The Volkswagen ID4 was a great product when it first arrived. As one of the first affordable all-electric models available in the U.S., it gave buyers a relatively easy way to switch to an EV without having to endure the Tesla Model Y’s learning curve.
Unfortunately, the competition didn’t stand still. Models like the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 arrived with better range, faster charging, and more advanced technology, making the ID4’s numbers look outdated. Volkswagen’s first mainstream electric SUV was still comfortable and practical, but its range and charging performance were no longer competitive.
Now, the second-generation ID4 is about to arrive, but it won’t use the same name. Volkswagen is replacing the ID4 nameplate with a more familiar and recognizable badge: ID.Tiguan.
In a statement, Volkswagen of America said the ID.Tiguan will launch in Europe in early 2027 but was not prepared to announce when it will arrive in the U.S., what it will cost, or which trims and powertrains we’ll receive. A representative previously told MotorTrend, however, that it will arrive here later next year as a 2028 model.
Along with announcing the name change, Volkswagen released a full photo shoot of the upcoming electric SUV. The new ID.Tiguan appears to have a lower stance than the outgoing ID4, but it’s still clearly an SUV. Although there are some similarities to the old ID4 and the gas-powered Tiguan, the new model has its own look.
Some of the styling also appears to come from the smaller ID.Cross, which is already available in Europe. Up front, the 2028 VW ID.Tiguan features a new face with a slim LED light bar connecting the headlights, while the Volkswagen badge sits prominently in the middle.
Trims and Powertrains
While VW won’t say for certain which trims are coming our way, it’s a safe bet both the white R-Line and gold Style trims seen here will make it over. As always, R-Line will be the sporty looking one with a slightly more aggressive front end while the Style will likely be the equivalent of a Pro S or SEL, the top trim levels in our market. Two additional trim levels populate the lowest rungs of the lineup in Europe, the entry-level Trend and the next-step-up Life.
European models will get three battery and powertrain configurations to choose from, although you can count on only the two larger-battery models making it here. A rear-motor, rear-drive base model offers 188 hp and a 58 kWh battery, but Americans should forget about that. Our market’s base ID.Tiguan will likely have a 282-hp rear-mounted motor and 77-kWh battery. A 4Motion all-wheel-drive model will add a front motor for a combined 295 hp powered by the same 77-kWh battery.
Volkswagen says the ID.Tiguan will go up to 373 miles on a charge, but that figure is calculated on the more generous WLTP test cycle. Figure max available range at just over 300 miles in the U.S., with AWD and other features costing some range in certain versions. There will also be a full one-pedal driving mode for those who prefer it.
The ID.Tiguan’s profile is clean and simple. A character line runs from the front to the rear, passing below the beltline and giving the SUV a long profile. The long C-pillar, combined with the sloping roofline and low ride height, makes the rear look almost like a station wagon’s. The big wheels and skinny tires also give it more of a car aesthetic than a traditional SUV.
The pronounced wheel arches help give this EV a proper SUV look, while the rear features two small, three-dimensional oval-shaped taillights on each side. Overall, the design looks more mature than that of the ID4, which could help the ID.Tiguan stand out in an increasingly crowded EV market.
Interior Features and Improvements
Inside the ID.Tiguan, Volkswagen’s latest design language takes another step forward. The dashboard features complementary screens on either side of the dash flanking a larger central infotainment screen. The driver’s screen is 10 inches, the infotainment screen 15 inches, and the passenger screen (which will probably only be available on top trims) is 12 inches. The passenger screen isn’t visible to the driver, so it can show videos, games, and web browsing while moving with sound coming through Bluetooth-paired headphones.
The driver’s display, which unlike the passenger’s will actually get used regularly, gets its own party trick with a “Retro” mode that replaces the modern instruments with the classic blue-red gauges of a MkIV Golf. On the infotainment screen, a “virtual garage” will display your choice of six classic production and race cars.
Below all that we’re happy to see a row of physical climate control buttons as Volkswagen retreats from its all-touch-sensitive button phase. Further down, a suspended center console features a pair of MagSafe wireless phone chargers and a physical volume knob. Over on the doors, we’re happy to report separate window switches for all four windows are present again.
New driver aid features include the optional Connected Travel Assist system, which can do semi-automated lane changes when using cruise control and steering assistance on the highway. The cruise control, meanwhile, can automatically recognize and stop at red lights.
The Style model features sporty looking front seats, but the R-Line takes it a step further with one-piece backrests and cutouts below the headrests meant to evoke racing seats. The rear seat does a 60/40 split with a passthrough in the middle seat. All the way back, there’s a two-level cargo floor with plenty of space underneath. It’s complemented by a small and oddly shaped front trunk with just over a cubic foot of total space.
A number of upmarket features will be available, presumably on upper trim levels. They include massaging front seats, heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a 480-watt Harman Kardon stereo. A digital key will be available for the first time through the Volkswagen phone app, and a PowerSocket adapter for the charging port lets you plug household appliances into the car.
A Big Opportunity
The 2028 VW ID.Tiguan has a lot to prove. It needs to keep the comfort and practicality that made the ID4 appealing while fixing the range and charging issues that allowed newer competitors to pull ahead. European pricing will start at the equivalent of $47,900, which is about $2,700 more than what an ID4 currently starts at. We expect to see a similar number when the U.S. MSRP is officially announced.
This story was originally published on September 28. It has ben updated with the latest information and photos.
2028 Volkswagen ID.Tiguan Specifications | |
BASE PRICE | $47,000 (est) |
LAYOUT | Rear- or front- and rear-motor, RWD/AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV |
MOTOR | 188-282-hp/NA-lb-ft rear; 292-hp/NA-lb-ft comb front and rear |
TRANSMISSION | 1-speed |
CURB WEIGHT | NA |
WHEELBASE | NA |
L x W x H | NA |
0–60 MPH | NA |
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON | NA |
EPA RANGE, COMB | 320 miles (est) |
ON SALE | Late 2027 |
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