Experienced by Kimatni D. Rawlins
What a refreshing, energizing, and scenic drive I recently experienced on the peaceful roads of Big Sky Country in Montana from behind the wheel of the all-new 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan. The compact SUV continues to represent the German brand’s best-selling vehicle globally, as well as in the United States.
The third-generation crossover is sportier, smarter, and savvier, featuring a range of new tech to further enhance its already well-received accommodations VW will offer the Tiguan in four trims—S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line—with either Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) or 4Motion All-Wheel Drive (AWD), except for the SEL R-Line, which is available only with AWD. Pricing starts at $29,495 and climbs to $39,755, excluding the $1,425 destination and delivery fee. The family vehicle will go head-to-head against the segment’s top-selling Toyota RAV4 and the Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester, and Honda CR-V.
VW set up the drive route for us to become familiar with the 2025 Tiguan within the backdrop of Montana’s stunning scenery, winding roads, expansive valleys, and enchanting streams. My drive partner and I started out in a base Pyrite Silver S model devoid of navigation. It came with 17″ aluminum rims that look pretty good, LED headlights and taillamps, 2-Zone Climatronic Touch, cloth seats, a 10.25″ Digital Cockpit Pro, and the smaller 12.9″ infotainment screen. But Wireless App-Connect allowed us to use the features of our phone for directions. If you wish to upgrade to 18″ wheels VW will only charge you $300.
SUVs represent a significant portion of business for the industry, including Volkswagen, which has an expansive portfolio such as the Atlas, Taos, ID.4, and the Atlas Cross Sport, which is my favorite vehicle from the automaker. The new Tiguan offers more power, improved fuel economy, and amended safety technology compared to the second-generation models. The Tiguan’s exterior is also far more aggressive with a pleasant touch and highlights paint options like Monterey Blue, Sandstone, and Avocado Green, a nod to healthy lifestyles. All models receive the updated 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, kicking out a respectable 201-horsepower while achieving improved efficiency. It pairs with an 8-speed automatic transmission and realizes the following EPA-estimated fuel economy (city/highway/combined):
- 26/34/29 (S FWD)
- 25/32/28 (SE / SE R-Line Black FWD)
- 22/30/25 (4Motion)
You won’t win any weekend races with this package, but you will get around comfortably, safely, and ergonomically. On the return drive from our lunch stop we swapped into the up-level SEL R-Line outfitted with the larger 20” R-Line silver alloy wheels wrapped in Pirelli all-season rubber. The vehicle felt much more at ease on the winding road course, particularly with AWD handling. The overall powertrain numbers may not seem impressive, but this package enables the vehicle to move quickly and smoothly for its size and weight. Uphill, I didn’t experience any power loss, and the utility was relatively flat through the turns.
The FWD model was not as confident as 4Motion, yet it still handled well. There are no steering wheel paddle shifters, but drivers can utilize the shifter’s manual mode and the Driving Mode Selection’s Eco, Comfort, Sport, Custom, Offroad, or Snow settings for enhanced performance or improved traction in adverse weather or challenging environments.
A few other SEL R-Line amenities include brushed metal pedals, a panoramic sunroof, R-Line badges and bumper, the R-Line perforated sport steering wheel for active maneuvering, +3-Zone Climatronic Touch, leather seats with quilted stitching (Varenna), and massaging capabilities. Additionally, the upgraded 15″ infotainment screen and a Harman Kardon premium audio system created an entertaining drive. In the evening, your mood can be adjusted by the 30-color ambient lighting feature. You may also need to adjust to the swipe bar for the volume control. However, maneuvering through VW’s infotainment screens is always a confusing task.
A few safety and driver assistance features include Park Distance Control, Light Assist, Exit Warning, Dynamic Road Sign Display, Park Assist Plus, Area View, and IQ.DRIVE. Employing sensors, radars, and cameras, IQ.DRIVE intelligently and proactively instills the Tiguan with semi-automated Travel Assist, Front Assist (Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring), Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Lane Assist, and Emergency Assist, a semi-automated vehicle assistance system for medical emergencies.
Simple parking, excellent city maneuverability, and value pricing showcase the relevance of this compact SUV to society. The 2025 VW Tiguan is yours for the taking.
