Written by Marco Carvajal
I am test driving the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL in Florida. This car is a very good option when buying a new compact SUV, not too big, but with plenty of space for all the family with some models including an additional third-row of seats.
The Tiguan is a compact SUV with a very affordable price of around $30K and giving you the option to have a 3rd row of seats, something unusual in compact SUVs.
The 2020 Tiguan is built using Volkswagen’s modular MQB platform, the same platform used by the larger Volkswagen SUV, the Atlas.
The 2020 Tiguan features an optional third-row seat, something you can’t find on leading competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Three rows are rare in the compact SUV segment, making the Tiguan very attractive for those in need of 3-rows in this segment.
Tiguan is Volkswagen Best Seller
The Tiguan keeps selling, showing the good results of Volkswagen’s shift into a market that is targeting SUVs, and it has seen sales rise on both the Atlas and Tiguan. The Tiguan is the Volkswagen bestseller. It has sold six million units. For North America, the Tiguan is manufactured at the German automaker’s plant in Puebla, Mexico.
Volkswagen Tiguan is the brand’s current bestseller, breaking six million sales since model’s debut
The Tiguan sets an incredible production record of six million units, making it the best-selling car in the Volkswagen brand and Group. After two generations of Tiguan production, the new Tiguan has developed into one of the most successful SUVs in the world.
Tiguan has strong competition from compact SUVs like the Nissan Rogue, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Ford Escape, and Chevrolet Equinox among many others who are competing to take a bigger piece of the pie. Every automaker wants to sell more SUVs.
Highlights of the 2020 Tiguan
- 16-valve, 2.0 L
- 184-hp turbocharged engine
- Next-generation Car-Net and Wi-Fi standard
- Seven-seat configuration with third-row seating
- Aerodynamically and acoustically optimized panoramic roof
- Standard Front Assist, Side Assist, and Rear Traffic Alert
- The MIB III infotainment system
- Volkswagen digital cockpit and remote start
- A new plug-in hybrid drivetrain for Europe
- Available wireless charging
- Leatherette-wrapped multi-function steering wheel
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Remote opening and closing power liftgate
Trims and Pricing for the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL
For the 2020 model year, the Tiguan is offered in five trims: S, SE, SE R-Line Black, SEL, and SEL Premium R-Line.
The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL trim level adds upscale features like a heated steering wheel, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and rain-sensing wipers.
- 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL
Starting at $32,245 MSRP
Heated steering wheel
Volkswagen Car-Net
Guide & Information with SiriusXM Traffic
- 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL with 4MOTION
Starting at $33,545 MSRP
4MOTION permanent all-wheel-drive system
Active control
Five-seat configuration
Available seven-seat configuration with third-row seating and third-row seating package
- 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL Premium R-Line with 4MOTION
Starting at $38,795 MSRP
The SEL Premium R-Line adds a new heated wiper park, standard R-Line content, and 20-inch wheels.
Engine and Performance
The powerful 16-valve, 2.0L, 184-hp turbocharged engine moves the Tiguan. Switch between four different available all-wheel-drive modes, depending on driving conditions. A wide range of automatic transmission with eight speeds provides smooth shifting. The transmission can be set to Tiptronic mode, to shift speed manually. The Tiguan has good performance and power according to its size. It is not the most powerful SUV, but it provides enough power and, AWD, and 4 driving modes that will like you to drive in some off-roads, different driving conditions, and enjoy any adventure on board the Tiguan.
Exterior style
The Tiguan is compact but it doesn’t look that small from the outside. It actually looks larger and it has a very attractive silhouette. Volkswagen’s design is very appealing.
The SEL Premium R-Line upgrades the Tiguan base model with a new heated wiper park, standard R-Line content, and 20-inch wheels, while the new Tiguan SE R-Line Black trim features 20-inch black aluminum-alloy wheels, black-accented R-Line bumpers and badging, foglights, a panoramic sunroof, front and rear Park Distance Control, and a black headliner.
Interior style
The interior is large but let’s not forget that this is one of the few small three-row SUVs. The interior of the Tiguan features a modern, high-quality design with a sporty, driver-focused layout, using gloss-grey and chrome producing a beautiful interior.
Some of the standard features included in the Tiguan are a multi-function steering wheel and cloth seats with a rhombus pattern. The Tiguan SEL model adds upscale features like a heated steering wheel, auto-dimming rearview mirror, and rain-sensing wipers.
I strongly suggest ordering your Tiguan with the available panoramic glass tilt-and-slide sunroof that features pinch protection and an electrically-operated one-touch sunshade that covers the inside of the entire glass area. This optional feature will allow you to feel the environment around you when riding on the Tiguan.
The Tiguan is smart in terms of space and utility. The front and second-row have very good space. The third row is very small but still very practical for children or small passengers.
There is plenty of room behind the second row of the Tiguan to store several large suitcases. Space behind the third row is tight, but better than other compact three-row SUVs.
In terms of technology, I like Volkswagen’s intuitive smart system. The Tiguan includes standard driver-assistance features. Tiguan models are equipped with the next-generation Car-Net telematics system, as well as in-car Wi-Fi capability if you subscribe to a data plan. Wireless charging is also available.
Tiguan trim models SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL models feature heated front seats with leatherette seating surfaces. SE and SEL models feature a leatherette-wrapped steering wheel.
Tiguan’s infotainment system includes a feature to set up to four individual profiles, three for drivers, and one profile for guests, something very convenient when sharing the Tiguan with all the family.
The Volkswagen Digital Cockpit display, standard on SEL and SEL Premium R-Line models, offers drivers a reconfigurable display of key data and the ability to position navigation data front and center for easy viewing.
Safety Features
Safety features like Front Assist, Side Assist, and Rear Traffic Alert are standard on all Tiguan trim models.
The 2020 Tiguan was named a 2020 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) when equipped with LED headlights and the Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) w/ dynamic cornering headlights.
This is the third year Tiguan earns all “good” ratings for crashworthiness and a superior rating for front crash prevention. We all care about safety and the Tiguan is definitely ahead of some of its competitors in this aspect.
In addition to Front Assist, other driver assistance features offered on the 2020 Tiguan include:
- Standard Blind Spot Monitor (Side Assist)
- Rear Traffic Alert
- Available Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Lane Keeping System (Lane Assist)
- Overhead View Camera (Area View)
The Tiguan provides a combination of both passive and active safety systems, including six airbags, and a number of standard electronic safety systems, such as an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and Volkswagen’s Automatic Post-Collision Braking System.
The Tiguan is SEL is a beautiful compact SUV offering three rows, pletny of space for all the family. Good technology and performance, beutiful exterior and interior style and all of this can be purchase for only $33K
