software.
Currently cross shopping this against the current CR-V for my wife. My wife owned a 2010 CR-V that was totaled in an accident and likes her Hondas but she likes my GTI so she's considering the Tiguan. We'll have to see how they stack up.
I've just bought a brand new R line 2.0 2w/4w tiguan and it's the only car I've owned that when I hit the lock button on the key I have to look back at her after walking away. She stunning. Stop moaning about this car, it's not so bad!
My wife's £44,000 2017 Tiguan 190ps 4 Motion R-Line has a horrendous metallic grating noise emanating from the drive train, which has been evident from new. After lengthy investigations lasting several weeks both VW and the selling dealer have described the aforementioned ‘noise’ as a ‘characteristic’ and ‘normal DSG operation noise’ However are refusing to declare why the noise is evident on some cars but not on others, and also which component the noise is emanating from!......something to hide?..... seriously not Volkswagen surely?!!!🤔 I have during the past 8 years spent in excess of £250,00 on VAG products so you could guess that I am a valuable customer?....LOYALTY counts for NOTHING with VW!....when they have your money they are simply not interested!! Unfortunately and due to VW’s reluctance to resolve my wife’s concerns with her Tiguan I have been left with no alternative but to appoint a independent DEKRA automotive engineer who has contrary to VW and the selling dealers opinion of the noise being ‘normal operation’ and a ‘characteristic’ has concluded there is a terminal drivetrain defect! I have test driven 4 Tiguan's for comparison purposes and out of 4, three exhibited varying degrees of noise so there is no consistency but apparently quite a few cars affected, some customers have contacted me from as far a field as Australia and Iceland! I have uploaded a video to you tube so have a listen see if you think it is acceptable!.........th-cam.com/video/O96j_x9M3fk/w-d-xo.html
Was happy to see you put this up as it is very good timing. Just got my wife a 2018 Q3 last week, the little differences between it and the Tiguan are interesting. Doesn't have the shut off when you stop thing, does have the adjustable armrest (I have been annoyed if it didn't lol) and I did notice the odd little thing on takeoff that you mentioned. She likes it so that's all that matters although I might have to sneak a tune into it at some point.
I recently traded my 09 tiguan . Yes I miss it and probably should have kept it. The handling was great and the seats were very comfortable so I have no idea what he's talking about unless his car had different seats to mine.
@ 7:00 The rear floor in our 2018 is adjustable and drops down 3-4". The portion that drops down is the same size as the "Car-Go" mat. That is my guess, but yeah there could have been a more elegant cover.
Power problem is gone now, all 2018-2020 Tiguan got ECM/TCM recalled and now it feels like VW. Great running car now, before it has been very sluggish.
Just rewatched this after I leased a 2018 tiguan S. I would agree on pretty much all the points you made good and bad. I too have noticed the first shift being a bit rough, hope there may be a factory fix down the line. I'm trying to keep the warranty so it is hard for me right now to not through a tune on it to get the full potential out of the motor.
The Tiguan's incompatible armrest was the number one reason why I passed on it. There was no way to find that posture "sweet spot" while cruising, being that the arm rest is about 4" too low.
After I got my carbon cleaned out, my 2013 is averaging 29.2 mpg, and on shorter trip I can get up to 35.4. Did VW do anything to this engine to fix carbon buildup?
Not a fan of power lift gates. Too many times I've been standing behind the car in the pouring rain with a cart full of groceries...waiting for it to slowly open. Not to mention the cost of repair when (not if) it eventually stops working and has to be replaced. At least when those little gas struts wear out, they're fairly cheap to buy and quick to install. I'm already dreading the day when there's nothing else on the market.
No prob. I'm not a fan of those either...and while they DO save gas in the standardized lab tests the EPA uses, they don't show much difference in the real world, unless you're usually idling for extended periods of time every day. The best that they can be said to do is reduce emissions in the cities a little.
Yeah, the armrest is disappointing. I did not realize this until I bought the car and did first longer ride where i usually get my right elbow on the armrest. All my previous cars I was able to do that whilst still reaching the wheel.
I own a 2020 Tiguan. And definitely does the same thing from a stop and accelerating, a lot of people that been in my car say it shifts gears as if it was a standard as you can feel the hard pull don’t know if that normal or not 🤷♂️
Humble, you are on the money with the acceleration from 1st to 2nd then 3rd. I just bought the SE, got it last Thursday. I like the car, but its really taking a lot to get used to its pick up.
The weird shift is how they pass the emissions test! Not illegal or unethical just the way they have to configure the engine transmission interface to meet the regulations. I was in the auto industry for 7 years back in the 80s and it was the same then.
I test drove two of these and you are completely right about the weird acceleration and shifting. Looks nice, but we got an Atlas with the 2.0 instead. That one does not have the same issue at all and engine feels much stronger at all revs, while getting the same mileage. Should have put that version of the Tsi in the Tiguan too.
Do you think the start stop feature will adversely affect engine components over time? I know we all start and stop cars but i thought I heard somewhere start and stop (stop start?) feature hurts the turbo.
No Adjustable Armrest is a big concern for me also. Why would they leave that out? I thought it was a vw-thing that armrest. Bad move on the new tiguan, VW. Overal its a great car
Took the 2018 Tiguan on an extended all day drive. At current incentives it is the best deal on the market. I found acceleration at 6000 feet to be reasonable esp. when figuring the price to any turbo competition. My main complaint is that the suspension is too stiff. It is tuned for street performance and not dirt. I wish it was softer. It is really a hard ride on washboard roads. On pavement every pothole is felt. Reducing the tire pressure from 41 to 36psi helped, but I'm thinking that is not a solution. My comparison is my 2015 Passat which rides much smoother on and off pavement, but only has 5.5" of ground clearance. My back condition requires me to have a soft ride so I had to say no to the Tiguan even though I really like it. I am interested in hearing from owners, on how the Tiguan works for them off road and what they think of the suspension stiffness. I have only seen one review (TestDrivenTV) where this was mentioned.
Watch lots of your videos. I am in a dilemma. My daily is a 2006 golf TDI. Just sold my Urs4 this summer. Planning on keeping my TDI for commutes. Hopefully it lasts another 4 years until I retire lol. It has 292000 miles. It replaced a 2001 Jetta TDI with 430000miles. I do lots of mileage and looked at Alltrack, sportwagen 4 motion. Dealer threw me a curve ball as towing with a DSG is not recommended. I tow a small boat, 4x8 trailer with a 4 wheeler in it. Not even 2000 lbs for both. So a Tiguan was suggested. Tiggy seems nice. Even looked at R line as a possibility. I guess my concern is not to lose the car feel and feel like I am driving a U-Haul.
Old Tiguan was built on Passat platform. I also here and see so much issues with these mqb tiguan. Specifically water. In all sorts of places. The antenna, windows, window actuators leaking and of course because it wouldn't be a vw without leaky sunroof. I like my 2017 Tiguan s with no sun roof. It's still has auto headlights, wipers, dimming mirror, heated leatherette, and Android auto. The important stuff. Oh and 4 motion ;) and don't forget all that soft touch interior
Love my '19 sel premium 4motion...❤😊 Prior to this, my wife and I had a '17 hyundai santa fe sport... The hyundai had more power and slightly more elbow room...the tiguan has adequate power and better gas mileage...the volkswagen is also slightly easier to manuever...
Still prefer the 1st gen Tiguan 2009 4motion styling. But your right they don't feel like a vw. I lowered mine just a bit with factory vw Passat 4motion sport springs ( who takes these things off-road anyway.) and replaced the front large control arm bushings with the TTrs solid ones and now it's solid and crisp on the Rd. But doesn't beat you up like coilovers. Great vid, keep it up.
Shimon La Hée hey. 2009 Passat 3.6VR 4motion we salvaged for parts. Not sure it'll work but the transmission on the Tiguan has the option in coding. I'm installing it today if it works I'll let you know. Cheers
I think they are not making enough of the E golf in some places there are waiting list and I wonder why did they not put the Audi E Tron power train they have in the mk7 Golf GTE and the Passat GTE I love Volkswagen but I just don't understand why they are so slow to implement new power trains to substitute the missing Diesels.
Here in Europe it goes like this. 1.4 TSI with 125/150 bhp, 2.0 TSI with 180/220 bhp, 2.0 TDI 115/150/190/240 bhp. On paper diesel vs petrol are pretty much the same.
HumbleMechanic been rocking a 2012 dsg 177bhp 2.0 litter TDI for three months. The thing with being on a too low gear happened to me. It seems happy to cruise at as low as 1200-1300 rpm and if you ask for sudden acceleration it will lag a bit. The default drive mode is optimised for fuel economy and milder driving. You can get around this by being patient and accelerating softer or down shifting using the paddles before accelerating in force. You also have the sport mode that keeps the revs higher, shifts laters and it really comes alive. It is definelty not optimised for sportiness but rather for comfortable riding. I find the seats very comfortable. The space in the front is very good. The space in the back is amazing. I'm 1,9 metters tall and have plenty of knee space in the front or in the back. The steering is very nice for city driving and also for highway. I was recently on a 2600 kilometers ride and it used 6,2 litters per 100km driving economically across Bulgaria and Greece and back again. To me this is economical for a 1,7 tons all wheel drive car. Of course driving in the city I get 8-10 litters per 100 but the traffic is bad in the capital of Romania. I do no need the electric back door not the stop and start. It is definitely roomy for 2-4 persons but adding a third row of seats is meh. The size is bigger than a sedan but manageable in a crowded european city. You get a bigger car that you can still have room to park. In Europe space is sometimes not plentiful. I like the rounded vents even if they do no look as cool as I have two round vents for each one in the Tiguan 2, that I can set independently. To me the version one was too round, the version two is too blocky. The facelift is just right estetically.
I test drove the Tiguan, the interior is beautiful in every detail, I would fully agree the start of motion feels weird as there is a noticeable turbo lag or gear shift delay, once it moves all will be back to normal. I hope they bring a software update for the gear to make it maybe better and I think it is one of the best options of the segment. it was a good review thank you.
I lease a 2017 Tiguan, Wolfsburg edition. So hysterical you mention those round air vents, I hate them, they do little to control the direction of the air and I feel like they are poorly placed. I love the way the car drives, but my mpg is terrible, often under 20. My only other complaint, having driven an 08 Rabbit prior, is the turning radius on the Tiguan is a little wide, but obviously it’s a larger vehicle. Really it’s a great car overall. It handles SO WELL in rain and snow. It’s roomy, the back row seats are adjustable to expand the trunk size, and I love my heated seats. The giant ass sunroof is cool too. The touchscreen does not leave prints at all. Sometimes it is a little glitchy when plugging in my iphone tho. Love the backup cam. One thing I wish they would change is the color that the interior lights up. It’s missing the cool factor that the Rabbit had, but I guess it’s supposed to be a more mature car.
I know you like the new Tiguan but how do you feel about it being built in Mexico as the old one were built in Germany? This disappoints me as I feel better with a German built VW.
great review and information. Glad to see that round dash vents are gone and they kept the dash-top crap catcher. Interesting to hear about the initial launch issued with new 8speed transmission. I'm hoping VW provides recall and updates software. I use my power folding mirrors daily on my first-gen Tiguan. How about 2018 SEL premium model? I hope it's an "easy" option (not with package that has lots of extra zeros...). Interesting to hear the comment that the sluggish gen1 transmission gear points result in lower MPG. I certainly would agree with the bad MPG assessment of gen1. I always thought this was done to keep interior volume down. Example: driving around in SPORT mode is much better but noticeable engine noise (in addition to shift/compression braking behavior that is not appropriate for getting the groceries). I have checked with aftermarket options for shift-point changes but not had any luck. Also, totally agree with gen1 driver position comment. I've always felt the ANGLE of the steering wheel for my Tiguan is incorrect for a 6ft driver. For me -- the steering wheel pivots out of dash too HIGH. I'm only 6ft and have driver seat to floor. I could raise the seat to be in better angle with steering wheel but then head/hair too close ceiling headliner. I've just become used to it. I really do like to drive my '09 SEL. I'm waiting to see what Garrett, Neuspeed, and APR working on for the new drivetrain power ECU upgrade. Surely, we can get more horsepower out of the new drivetrain without creating a 2018 grenade!?!?
I really don't like the "normal" mode in my GTI either - it pretty much lives in sport mode unless I'm doing cross country with the kids in the back, then I'll drop it into normal after we get up to speed to keep things quieter and more civilized.
Humble appreciate the video as a persnickety car buyer and owner and also a former NIASE Master decades ago. I was considering this vehicle for the "spousal unit". But, man I think the wife will go with a Forester again. Or maybe Nissan Rogue Sport. She drives too much for a 10K/Yr mile value lease. The base Subaru are just 22K out the door on a good end of the month. And base cars have lots of goodies these days. I'm Choking on 36K for a Compact SUV. Heimlich !!! Thanks again, - Sandy
Sitting here watching the video and said....HEY, THAT'S FUQUAY-VARINA, NC! Nice vid. Thanks! Would have liked to hear more about the safety features and the available options like surround camera, etc. Understand your vehicle may not have had them, but could help someone trying to decide between trim levels
I was wondering if you were driving around downtown Cary-Durhamite here! I really like this car and am doing the research on it now. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Got a 2018 Tiguan S on Friday 7/13/18 3 days ago and I really like it overall. Husband, too... miss my Jetta but very excited to have the Tiger Iguana. ;) great evaluation of the car, Mr. Humble Mechanic.. I agree with you on every point, especially the miniature stutter at take-off.. I think I'll get used to it b/c it's so minor. Thanks!
HumbleMechanic not sure on the details, but one was rod knocking really bad with only 3k miles. I think it was something to do with the oil cooler / oil mixing with coolant. I'm clearly not a tech lol
I bet DSG failures far outweigh engine failures?! My wife purchased a 2017 R-line 190ps TDi 4 Motion which has had a horrendous metallic grating noise emanating from the drivetrain from new. VW have commented that the noise is a ‘characteristic’ which I will not accept. At this present time I am in dispute with the selling dealer and VW after an independent engineer that I appointed confirmed the grating noise is unacceptable and likely to worsen with added mileage!
Ben DSG gearboxes have a poor history of being troublesome in particular the dry clutch type, just google it! The type used in my wife’s 2017 Mk2 Tiguan is the ‘DQ500’ 7 speed wet clutch which is the latest incarnation of the DSG used in high torque applications. However there has been several reports of failures in the U.K. of this gearbox notably on Tiguan variants. I am also aware of failures of this same gearbox in Audi Q3’s and Q5’s I note your reply inferring regular servicing. In response I can confirm that in the UK the DQ500 is a sealed unit requiring no servicing but even if servicing was possible my wife’s Tiguan would not be due any oil changes at 2,500 miles! There does appear to be an issue with this gearbox at a particular time of manufacture as I have received information from owners as far afield as Australia and Iceland of similarly noisy gearboxes on 2017 Tiguan built around Dec/Jan/Feb 2017.
I checked out a Tiguan last month and immediately wanted to trade in my '14 but I also noticed the armrest not ratcheting or sliding forward and as funny as it sounds I said to the sales guy where are the ticket/ card holders? I kind of forgot about how much I enjoy those two little things but that Dark Moss Green with Oak two tone is damn nice to look at.
Great review. Like I said it is nice of your local dealership to let you have a car for a review. Was this the same dealer you worked for? You talked about the ECO start/stop and that it dosent have a lag upon restart and it defaults to the on mode when you restart the car. On Mercedes-Benz around the 2013 MY I noticed the car had a delay upon restart Once the transmission was connected to the engine the car would buck. Also the delay would cause drivers to think you did not see the light turn green. Also a few years ago I had a Skoda as a rental in Germany and I noticed a delay upon restart as well as the bucking. I am sure the technology has changed since but in my view the technology has more or less stayed the same. But like VW, the Skoda would turn on the ECO system when restarting the car. Funny how Audi says you can turn off the ECO system and the system will remain off when you restart the car.
Thank you for the video. I am mostly agree with you on new Tiguan pros and cons. I own 2019 SE, could not afford SEL. Overall I like my Tiguan. What I do not like is Star/Stop option. What I hate most is fake engine noise (surprised you did not mention it ) when accelerate from gear 1, 2, 3. According to other people reviews it is Soundaktor. I bought OBDeleven in hope to disable it - no way, app stated Not Supported. I sent several emails to OBDeleven support - one way ticket. I stopped at my local VW dealer - they never heard of Soundaktor and advised to book an appointment, funny. Also SUV made in Mexico, :(, and that explains 5 years/60,000 miles manufacture warranty.
The initial stumbling is probably the results of these learning transmissions. I've notice in both my 2014 Ram with the ZF 8speed and my current 2017 Tacoma that under 5k miles both the transmissions seemed "lost" on what exactly I wanted them to do at certain times.
Thanks for the review, My wife owned 2 of the last generation Tiguan and she likes them better than the Lexus NX she now drives and she has been at the VW dealer to look at the new one. What she would like next is the T-Roc that may not cone to Canada.
Serge Vivier My wife's £44,000 2017 Tiguan 190ps 4 Motion R-Line has a horrendous metallic grating noise emanating from the drive train, which has been evident from new. After lengthy investigations lasting several weeks both VW and the selling dealer have described the aforementioned ‘noise’ as a ‘characteristic’ and ‘normal DSG operation noise’ However are refusing to declare why the noise is evident on some cars but not on others, and also which component the noise is emanating from!......something to hide?..... seriously not Volkswagen surely?!!!🤔 I have during the past 8 years spent in excess of £250,00 on VAG products so you could guess that I am a valuable customer?....LOYALTY counts for NOTHING with VW!....when they have your money they are simply not interested!! Unfortunately and due to VW’s reluctance to resolve my wife’s concerns with her Tiguan I have been left with no alternative but to appoint a independent DEKRA automotive engineer who has contrary to VW and the selling dealers opinion of the noise being ‘normal operation’ and a ‘characteristic’ has concluded there is a terminal drivetrain defect! I have test driven 4 Tiguan's for comparison purposes and out of 4, three exhibited varying degrees of noise so there is no consistency but apparently quite a few cars affected, some customers have contacted me from as far a field as Australia and Iceland! I have uploaded a video to you tube so have a listen see if you think it is acceptable!.........th-cam.com/video/O96j_x9M3fk/w-d-xo.html
mine sounds like there's pistons and valves banging together but vw says thats normal obviously. im sure after my warranty expires it wont be normal anymore though.
I remember commenting on your other video about our new car purchase. We wanted to get the Atlas but we opted for the Tiguan Comfortline. We like it but I wish it had a little more power. I'll have it tuned for power and suspension. Don't try to get in the back seats, they're for very small kids. Oh, another poor design oversight is the placement of the cargo bay light, tucked away in to the lower left corner and not overheard. If you have things covering it then you better have a flashlight ready.
HumbleMechanic Take a look and you will see it. I miss our Jetta TDI for the mileage but this Tiguan has already proven its worth for us: from swallowing up all of our camping gear to getting 8.5L/100KM with mostly city driving. I don't mind the start-stop system because it's better compared to other vehicles that I test drove but wife hates it. How much power can a tune give us because I want it done to make it a little more lively.
HumbleMechanic Thanks for getting back to me. I'll let you know when we tune it. I know it might void the warranty but we'll just do it. This car should've had around 220-250 HP for its size and a better compression ratio. Thanks for a great review.
Bambataa My dealer here in the US told me they have a performance tune package you can get on the Tiguan which maintains the warranty. Didn’t ask how much or what it entailed (not sure if it’s a reflash of the ECU or if it includes some performance parts)
Recently decided to replace our 2012 Kia Sorento and as a GTI owner gave serious consideration to both the Atlas and the Tiguan. The Atlas was simply too damn large and lacked major features (e.g. factory navigation) on any but the highest trim level (which is virtually unobtainable in the Pacific Northwest.) The Tiguan was a great size and I loved the handling, ride, etc. However, in any but "sport" mode it was a DOG. Why on earth VW didn't give it at least the pep of the Golf (or better yet, the GTI) I cannot understand. Sorry, VW. I would love to have made our a VW only household. But as it is, we replaced the 2012 Sorento with the 2018 model.
4:00 you’re right about the car lagging when accelerating from a stop 🤨 it DOES feel like a stickshift car at that moment. I live in the city and it bothers me a lot! 👎🏼
HumbleMechanic they fixed it with some part changes and different transmission software on a TSB... but to get the TSB done you gotta jump through some hoops...
The 1-2 shift in the tiguan is terrible, one of the reasons I didn't buy one. It feels like the shift happens too early, and drops the engine out of the torque range. It could have to do with the new Budack cycle engine, if it is running on that mode. The transmission does a good job keeping the engine revs low, but it is slow to respond when entering a moderate grade, and the engine stumbles a bit before downshifting. It takes 2 down shifts for the engine to make enough power to move out with authority, which is disappointing coming from a diesel.
Thanks for the review. Just a comment on the lag when starting in Drive. My wife's 2009 Jetta TDI/DSG wagon had that, and my 2006 A4 Quattro Avant has it. Its the #1 thing that I hate the most about the Audi. Its tried to kill me several times. Basically, if the DSG is in drive and the wheels turn a partial revolution, its already in second gear. When there's a break in traffic and you step on it, I believe it sends a message to Germany requesting permission to shift down. While waiting for an OK from HQ, the car actually SLOWS DOWN while you're pressing on the accelerator pedal. Seconds later (only seems like eternity) the car takes off. My car is an A4, but the A4 begat the Q5, and the new Tiguan is just a Q5 with a transverse engine. The DSG is great at speed ... basically anything over 10 MPH (except slight inclines where the old ones refuse to downshift unless you floor it ... I use "Tiptronic mode" until I'm on the highway). Buying another VW/Audi I'd avoid the aggravation and go with the manual. My Mk5 GTI had the same 2.0T as my A4, but 6-speed manual, and I loved driving that. So, looks like the "I'll pretend I'm ignoring you" mode of the DSG when you want to GO and it says NO is still there. Very annoying.
So glad you started to do these types of videos my friend. Can you do one of the new 2018 GTI because I was curious on whether to buy a 2017 sport or just the new 2018. That'd be great
HumbleMechanic oh okay yeah if they're not on the ground yeah! But when they do it would be an awesome comparison because I want to buy in the next year or so.
Wow, I stumbled across your review and to be honest you're one of the best auto reviewers I've seen. Excellent video. You earned a 👍& a subscriber.
Awesome. Thank you so much
Good review. I appreciate the "Nit-Picky" stuff. Most people miss those things when purchasing new vehicles. Earned a new Sub.
Thank you. 💙
I just bought a 2018 Tiguan. I just love it! Comfortable, drives nice and noiseless ( expcecpt for my wife looking a my speed).
HAHAH AWESOME!
@Saeed Alqemzi I got 23 mpg in city driving wit ten percent freeway driving, rest was stop and go.
Same here bro haha! GOD bless
It's not a sports car. It's a high ride with tons of room, great pick up on the high, the handling of lower end Audi, no size issues for parking and with conservative styling that wont look outdated in three 3 all for about $30k (at time of this post). All with the VW stamp. It's a great car.
Just picked up a 2018 SE 4mo today, LOVING IT so far thanks for the insight 👍
The back visor does cover the entire area. The back seats recline just a bit and fits snug against the visor. 6:54
Loved your review. Pretty accurate on the minor complaints. I just got the same model you tested. Couldn’t be any happier.
Thanks for the feedback. I think overall it's a pretty nice vehicle. I am happy because I am starting to see them on the road.
i just got mines yesterday, it came off a 3 year lease... i love it.. i dont think i'll ever go back to anything else..
The Wife and I grabbed one (SE with Golden Oak interior) about 2 weeks ago.. so far she loves! I feel like it takes it a bit long for it to get up to speed, but I drive a MK6R (and that's what I'm used to). We thought we'd be giving it back after the lease, but with the 6/72 warranty and the fact that she likes it enough, it might keep us in it for the long haul.
I bought one 2 days ago .....2018 Tiguan SE my family loves it !!
+MrPhaetonX sweet!
MrPhaetonX I just got mine yesterday
MrPhaetonX, we just purchased our silk blue Tiguan S on Monday and we are fully delighted with it. Maybe it's because I'm old, but all this talk about the car not having enough oomph, or getting poor mileage just doesn't seem to reflect the reality that we see with ours. Plus, in my view, it's the best looking small SUV on the planet. I just cannot like the looks of the Hondas, Mazdas, the Toyotas, the Nissans, the Kias, the Hyundais - they're trying to all accomplish the same look with swoopy, curvy lines and they just end up being cluttered and ugly. This design, on the other hand, is timeless, graceful, functional, clean. My father has a new Honda CR-V that my wife and I rode in recently prior to our purchase and I must say, I was not impressed how it rode, the comfort level, or the quality. And everyone has one. The Tiguan S at least, is far less money ($24K is what we paid) and is seldom seen on the roads of Oregon right now, and in my view, blows away the CR-V. Maybe it's not as quick, but how fast do you need to go? The Tiguan gets up to speed more than adequately and I suspect, once we take a long road trip, in reality will exceed the fuel mileage of the Honda. My Golf gets 47 mpg on the highway, exceeding EPA estimates by 11 mpg. I suspect this Tiguan will achieve in the low 30's easily on road trips. Anyway, we just couldn't be happier and we love the color!
I got mine just two days back 2 TDI great machine
@@happy85love qjmmSALlp
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I just recently got a new 2018 Tiguan, It can be a bit slow from a stop, but when getting up to highway speeds that extra torque really feels nice.
Been driving VW for 20 yrs .
4 GTI’s into the Tiguan in 2012 when I became a family man !
Car seat pretty tight in GTI
Just traded a 2015 Tiguan for the 2018 a few days ago !
It’s growing on me .
Less power , slower take off !
Interior is definitely better !
More room in cargo area a plus !
More plush , feels a bit more classy. Dash is designed a lot better as well .
Get a lot more gas for the money as well !
Been buying premium for 20 yrs on the 2.0 T
All in all a better ride than the 2015 Tiguan
Nice job on the review!
Thank you sir
Yea I feel like I would enjoy the new one too. We are turning ours in in a few weeks. I think a new one we would keep/
I'm giving up my mk6 gti for a 2018 tig. I'm gonna miss my GTI, but the Tig is what I need now.
Vee dub for life
Have you experienced any rattling issues? I am debating if I should purchase a 2018 Tiguan, but I see a huge amount of individuals complaining about this noise.
Just bought a Tiguan this past weekend previous vehicle was an Avalanche I thought it was gonna be too small for me but the new Tiguan is huge.
Are you having good luck with yours
Just got mine a couple weeks ago. Everything you said about the acceleration is on point. The way it shifts when you are taking off from a stop makes it feel like it doesn’t know what it’s trying to do. Other than that, I love it so far.
Great review, thank you!
There was an update to programming of transmission for 2018+ and the vehicle was transformed with throttle response and shifting etc.
Is this a dealer update? Or can my Mechanic do this?
I have had mine for 4 months now and love it. I had a 13 Passat and traded for the Tiguan. I got the SEL model. It could have more power on takeoff and the stop start feature is hard to get used to. One thing that bugs me is that it does not have the auto dim rear view mirror. You would think for $35K it would have that. Mine also has the third row seat and it is very tiny, small kids only. Great review.
Thanks. I actually am mixed on auto dim or “anti dazzle” as VW calls it. (I love saying that phrase.
The newer ones may be better but before you couldn’t tint the back window because the light sensor would stop working right.
HumbleMechanic, love all your videos, been following your "Tiguan-story"! Agree, the post-2016 European Mk2 Short-Wheel-Base Tiguans addressed some of your Mk1 issues - roomier, quieter, very refined, much better seats, adjustable arm rest! In the UK, we test drove a 2017 7-speed DSG TDI 4Motion SWB SEL for a week, and it was very smooth and effortless. And gave up to 50mpg on a run. Interesting you've had to lay up your Mk1 due to lease mileage, and you're now getting a truck! Great videos, many thanks.
Still usefull in 2022 just bought a 2018, went from a ford escape 2013 to that, really loving it so far the only big downside is the arm rest :( coming from a big 6"5 guy gonna try to stick something on top of it
I test drove two of these today and both had jerky shifts from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd. They were both SEL versions with 219 and 163 miles on the odometer (dealer lot cars). I also observed excessive vibrations in the cabin while the engine was warming up ( we were in P and there was a visible headrest shake, on both of them). The V6 Atlas was better, no vibrations or shady gear shifts.
+1 for the adjustable armrest
Your car reviews are really great. All things that I would notice or bug me if looking at a car. The mechanics of how things work play a big role when I buy a car.
Picked up a 2020 R line and that acceleration from the stop hasn’t changed. It’s like the trans starts in 2nd for a split second then feels like it’s in 1st. Waiting for the 2021 or 2022. Next Tiguan is going to put out over 300hp. Then the Tiguan would truly feel complete to me.
Good comparative review between the two generations. I have a 2013 SE which I love but smaller cargo and fuel consumption are the nit picky things I'm not crazy about.
Absolutely love my 2018 Tiguan.
Awesome.
Matty mo How is the fuel economy?
I am in stop and go traffic for 26 miles on the way home from work, I can't imagine the wear and tear on the engine with that type of driving. I am not impressed with that feature. Great review, thank you.
I drive a stick and I just leave some buffer space and roll at 5 - 10 MPH. 1st gear clutch engaged Less stopping and more going. Though not to fast that's for sure.
My wife and I just leased a 2021 Tiguan and we like it. A lot of the stuff you mentioned I notice, and also don’t like: the arm rest, the start stop, and the lack of power. But all in all we both like it.
We purchased our new 2018 Tiguan in December 2017 after trading in out 2014 TDI Golf Wagen and love it. I do agree about the arm rest, It should be adjustable.
Great review Charles, we just bought a 2020 Tig SE and so far it is a great vehicle.
That was a good review. I get why a lot of people really prefer the new Tiguan... it's more practical. Though I had a chance to compare the "Big-wuan" to the Limited a couple of years ago and found the old style was just more fun to drive.
As always, a good video review, Charles. I own one of these newer Tiguans and my wife and I like it a lot. Yes, she hates the engine shut off at stops, and the fingerprint stains on the digital display are annoying, but overall this is a good daily driver, people hauler and vacation car, in my opinion. Although some may hate that it is somewhat under powered, I have found it surprisingly strong enough to pull an 800 lb trailer and be able to merge with highway traffic despite the added load. Even a few 6% grade mountain roadways did little to slow me from keeping a safe 60 mph speed in traffic. To boot, I still got an average 26 mpg on the highway hauling that trailer from California to Oklahoma.
There’s a fix for the annoying start stop now! There’s a harness that plugs in between the button and OEM harness that makes the auto start stop be off at start. I’m about to order one.
Drove my friends Tiguan (2012ish?) just before he got rid of it, handled like a minivan. He traded it in for an A3 and now he complains it's too small and he wants a Q5. The joys of leasing. SMH
I just can't wait to see the prices on the TDIs when they flood the market after getting fixed.
I have been fascinated by that too. I can't believe the money people are paying for those cars.
We have a 2018 base model Tiguan, now almost a year old since purchase. Adding to the comments of Charles, I can say that in my real world experience so far, my MGP has far exceeded what Charles had mentioned in the VID. My best, on a long 1200 mile trip recently was an average right around 35 MPG. Granted, this is only a 2 wheel drive vehicle, but I would think the 4-motion that Charles was reviewing should get no worse than 4 MGP less than this model. The other features I like about this VW is good visibility in front and back; no big pillars to block your side view. I agree with all the small negatives that Charles mentions, with one more: the lack of heated seats. Heated seats have been around for the longest time and not a new technology. It should be a standard in all vehicles, not just in the upscale trims levels.
Heated seats should be standard on all cars. I like my buns warm. LOL I think they have added that to the trim on the newer models. Glad to hear the MPG is better than I saw.
Your average of 35 mpg though is not the "norm" for this car though and especially not for one with AWD. If your doing 60mph on a long trip with no hills and no a/c on? I believe ya... Question is in the year you have owned it has it been in the shop yet? Have you had any problems? These are things people want to know because honestly? MPG's is just way to subjective.
Interesting on the MPG, my 2018 Tiguan 4Motion gets 40-42 on the Auto Pisa and around 34 city.. different tuning? I’m at 8,300 ft
Is it true that this car costs more in repairs and maintenance down the line as compared to something like the rav4. I really like the vw and vw are good cars I’m just unsure about the reliability. Help me out thanks
Cristy S 2018 comes with a 70,000 bumper to bumper warranty
Cristy I own a 2019 Jetta SEl and a 2018 Tiguan SE and so far we love them both. I hear people bring up the maintenance complaint alot and I feel it is unwarranted. Pretty much any new car that needs repairs is not going to be cheap due to electronics and computers. VW has addressed two of these concerns. The VW's use all synthetic oil so you only need to change the oil every 10,000 miles vs 3K or 5k with other cars. The second thing VW did was by providing a 6 year 72,000 bumper to bumper warranty on every 2018 and newer VW. So should there be any repairs they will be covered. The warranty is leaps and bounds above Toyota and Honda, who still offer only a 3 year 36,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. When looking at cars I compared VW, Honda, and Toyota and found VW to have the best quality of finish and fit. VW's are built to a higher quality and it shows.
Kyle Reese not mine learn to do maintenance on time.
Thank you of an honest review of the new Tiguan. I took three different Tiguan’s on test drives. I couldn’t get over the weirdness of the takeoffs from a stop. It was enough to ruin my opinion of the suv. It really needs more power too. Sadly, I’ll be looking to a different brand.
Dude review is superb I’m convinced
I love this channel so much
+sebastian wilson thank you so much!
I had to turn in my leased 2016 Tiguan which was the basic version that had heated seats and keyless entry which are a requirement for me in Colorado. I'm not a big fan of the 2018 even though I got it. The sound of growling in the first two gears drives me nuts. So I am glad you mentioned it. I'm not crazy! I miss the covered cup holders, cubbies and card holders of the 2016 and the interior color choices. I don't like dark interiors and the new grey interior is really only the seats so when you drop something you still can't find it. I didn't need the extra space in the 2018and actually liked the size of the 2016. However, the Tiguan Limited, which is the same as the earlier versions, is VERY limited. I do like the safety features of the 2018 and the handling, so I guess I shouldn't be so picky. Still makes me cranky...
Why does it growl in first two gears
It is nice that your local Dealership let you take out a car for a review.
+Andrew Syracuse yep. They are awesome. It helps I worked their for 13 years. Lol
That harshness on tip in throttle is because of the 2 profile cam lobes. Put it into sport and the Valve overlap and lift are better and feels like the old Tiguan engine power. They changed the stroke cycle when in non sport mode for fuel economy #’s
based on APR's website, you can get APR plus with the same warranty and get it to 305 hp for 1000$. Well worth it
I would agree
Ahhh, noo. Apr listed tune is for european Tiguans with other engine code. American tiguans are less powerful and no tune yet from Apr. Higher compression engine makes gains harder to achieve only via software.
Currently cross shopping this against the current CR-V for my wife. My wife owned a 2010 CR-V that was totaled in an accident and likes her Hondas but she likes my GTI so she's considering the Tiguan. We'll have to see how they stack up.
I've just bought a brand new R line 2.0 2w/4w tiguan and it's the only car I've owned that when I hit the lock button on the key I have to look back at her after walking away. She stunning.
Stop moaning about this car, it's not so bad!
+we8gas morning? I liked it all but a few things.
I’m glad you like yours.
My wife's £44,000 2017 Tiguan 190ps 4 Motion R-Line has a horrendous metallic grating noise emanating from the drive train, which has been evident from new.
After lengthy investigations lasting several weeks both VW and the selling dealer have described the aforementioned ‘noise’ as a ‘characteristic’ and ‘normal DSG operation noise’ However are refusing to declare why the noise is evident on some cars but not on others, and also which component the noise is emanating from!......something to hide?..... seriously not Volkswagen surely?!!!🤔
I have during the past 8 years spent in excess of £250,00 on VAG products so you could guess that I am a valuable customer?....LOYALTY counts for NOTHING with VW!....when they have your money they are simply not interested!!
Unfortunately and due to VW’s reluctance to resolve my wife’s concerns with her Tiguan I have been left with no alternative but to appoint a independent DEKRA automotive engineer who has contrary to VW and the selling dealers opinion of the noise being ‘normal operation’ and a ‘characteristic’ has concluded there is a terminal drivetrain defect!
I have test driven 4 Tiguan's for comparison purposes and out of 4, three exhibited varying degrees of noise so there is no consistency but apparently quite a few cars affected, some customers have contacted me from as far a field as Australia and Iceland!
I have uploaded a video to you tube so have a listen see if you think it is acceptable!.........th-cam.com/video/O96j_x9M3fk/w-d-xo.html
Are these cars good long term? What are common issues and cost of annual maintenance?
Was happy to see you put this up as it is very good timing. Just got my wife a 2018 Q3 last week, the little differences between it and the Tiguan are interesting. Doesn't have the shut off when you stop thing, does have the adjustable armrest (I have been annoyed if it didn't lol) and I did notice the odd little thing on takeoff that you mentioned. She likes it so that's all that matters although I might have to sneak a tune into it at some point.
+wingnutthecat tune it!!!!! Lol
but my project cars suffer from me putting money in her cars lol
this was a great review. thanks man amazing video
I recently traded my 09 tiguan . Yes I miss it and probably should have kept it. The handling was great and the seats were very comfortable so I have no idea what he's talking about unless his car had different seats to mine.
@ 7:00 The rear floor in our 2018 is adjustable and drops down 3-4". The portion that drops down is the same size as the "Car-Go" mat. That is my guess, but yeah there could have been a more elegant cover.
Power problem is gone now, all 2018-2020 Tiguan got ECM/TCM recalled and now it feels like VW.
Great running car now, before it has been very sluggish.
I’ve heard that update was great for the car!!
Just rewatched this after I leased a 2018 tiguan S. I would agree on pretty much all the points you made good and bad. I too have noticed the first shift being a bit rough, hope there may be a factory fix down the line. I'm trying to keep the warranty so it is hard for me right now to not through a tune on it to get the full potential out of the motor.
The Tiguan's incompatible armrest was the number one reason why I passed on it. There was no way to find that posture "sweet spot" while cruising, being that the arm rest is about 4" too low.
Right! It seems petty, but also simple to have as part of the car
After I got my carbon cleaned out, my 2013 is averaging 29.2 mpg, and on shorter trip I can get up to 35.4. Did VW do anything to this engine to fix carbon buildup?
Eric Peter yes they added a set of port injectors and it also has its direct injection setup so a total of 8 injectors.
The 2018 Tiguan only has one set of injectors, which are direct.
Nice one Charles 👍
Not a fan of power lift gates. Too many times I've been standing behind the car in the pouring rain with a cart full of groceries...waiting for it to slowly open. Not to mention the cost of repair when (not if) it eventually stops working and has to be replaced. At least when those little gas struts wear out, they're fairly cheap to buy and quick to install. I'm already dreading the day when there's nothing else on the market.
I am not sure it is for fuel economy. It may be for emissions.
Power lift gates for emissions? Not sure how those two go together...
I was replying to the stop start feature - Must have entered it into the wrong thread. My bad
No prob. I'm not a fan of those either...and while they DO save gas in the standardized lab tests the EPA uses, they don't show much difference in the real world, unless you're usually idling for extended periods of time every day. The best that they can be said to do is reduce emissions in the cities a little.
yes and MORE money , I can lift and close it myself
Great review. Your experience helps identify the key points.
Yeah, the armrest is disappointing. I did not realize this until I bought the car and did first longer ride where i usually get my right elbow on the armrest. All my previous cars I was able to do that whilst still reaching the wheel.
It is a minor thing, but aggravating
I own a 2020 Tiguan. And definitely does the same thing from a stop and accelerating, a lot of people that been in my car say it shifts gears as if it was a standard as you can feel the hard pull don’t know if that normal or not 🤷♂️
Humble, you are on the money with the acceleration from 1st to 2nd then 3rd. I just bought the SE, got it last Thursday. I like the car, but its really taking a lot to get used to its pick up.
The weird shift is how they pass the emissions test! Not illegal or unethical just the way they have to configure the engine transmission interface to meet the regulations. I was in the auto industry for 7 years back in the 80s and it was the same then.
Great review bro. It’s better when a new car is reviewed by a brand enthusiast.
I test drove two of these and you are completely right about the weird acceleration and shifting. Looks nice, but we got an Atlas with the 2.0 instead. That one does not have the same issue at all and engine feels much stronger at all revs, while getting the same mileage. Should have put that version of the Tsi in the Tiguan too.
Just bought mine 2018 Grey chrome Tiguan and I love it 😂 Anybody know what type of gas it takes I haven't look yet 🤔
Do you think the start stop feature will adversely affect engine components over time? I know we all start and stop cars but i thought I heard somewhere start and stop (stop start?) feature hurts the turbo.
No Adjustable Armrest is a big concern for me also. Why would they leave that out? I thought it was a vw-thing that armrest. Bad move on the new tiguan, VW. Overal its a great car
Took the 2018 Tiguan on an extended all day drive. At current incentives it is the best deal on the market. I found acceleration at 6000 feet to be reasonable esp. when figuring the price to any turbo competition. My main complaint is that the suspension is too stiff. It is tuned for street performance and not dirt. I wish it was softer. It is really a hard ride on washboard roads. On pavement every pothole is felt. Reducing the tire pressure from 41 to 36psi helped, but I'm thinking that is not a solution. My comparison is my 2015 Passat which rides much smoother on and off pavement, but only has 5.5" of ground clearance. My back condition requires me to have a soft ride so I had to say no to the Tiguan even though I really like it.
I am interested in hearing from owners, on how the Tiguan works for them off road and what they think of the suspension stiffness. I have only seen one review (TestDrivenTV) where this was mentioned.
Lars Tomasson Which did you drive? Car comfort is #1 for me and my bad back, I drove the se on 17 inch wheels and was shocked at the smooth ride?
I drove the S with 17" wheels. It has a great smooth ride on smooth roads. Poor on rough roads with minimal suspension travel.
Watch lots of your videos. I am in a dilemma. My daily is a 2006 golf TDI. Just sold my Urs4 this summer. Planning on keeping my TDI for commutes. Hopefully it lasts another 4 years until I retire lol. It has 292000 miles. It replaced a 2001 Jetta TDI with 430000miles.
I do lots of mileage and looked at Alltrack, sportwagen 4 motion. Dealer threw me a curve ball as towing with a DSG is not recommended. I tow a small boat, 4x8 trailer with a 4 wheeler in it. Not even 2000 lbs for both.
So a Tiguan was suggested. Tiggy seems nice. Even looked at R line as a possibility.
I guess my concern is not to lose the car feel and feel like I am driving a U-Haul.
Old Tiguan was built on Passat platform. I also here and see so much issues with these mqb tiguan. Specifically water. In all sorts of places. The antenna, windows, window actuators leaking and of course because it wouldn't be a vw without leaky sunroof. I like my 2017 Tiguan s with no sun roof. It's still has auto headlights, wipers, dimming mirror, heated leatherette, and Android auto. The important stuff. Oh and 4 motion ;) and don't forget all that soft touch interior
Yeah the MQB Tiguan have had water issues. :(
Love my '19 sel premium 4motion...❤😊
Prior to this, my wife and I had a '17 hyundai santa fe sport...
The hyundai had more power and slightly more elbow room...the tiguan has adequate power and better gas mileage...the volkswagen is also slightly easier to manuever...
Still prefer the 1st gen Tiguan 2009 4motion styling. But your right they don't feel like a vw. I lowered mine just a bit with factory vw Passat 4motion sport springs ( who takes these things off-road anyway.) and replaced the front large control arm bushings with the TTrs solid ones and now it's solid and crisp on the Rd. But doesn't beat you up like coilovers.
Great vid, keep it up.
NICE! I have a set of GTI springs I have been kicking around installing. But you know the path that one modification leads down.
HumbleMechanic yup. Just picked up a paddle shift wheel for it and Im looking for a 3.6 Passat 4motion brake set as well. It's a disease
scott holt hey where did you get your paddle shift steering wheel?
Shimon La Hée hey. 2009 Passat 3.6VR 4motion we salvaged for parts. Not sure it'll work but the transmission on the Tiguan has the option in coding. I'm installing it today if it works I'll let you know. Cheers
scott holt OK keep me updated thanks
Since they are not going to import a Diesel version they should come out with a plug in version and not wait 5 years to do it.
I wouldn't mind seeing that. I think they will be focusing on mass market of the E-golf first.
I think they are not making enough of the E golf in some places there are waiting list and I wonder why did they not put the Audi E Tron power train they have in the mk7 Golf GTE and the Passat GTE I love Volkswagen but I just don't understand why they are so slow to implement new power trains to substitute the missing Diesels.
Here in Europe it goes like this. 1.4 TSI with 125/150 bhp, 2.0 TSI with 180/220 bhp, 2.0 TDI 115/150/190/240 bhp. On paper diesel vs petrol are pretty much the same.
HumbleMechanic been rocking a 2012 dsg 177bhp 2.0 litter TDI for three months. The thing with being on a too low gear happened to me. It seems happy to cruise at as low as 1200-1300 rpm and if you ask for sudden acceleration it will lag a bit. The default drive mode is optimised for fuel economy and milder driving. You can get around this by being patient and accelerating softer or down shifting using the paddles before accelerating in force. You also have the sport mode that keeps the revs higher, shifts laters and it really comes alive. It is definelty not optimised for sportiness but rather for comfortable riding.
I find the seats very comfortable. The space in the front is very good. The space in the back is amazing. I'm 1,9 metters tall and have plenty of knee space in the front or in the back. The steering is very nice for city driving and also for highway. I was recently on a 2600 kilometers ride and it used 6,2 litters per 100km driving economically across Bulgaria and Greece and back again. To me this is economical for a 1,7 tons all wheel drive car. Of course driving in the city I get 8-10 litters per 100 but the traffic is bad in the capital of Romania. I do no need the electric back door not the stop and start. It is definitely roomy for 2-4 persons but adding a third row of seats is meh. The size is bigger than a sedan but manageable in a crowded european city. You get a bigger car that you can still have room to park. In Europe space is sometimes not plentiful.
I like the rounded vents even if they do no look as cool as I have two round vents for each one in the Tiguan 2, that I can set independently. To me the version one was too round, the version two is too blocky. The facelift is just right estetically.
Teodor Milcheliev on paper of course :-)
I test drove the Tiguan, the interior is beautiful in every detail, I would fully agree the start of motion feels weird as there is a noticeable turbo lag or gear shift delay, once it moves all will be back to normal. I hope they bring a software update for the gear to make it maybe better and I think it is one of the best options of the segment.
it was a good review thank you.
BTW, did VW ever bring a Software Update for that?
Good review man, really got into details so new sub for details.
I lease a 2017 Tiguan, Wolfsburg edition. So hysterical you mention those round air vents, I hate them, they do little to control the direction of the air and I feel like they are poorly placed. I love the way the car drives, but my mpg is terrible, often under 20. My only other complaint, having driven an 08 Rabbit prior, is the turning radius on the Tiguan is a little wide, but obviously it’s a larger vehicle. Really it’s a great car overall. It handles SO WELL in rain and snow. It’s roomy, the back row seats are adjustable to expand the trunk size, and I love my heated seats. The giant ass sunroof is cool too. The touchscreen does not leave prints at all. Sometimes it is a little glitchy when plugging in my iphone tho. Love the backup cam. One thing I wish they would change is the color that the interior lights up. It’s missing the cool factor that the Rabbit had, but I guess it’s supposed to be a more mature car.
Thanks for the comment. I am mixed on the interior lighting. I like the white, but miss the old indigo blue. LOL
I know you like the new Tiguan but how do you feel about it being built in Mexico as the old one were built in Germany? This disappoints me as I feel better with a German built VW.
build the wall then
澳贼 he got 12B approved today due to your comment inspiring him. Thanks
@@kevinc7632 well done mate
I have the 2014. I’m really looking into the newer Tiguan because it just looks so clean & less rounded than mine. Either that or the new Blazer.
I dig the new Tiguan. Almost bought an R Line
great review and information.
Glad to see that round dash vents are gone and they kept the dash-top crap catcher.
Interesting to hear about the initial launch issued with new 8speed transmission. I'm hoping VW provides recall and updates software.
I use my power folding mirrors daily on my first-gen Tiguan. How about 2018 SEL premium model? I hope it's an "easy" option (not with package that has lots of extra zeros...).
Interesting to hear the comment that the sluggish gen1 transmission gear points result in lower MPG. I certainly would agree with the bad MPG assessment of gen1. I always thought this was done to keep interior volume down. Example: driving around in SPORT mode is much better but noticeable engine noise (in addition to shift/compression braking behavior that is not appropriate for getting the groceries). I have checked with aftermarket options for shift-point changes but not had any luck.
Also, totally agree with gen1 driver position comment. I've always felt the ANGLE of the steering wheel for my Tiguan is incorrect for a 6ft driver. For me -- the steering wheel pivots out of dash too HIGH. I'm only 6ft and have driver seat to floor. I could raise the seat to be in better angle with steering wheel but then head/hair too close ceiling headliner. I've just become used to it. I really do like to drive my '09 SEL.
I'm waiting to see what Garrett, Neuspeed, and APR working on for the new drivetrain power ECU upgrade. Surely, we can get more horsepower out of the new drivetrain without creating a 2018 grenade!?!?
I really don't like the "normal" mode in my GTI either - it pretty much lives in sport mode unless I'm doing cross country with the kids in the back, then I'll drop it into normal after we get up to speed to keep things quieter and more civilized.
Thanks for this!! I am excited to get my new 2018 tiguan
Humble appreciate the video as a persnickety car buyer and owner and also a former NIASE Master decades ago. I was considering this vehicle for the "spousal unit". But, man I think the wife will go with a Forester again. Or maybe Nissan Rogue Sport. She drives too much for a 10K/Yr mile value lease. The base Subaru are just 22K out the door on a good end of the month. And base cars have lots of goodies these days. I'm Choking on 36K for a Compact SUV. Heimlich !!! Thanks again, - Sandy
I’d go Subaru I think. I don’t love them but they are solid
Enjoyed the video. Subscribed.
Thank you
Nice video dude 👍
Thank you
Sitting here watching the video and said....HEY, THAT'S FUQUAY-VARINA, NC!
Nice vid. Thanks!
Would have liked to hear more about the safety features and the available options like surround camera, etc. Understand your vehicle may not have had them, but could help someone trying to decide between trim levels
Yep sure is :). Good call on the features. I will look at that for the next one.
BTW, Stick Boy's birthday is 1/31! Go get a free cookie HAHA
Very much like my wife's Equinox. Very popular with women, I don't mind driving it either. Good video!
I was wondering if you were driving around downtown Cary-Durhamite here! I really like this car and am doing the research on it now. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Nice!!! The cruise was mostly Fuquay I think. :)
If you want, let me know before you buy and I’ll make sure they know you’re coming.
Got a 2018 Tiguan S on Friday 7/13/18 3 days ago and I really like it overall. Husband, too... miss my Jetta but very excited to have the Tiger Iguana. ;) great evaluation of the car, Mr. Humble Mechanic.. I agree with you on every point, especially the miniature stutter at take-off.. I think I'll get used to it b/c it's so minor. Thanks!
Glad you like it. I’ve actually been thinking about leasing one.
We've had 2 of these new Tiguans experience engine failure already... plus they're putting the 2.0 in the 18 Passats
WOW!!!! Thats not good. What was the concern?
HumbleMechanic not sure on the details, but one was rod knocking really bad with only 3k miles. I think it was something to do with the oil cooler / oil mixing with coolant. I'm clearly not a tech lol
I bet DSG failures far outweigh engine failures?!
My wife purchased a 2017 R-line 190ps TDi 4 Motion which has had a horrendous metallic grating noise emanating from the drivetrain from new. VW have commented that the noise is a ‘characteristic’ which I will not accept.
At this present time I am in dispute with the selling dealer and VW after an independent engineer that I appointed confirmed the grating noise is unacceptable and likely to worsen with added mileage!
666DW DSGs are actually pretty reliable if you keep up with / can afford the trans services. But yeah, it shouldn't be making strange noises
Ben DSG gearboxes have a poor history of being troublesome in particular the dry clutch type, just google it!
The type used in my wife’s 2017 Mk2 Tiguan is the ‘DQ500’ 7 speed wet clutch which is the latest incarnation of the DSG used in high torque applications. However there has been several reports of failures in the U.K. of this gearbox notably on Tiguan variants. I am also aware of failures of this same gearbox in Audi Q3’s and Q5’s
I note your reply inferring regular servicing. In response I can confirm that in the UK the DQ500 is a sealed unit requiring no servicing but even if servicing was possible my wife’s Tiguan would not be due any oil changes at 2,500 miles!
There does appear to be an issue with this gearbox at a particular time of manufacture as I have received information from owners as far afield as Australia and Iceland of similarly noisy gearboxes on 2017 Tiguan built around Dec/Jan/Feb 2017.
Hey Charles! Great video I'm a vw tech in Canada,what's up with 7 passenger? Those back seats are a joke!! Lol!! Keep up the awesome work!!!
I checked out a Tiguan last month and immediately wanted to trade in my '14 but I also noticed the armrest not ratcheting or sliding forward and as funny as it sounds I said to the sales guy where are the ticket/ card holders? I kind of forgot about how much I enjoy those two little things but that Dark Moss Green with Oak two tone is damn nice to look at.
+Robert Williams oh that's a good point. I don't use those but I totally feel ya
Yes!!! The ticket/card holders I miss them too! And the lack of storage space!
the eu tiguan centre armrest does highten and rachet
Great review. Like I said it is nice of your local dealership to let you have a car for a review. Was this the same dealer you worked for?
You talked about the ECO start/stop and that it dosent have a lag upon restart and it defaults to the on mode when you restart the car.
On Mercedes-Benz around the 2013 MY I noticed the car had a delay upon restart Once the transmission was connected to the engine the car would buck. Also the delay would cause drivers to think you did not see the light turn green. Also a few years ago I had a Skoda as a rental in Germany and I noticed a delay upon restart as well as the bucking. I am sure the technology has changed since but in my view the technology has more or less stayed the same.
But like VW, the Skoda would turn on the ECO system when restarting the car. Funny how Audi says you can turn off the ECO system and the system will remain off when you restart the car.
Thank you for the video.
I am mostly agree with you on new Tiguan pros and cons. I own 2019 SE, could not afford SEL. Overall I like my Tiguan. What I do not like is Star/Stop option. What I hate most is fake engine noise (surprised you did not mention it ) when accelerate from gear 1, 2, 3. According to other people reviews it is Soundaktor. I bought OBDeleven in hope to disable it - no way, app stated Not Supported. I sent several emails to OBDeleven support - one way ticket. I stopped at my local VW dealer - they never heard of Soundaktor and advised to book an appointment, funny. Also SUV made in Mexico, :(, and that explains 5 years/60,000 miles manufacture warranty.
Great review Charles:)
The initial stumbling is probably the results of these learning transmissions. I've notice in both my 2014 Ram with the ZF 8speed and my current 2017 Tacoma that under 5k miles both the transmissions seemed "lost" on what exactly I wanted them to do at certain times.
So what aftermarket solutions are available for this 2018 VW
Thanks for the review, My wife owned 2 of the last generation Tiguan and she likes them better than the Lexus NX she now drives and she has been at the VW dealer to look at the new one. What she would like next is the T-Roc that may not cone to Canada.
Serge Vivier My wife's £44,000 2017 Tiguan 190ps 4 Motion R-Line has a horrendous metallic grating noise emanating from the drive train, which has been evident from new.
After lengthy investigations lasting several weeks both VW and the selling dealer have described the aforementioned ‘noise’ as a ‘characteristic’ and ‘normal DSG operation noise’ However are refusing to declare why the noise is evident on some cars but not on others, and also which component the noise is emanating from!......something to hide?..... seriously not Volkswagen surely?!!!🤔
I have during the past 8 years spent in excess of £250,00 on VAG products so you could guess that I am a valuable customer?....LOYALTY counts for NOTHING with VW!....when they have your money they are simply not interested!!
Unfortunately and due to VW’s reluctance to resolve my wife’s concerns with her Tiguan I have been left with no alternative but to appoint a independent DEKRA automotive engineer who has contrary to VW and the selling dealers opinion of the noise being ‘normal operation’ and a ‘characteristic’ has concluded there is a terminal drivetrain defect!
I have test driven 4 Tiguan's for comparison purposes and out of 4, three exhibited varying degrees of noise so there is no consistency but apparently quite a few cars affected, some customers have contacted me from as far a field as Australia and Iceland!
I have uploaded a video to you tube so have a listen see if you think it is acceptable!.........th-cam.com/video/O96j_x9M3fk/w-d-xo.html
mine sounds like there's pistons and valves banging together but vw says thats normal obviously. im sure after my warranty expires it wont be normal anymore though.
I remember commenting on your other video about our new car purchase. We wanted to get the Atlas but we opted for the Tiguan Comfortline. We like it but I wish it had a little more power. I'll have it tuned for power and suspension. Don't try to get in the back seats, they're for very small kids. Oh, another poor design oversight is the placement of the cargo bay light, tucked away in to the lower left corner and not overheard. If you have things covering it then you better have a flashlight ready.
+Bambataa I didn't notice the cargo light. I don't understand why anyone would mess with overhead. That's silly.
HumbleMechanic Take a look and you will see it. I miss our Jetta TDI for the mileage but this Tiguan has already proven its worth for us: from swallowing up all of our camping gear to getting 8.5L/100KM with mostly city driving. I don't mind the start-stop system because it's better compared to other vehicles that I test drove but wife hates it. How much power can a tune give us because I want it done to make it a little more lively.
+Bambataa I'll check it.
Not sure on the power but I think 30hp should be no prob.
HumbleMechanic Thanks for getting back to me. I'll let you know when we tune it. I know it might void the warranty but we'll just do it. This car should've had around 220-250 HP for its size and a better compression ratio. Thanks for a great review.
Bambataa My dealer here in the US told me they have a performance tune package you can get on the Tiguan which maintains the warranty. Didn’t ask how much or what it entailed (not sure if it’s a reflash of the ECU or if it includes some performance parts)
Recently decided to replace our 2012 Kia Sorento and as a GTI owner gave serious consideration to both the Atlas and the Tiguan. The Atlas was simply too damn large and lacked major features (e.g. factory navigation) on any but the highest trim level (which is virtually unobtainable in the Pacific Northwest.) The Tiguan was a great size and I loved the handling, ride, etc. However, in any but "sport" mode it was a DOG. Why on earth VW didn't give it at least the pep of the Golf (or better yet, the GTI) I cannot understand. Sorry, VW. I would love to have made our a VW only household. But as it is, we replaced the 2012 Sorento with the 2018 model.
4:00 you’re right about the car lagging when accelerating from a stop 🤨 it DOES feel like a stickshift car at that moment. I live in the city and it bothers me a lot! 👎🏼
Bummer. I’d hoped they would have fixed that by now
HumbleMechanic they fixed it with some part changes and different transmission software on a TSB... but to get the TSB done you gotta jump through some hoops...
The 1-2 shift in the tiguan is terrible, one of the reasons I didn't buy one. It feels like the shift happens too early, and drops the engine out of the torque range. It could have to do with the new Budack cycle engine, if it is running on that mode.
The transmission does a good job keeping the engine revs low, but it is slow to respond when entering a moderate grade, and the engine stumbles a bit before downshifting. It takes 2 down shifts for the engine to make enough power to move out with authority, which is disappointing coming from a diesel.
Thanks for the review. Just a comment on the lag when starting in Drive. My wife's 2009 Jetta TDI/DSG wagon had that, and my 2006 A4 Quattro Avant has it. Its the #1 thing that I hate the most about the Audi. Its tried to kill me several times. Basically, if the DSG is in drive and the wheels turn a partial revolution, its already in second gear. When there's a break in traffic and you step on it, I believe it sends a message to Germany requesting permission to shift down. While waiting for an OK from HQ, the car actually SLOWS DOWN while you're pressing on the accelerator pedal. Seconds later (only seems like eternity) the car takes off. My car is an A4, but the A4 begat the Q5, and the new Tiguan is just a Q5 with a transverse engine. The DSG is great at speed ... basically anything over 10 MPH (except slight inclines where the old ones refuse to downshift unless you floor it ... I use "Tiptronic mode" until I'm on the highway). Buying another VW/Audi I'd avoid the aggravation and go with the manual. My Mk5 GTI had the same 2.0T as my A4, but 6-speed manual, and I loved driving that.
So, looks like the "I'll pretend I'm ignoring you" mode of the DSG when you want to GO and it says NO is still there. Very annoying.
Would you recommend one if one stays in a place with rough terrain ( bad bumpy roads)
So glad you started to do these types of videos my friend. Can you do one of the new 2018 GTI because I was curious on whether to buy a 2017 sport or just the new 2018. That'd be great
+BennyKsBandwidth I don't think the 18s are on the ground yet are they?
If so, I'll go check it out
HumbleMechanic oh okay yeah if they're not on the ground yeah! But when they do it would be an awesome comparison because I want to buy in the next year or so.
I read that they fixed the transmission quirks in 2019 and there's with a TSB for the issue
P. L. It makes a huuuge difference. Definitely worth pulling a coil pack to get the check engine light one so they’ll perform the tsb
Tsb doesn’t fix the grinding at 3rd gear at slow speed