2025 Volkswagen Tiguan: A Smarter, Sharper SUV That Finally Deserves Attention
VW’s best-selling SUV gets a total redesign for 2025. With big tech, bold style, and standard safety, the new Tiguan goes toe-to-toe with RAV4, CR-V, and CX-5 and comes out swinging.
Why does this car matter right now?
Because the compact SUV class has become a war zone. Toyota’s RAV4 is the de facto sales king. Honda’s CR-V is everyone’s fallback. And Mazda’s CX-5 keeps winning design awards like it’s a weekend hobby. Into this noisy crowd steps the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan, looking less like the conservative choice and more like a calculated counterpunch.
VW didn’t just redesign its best-seller. It rewrote the playbook. The new Tiguan is sharper in every sense styling, handling, tech, and safety. And for the first time in a decade, it actually wants your attention.
How does it compare to rivals?
Let’s start with the looks. The outgoing Tiguan wore the kind of face that got lost in a car park. The 2025 model? It walks in with shorter overhangs, a squared-off stance, and a front end that finally speaks fluent Teutonic. It’s confident, not flashy. Think less fast fashion, more architectural minimalism with a smirk.
Meanwhile, the RAV4 still plays rugged dress-up, the CR-V is stuck in “urban dad” mode, and the CX-5 though still handsome—is beginning to look like it’s been wearing the same outfit since 2019.
Step inside, and Volkswagen flips the script again. You get American walnut trim, stitched surfaces, and a mammoth 15-inch touchscreen that makes the CR-V’s nine-inch display look like a pager. Mazda’s interior still punches above its weight, but the new Tiguan is inching into Audi-lite territory, minus the showroom snobbery.
Then there’s the tech. VW’s new MIB4 infotainment system feels modern for once responsive, intuitive, and bundled with ambient lighting and sound presets called “Atmospheres.” Yes, you can match the car’s mood to yours. It’s cheeky, but it works. Toyota and Honda still give you wireless CarPlay, but navigating their menus feels like filling out tax forms with oven mitts.
Under the hood? A turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder pushing 201 horsepower. That’s more grunt than the base RAV4 or CR-V. And it weighs less than before down by 170 pounds. Mazda’s turbo engine still rules the torque charts, but it also gulps fuel like it’s free. The Tiguan splits the difference nicely, offering enough punch for daily use with decent fuel economy.
Who is this for and who should skip it?
This Tiguan isn’t for badge snobs or mileage absolutists. It’s for buyers who want style, tech, and safety in equal measure without stretching for a luxury badge or putting up with aging infotainment.
It’s also ideal for the growing crowd of Americans who want a compact SUV that doesn’t look like a fleet special. With 10 airbags and VW’s full IQ.DRIVE suite standard on all trims including lane centering and adaptive cruise it also doubles down on safety. Toyota and Honda offer similar systems, but only Volkswagen gives it to every buyer, no haggling required.
Now, if you’re shopping for a hybrid or plug-in hybrid, look elsewhere. Unlike the RAV4 Hybrid or CR-V Hybrid, the U.S. Tiguan hasn’t yet joined the electrified crowd. VW’s saving that for another day—and likely another press cycle.
What’s the long-term significance?
The 2025 Tiguan marks a cultural shift inside Volkswagen. This isn’t just a facelift or a trim reshuffle. It’s a signal that VW wants to play offense in America’s most competitive segment.
The Tiguan used to be the SUV you leased because the numbers looked good. Now, it’s a crossover you configure with genuine enthusiasm. You’ll still take it to soccer practice. But on the drive home, you might actually enjoy yourself.
In terms of raw specs:
- 201 horsepower
- 10 airbags
- 15-inch touchscreen
- Standard IQ.DRIVE driver assistance
Compare that with the RAV4 (203 hp, 8 airbags, 10.5-inch screen), CR-V (190 hp, 9-inch screen), and CX-5 (187 hp base, up to 250 hp with turbo). On paper and in practice, the Tiguan pulls ahead in interior tech and standard safety. The hybrid-minded still get better MPG from Toyota or Honda, but those cars don’t feel nearly as polished behind the wheel.
Final verdict?
The new Tiguan doesn’t try to reinvent the compact SUV. It simply does almost everything better. There’s still room for improvement especially in electrified options but VW’s message is clear: the Tiguan is no longer the safe bet. It’s the savvy one.
