Engine Enigma, Handy Handling

Staffers here atMTare split on the Tiguan's iteration of the ubiquitous VW 2.0T; prior drives and tests of the compact crossover concluded the powertrain clunky and sluggish, returning an 8.6-second 0-60 mph stroll and a middling 45-65 mph passing time. This writer found the updated Tiguan's same 184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft more than enough for school shuttles, coffee cruises, and dinner dashes. The eight-speed auto fades into the background—as it should—and when smacked with a huge stick, fires off respectably quick manual shifts when trying to hustle.

We're more conjoined when the subject turns to the suspension and handling. Not that Tiguan customers are remotely concerned with how their new workaday three-row rips through the canyons, but hey—it does. Even when driven like a total moron, handling and grip is beyond adequate for its intended purpose. We're not going to go into the particulars of exactly how it carries itself through the more Miata-minded corners, because let's be honest, who really cares—but this innate sure-footedness translates to confidence during some of the more tricky maneuvers you may potentially encounter on a day-to-day basis. Think emergency lane changes, quick brake stops, and making an almost-missed turn, all handled with less of a cortisol spike.

When you're not acting the fool—as we did, and do often—it's a nice day-to-day conveyance. However, while we're glad to see the digital gauge is now standard on all trims, the updated interface is more restrictive than the older design, and looking too closely at the screen's resolution reveals it's lower than the latest and greatest units in other cars.

Is It Worth It?

Also, while some trims provide second-row passengers with access to a set of USB-C ports for device care and feeding, the unfortunate souls crammed into the optional third row won't have time to appreciate the small cupholders provided; they'll be too focused on their cramped muscles due to the contortions required for average-size people to fit.

Modern Volkswagens have never occupied the bottom portion of the pricing bracket, but the updated Tiguan appears nicely equipped for the price. We split our time between the $29,495 front-wheel-drive SE and an all-wheel-drive $30,995 SE, and we felt no appreciable need for a buyer to jump to the SEL aside from the lack of navigation on the front-wheel-drive model.

New face, new price. Sliding into the basest-of-base 2022 Tiguan S will cut an extra $750 from your piggy bank than before, with prices starting at a still-reasonable $27,190. Want more? Pay more—$30,690 for the SE, $37,790 for the big, bad SEL R-Line. For those trims where AWD isn't standard, you'll need to cough up an extra $1,500 for the privilege.

So, if you're one of the participants who sucked down free granola bars and coffee at one of Volkswagen's many market research clinics, you'd better put your money where your mouth is—the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan hits dealers by the end of this year. Enjoy your standard heated seats.

2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Specifications
PRICE	$29,495 (as tested)
LAYOUT	Front-engine, FWD/AWD, 5- or 7-pass, 4-door SUV
ENGINE	2.0L/184 hp/221 lb-ft DOHC 16-valve turbocharged four-cylinder
TRANSMISSION	8-speed auto
CURB WEIGHT	3,765 lb (FWD); 3,856 (AWD)
WHEELBASE	109.9 in
L x W x H	186.1 x 72.5 x 66.4 in
0-60 MPH	8.6 sec ( est)
EPA FUEL ECON	23/30/26 city/hwy/combined
ON SALE	Q3/Q4 2021