2022 Volkswagen Tiguan - Refreshed CUV to Arrive… Eventually

by Tim Healey

Published: July 1st, 2020

2022 volkswagen tiguan refreshed cuv to arrive eventually

Volkswagen just revealed the new Tiguan. For next year.

Why did the brand take the virtual wraps off the refreshed version of the Tiguan a year and a half before it goes on sale here, as a 2022 model? Because Europe gets it first. It goes on sale there “shortly.”

Might as well just gather media via Skype and tell us all about it now, apparently.

The refresh makes a digital gauge cluster standard and adds a couple of new pieces of driver-aid tech, and like with the Arteon, Europe will get a high-performance R trim and a plug-in hybrid.

Outside, the grille is larger, and it sort of blends into the LED headlamps (standard), while the bumpers also get a makeover. Rear lettering sees a changed font and the Tiguan lettering moves to below the VW badge, the available hands-free liftgate gets an update that’s unspecified in the press materials, and there are new wheels. New paint colors are available, too: Oryx White and Kings Red.

Inside, the steering wheel now adds capacitive-touch controls, and touch-screen controls for the available automatic-climate-control system are also new. Heated front seats are now standard. Wireless connection is now available for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and multiple phones can be paired. An 8-inch display is standard and a 10.25-inch display is available, and users will be able to personalize all kinds of settings from seat position on. Ambient lighting is available, and a Fender audio system remains standard on upper trims.

TravelAssist, which can take over steering, braking, and acceleration at speeds up to 130 mph, is now available. VW makes clear the driver remains in control at all times, but the system nevertheless uses existing adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist to work. The driver must keep his/her hands on the wheel while it’s in use. VW claims a touch-based system like this is more reliable, even on flat/straight roads, than similar systems that work off of steering angle.

The same powertrain combo that greeted buyers in 2018 carries over: A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, mating to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s front- or all-wheel drive.

Us Yanks and our Canuck neighbors will continue stocking dealers with the long-wheelbase Tiguan, which arrives here in the fall of 2021 as a 2022 model. All pics here are of the shorter-wheelbase European model.

Euros also get the R trim, which makes about 314 horsepower, and a plug-in hybrid that will make about 241 horsepower.

The changes are minor, but if they tickle your Tiguan fancy, circle your calendar for fall 2021. Until then, you can make do with the current model.

[Images: Volkswagen]

#2021VolkswagenTiguan #FutureCars #NewCars #Tiguan #Volkswagen #VolkswagenTiguan

Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

More by Tim Healey

Comments

Join the conversation

3 of 5 comments

Statikboy on Jul 01, 2020

That face says: "Grommet! Do we have any cheeese?!"

Like Reply
Cimarron typeR on Jul 02, 2020

Handsome SUV in my book but I didn't even cross shop when it I saw it's 0-60 times. I just don't think I'd feel comfortable with highway driving with a full load of passengers in something with so little passing power.

Like Reply
- Digitaldoc on Jul 02, 2020
  
  The engine, a 2.0T with so little power is so detuned, I did not see any point in driving it either. Not sure why they don't offer it with some more power, at least as an option.
  
  Like

Recent Comments

Redapple2 I gave up on Honda. My 09 Accord Vs my 03. The 09s- V 6 had a slight shudder when deactivating cylinders. And the 09 did not have the 03 's electro luminescent gages. And the 09 had the most uncomfortable seats. My brother bought his 3rd and last Honda CRV. Brutal seats after 25 minutes. NOW, We are forever Toyota, Lexus, Subaru people now despite HAVING ACCESS TO gm EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT. Despite having access to the gm employee discount. Man, that is a massive statement. Wow that s bad - Under no circumstances will I have that govna crap.
Redapple2 Front tag obscured. Rear tag - clear and sharp. Huh?
Redapple2 I can state what NOT to buy. HK. High theft. Insurance. Unrefined NVH. Rapidly degrading interiors. HK? No way !
Luke42 Serious answer:Now that I DD an EV, buying an EV to replace my wife’s Honda Civic is in the queue. My wife likes her Honda, she likes Apple CarPlay, and she can’t stand Elon Musk - so Tesla starts the competition with two demerit-points and Honda starts the competition with one merit-point.The Honda Prologue looked like a great candidate until Honda announced that the partnership with GM was a one-off thing and that their future EVs would be designed in-house.Now I’m more inclined toward the Blazer EV, the vehicle on which the Prologue is based. The Blazer EV and the Ultium platform won’t be orphaned by GM any time soon. But then I have to convince my wife she would like it better than her Honda Civic, and that’s a heavy lift because she doesn’t have any reason to be dissatisfied with her current car (I take care of all of the ICE-hassles for her).Since my wife’s Honda Civic is holding up well, since she likes the car, and since I take care of most of the drawbacks of drawbacks of ICE ownership for her, there’s no urgency to replace this vehicle.Honestly, if a paid-off Honda Civic is my wife’s automotive hill to die on, that’s a pretty good place to be - even though I personally have to continue dealing the hassles and expenses of ICE ownership on her behalf.My plan is simply to wait-and-see what Honda does next. Maybe they’ll introduce the perfect EV for her one day, and I’ll just go buy it.
2ACL I have a soft spot for high-performance, shark-nosed Lancers (I considered the less-potent Ralliart during the period in which I eventually selected my first TL SH-AWD), but it's can be challenging to find a specimen that doesn't exhibit signs of abuse, and while most of the components are sufficiently universal in their function to service without manufacturer support, the SST isn't one of them. The shops that specialize in it are familiar with the failure as described by the seller and thus might be able to fix this one at a substantial savings to replacement. There's only a handful of them in the nation, however. A salvaged unit is another option, but the usual risks are magnified by similar logistical challenges to trying to save the original.I hope this is a case of the seller overvaluing the Evo market rather than still owing or having put the mods on credit. Because the best offer won't be anywhere near the current listing.