VW Tiguan X Debuts In China With Coupe-Like Styling

An updated Volkswagen Tiguan is coming our way for the 2022 model year. While the compact crossover maintains much of the current Tiguan's mechanical bits, it benefits fresher looks courtesy of reworked front and rear styling. Still, the boxy VW might make a more memorable impression if it offered a coupe body style. 

Meet the Tiguan X, the swoopier sibling to the standard Tiguan. Volkswagen took the wraps off the model at the Beijing Motor Show in China. Made in and for the Chinese market, the Tiguan X is a surprisingly attractive addition to the Tiguan line, but its tumbling roofline surely cuts into cargo space and likely eliminates any possibility of a third row of seats.

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That said, we could see American consumers making that sacrifice. After all, Volkswagen already bets on U.S. buyers to make that same sacrifice with the Atlas Cross Sport . If positioned to avoid sales cannibalism on Atlas Cross Sport sales, we see few reasons not to bring this slick-looking crossover to our shores as a Tiguan Cross Sport.

Nevertheless, should Volkswagen decide to ship the Tiguan X our way, the brand would be wise to swap out the standard Tiguan's 184-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine for something a little more powerful. Say, the 2022 GTI's 241-hp unit? Why not turn the Tiguan into the GTI of crossovers, Volkswagen?

Alas, we have little reason to believe this latest Tiguan model will cross the Pacific or Atlantic. At least we can take solace in the fact the latest GTI is due to arrive before the end of 2021.