2018 Volkswagen Tiguan: A Critical Step On Volkswagen's Road To Recovery
<div class="article-body-content clearfix"> <div class="article-text clearfix"> <div class=""> <div class="fbs-brightcove autoplay-video sidebar-video sticky relative-video ng-scope"> <div class="ng-isolate-scope"> <div class="video-container"> </div> <div class="video-playlist"><img class="size-full wp-image-6335" style="line-height: 1.3;" src="https://blogs-images.forbes.com/kbrauer/files/2017/06/2018-Volkswagen-Tiguan-Front.jpg?width=960" alt="2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Front" data-height="391" data-width="747" /></div> </div> </div> <div id="attachment_6335" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <div class="article-body-image"> <p class="article-photo-credit">Volkswagen of America</p> </div> <div class="ng-scope"> <div class="caption-container"> <p class="wp-caption-text">The all-new 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan should give a boost to VW sales</p> </div> </div> </div> <p>Volkswagen's U.S. sales topped out in 2012 at an impressive 438,000 units. That number is even more impressive given VW's sales of 256,000 units just 2 years earlier. The company appeared to be on a major growth spurt, with no end in sight. Of course the sales growth did end, starting with a 30,000-unit slide in 2013 followed by another 40,000-units in 2014. In 2015 VW sales slid yet again, by 17,000 units, and last year the company lost another 27,000 units, coming in at just 322,000 total U.S. sales.</p> <div id="attachment_6333" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <div class="article-body-image"><img class="size-full wp-image-6333" src="https://blogs-images.forbes.com/kbrauer/files/2017/06/2018-Volkswagen-Tiguan-Front-Driving.jpg?width=960" alt="2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Front Driving" data-height="473" data-width="750" /> <p class="article-photo-credit">Volkswagen of America</p> </div> <div class="ng-scope"> <div class="caption-container"> <p class="wp-caption-text">The larger 2018 Tiguan rides on Volkswagen's MQB global platform</p> </div> </div> </div> <p>How does an automaker lose 25 percent of its sales over the same 5-year period that new car sales increased 20 percent? If you're thinking the answer includes the word "diesel" keep in mind that 80,000 of that 116,000-unit slide happened <em>before</em> the diesel scandal broke. The word you're looking for is "SUVs" -- or, in VW's case, "lack of SUVs." The massive consumer shift from cars to SUVs over the past 5 years is something even the most prophetic industry analysts couldn't (and didn't) fully predict. Some car companies were better prepared for this shift than others. With just two aging SUVs in its product line Volkswagen was on the "not prepared" side of this spectrum, thus the sales implosion.</p> <div id="article-0-inread" class="inread ng-isolate-scope inread-active"> </div> <div id="attachment_6337" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <div class="article-body-image"><img class="size-full wp-image-6337" src="https://blogs-images.forbes.com/kbrauer/files/2017/06/2018-Volkswagen-Tiguan-Interior.jpg?width=960" alt="2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Interior" data-height="500" data-width="750" /> <p class="article-photo-credit">Volkswagen of America</p> </div> <div class="ng-scope"> <div class="caption-container"> <p class="wp-caption-text">The interior features high build quality and comfortable seating</p> </div> </div> </div> <p>The all-new 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan is the second step in addressing VW's SUV problem (the all-new Volkswagen Atlas, just hitting showrooms now, was the first). The 2018 Tiguan's full redesign includes a 10.6-inch increase in overall length, a turbo engine, available 3rd-row seating, new advanced safety technology and a longer, more comprehensive warranty. An aggressive and sweeping redesign? Undeniably -- and exactly what Volkswagen needs to re-engage U.S. consumers.</p> <div class="vestpocket"> </div> <div id="attachment_6339" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <div class="article-body-image"><img class="size-full wp-image-6339" src="https://blogs-images.forbes.com/kbrauer/files/2017/06/2018-Volkswagen-Tiguan-Rear.jpg?width=960" alt="2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Rear" data-height="394" data-width="750" /> <p class="article-photo-credit">Volkswagen of America</p> </div> <div class="ng-scope"> <div class="caption-container"> <p class="wp-caption-text">The 2018 Tiguan's exterior styling looks good from every angle</p> </div> </div> </div> <p>We drove the all-new Tiguan in the Rocky Mountains just west of Denver, Colorado. Manufacturers often avoid high-altitude press introductions. They figure the thiner air does nothing to assist with engine performance, giving performance-hungry automotive journalists a reason to label their vehicle "underpowered." The new Tiguan uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. The turbo engine should counter Colorado's thinner air, but it still struggled to move the Tiguan and felt, well...underpowered. That 184 horsepower is 16 less than last year's Tiguan, and we also noticed the SUV's towing capacity dropped from 2,200 pounds to 1,500 pounds during the redesign.</p> <p> </p> <div id="attachment_6340" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <div class="article-body-image"><img class="size-full wp-image-6340" src="https://blogs-images.forbes.com/kbrauer/files/2017/06/2018-Volkswagen-Tiguan-Shifter.jpg?width=960" alt="2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Shifter" data-height="500" data-width="750" /> <p class="article-photo-credit">Volkswagen of America</p> </div> <div class="ng-scope"> <div class="caption-container"> <p class="wp-caption-text">A new 8-speed automatic sends power to either the front or all four wheels</p> </div> </div> </div> <p>As a company trying to win over U.S. buyers, less power doesn't seem like the best route. It's possible Volkswagen felt the 2018 Tiguan's new transmission, an 8-speed automatic replacing last year's 6-speed, would offset the drop in power. The 8-speed works well enough, but it left us wondering why Volkswagen didn't offer its dual-clutch DSG transmission, at least in higher trim versions. The DSG likely costs more than the new 8-speed, but top-line versions of the Tiguan cost nearly $40,000, and for that much money a DSG should be included to offer more efficient power delivery and better performance.</p> <div id="attachment_6338" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <div class="article-body-image"><img class="size-full wp-image-6338" src="https://blogs-images.forbes.com/kbrauer/files/2017/06/2018-Volkswagen-Tiguan-Rear-Seat.jpg?width=960" alt="2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Rear Seat" data-height="500" data-width="750" /> <p class="article-photo-credit">Volkswagen of America</p> </div> <div class="ng-scope"> <div class="caption-container"> <p class="wp-caption-text">Rear seat space and comfort is excellent in the new Tiguan</p> </div> </div> </div> <div id="article-0-inread" class="inread ng-isolate-scope inread-active"> </div> <p>With its 2.0-liter engine and 8-speed auto the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan manages 22 city mpg, 27 highway mpg and 24 combined mpg in front-wheel drive form. Those numbers drop to 21/27/23 in all-wheel-drive versions. The AWD models cost $1,300 more than FWD Tiguan's, but they do include multiple driver modes (Eco, Normal, Sport and Custom). The Sport mode somewhat improves the Tiguan's power issue, and we're confident at lower altitudes the SUV would gain a bit more thrust. But we also drove the car with just two adults and some carry-on luggage. Adding more passengers and cargo could offset what power gain the Tiguan gets at lower elevations.</p> <div id="attachment_6331" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <div class="article-body-image"><img class="size-full wp-image-6331" src="https://blogs-images.forbes.com/kbrauer/files/2017/06/2018-Volkswagen-Tiguan-Cargo.jpg?width=960" alt="2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Cargo" data-height="500" data-width="750" /> <p class="article-photo-credit">Volkswagen of America</p> </div> <div class="ng-scope"> <div class="caption-container"> <p class="wp-caption-text">The Tiguan's third row is tiny and limits cargo space when deployed</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="vestpocket"> </div> <p>If you carry up to five occupants in the new Tiguan they'll be content in the compact SUV's updated cabin. As the latest model built on Volkswagen's MQB global platform the 2018 Tiguan benefits from a space-efficient design. It packs maximum interior volume in the SUV's modest exterior dimensions, providing sufficient space and comfort in the first two of its three rows. That third row suffers the same issue we've seen in other three-row compact SUVs. Even with its additional 10.6 inches there's not enough space in the Tiguan to carry two full-size people in the last row. And when that seat is up there's very little cargo space.</p> <div id="attachment_6336" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <div class="article-body-image"><img class="size-full wp-image-6336" src="https://blogs-images.forbes.com/kbrauer/files/2017/06/2018-Volkswagen-Tiguan-Gauge-Cluster.jpg?width=960" alt="2018 Volkswange Tiguan Gauge Cluster" data-height="500" data-width="750" /> <p class="article-photo-credit">Volkswagen of America</p> </div> <div class="ng-scope"> <div class="caption-container"> <p class="wp-caption-text">The VW "Digital Cockpit" gauge cluster is vibrant and offers personalized information</p> </div> </div> </div> <p>Of course you don't have to get a third row in the new Tiguan. Front-wheel drive models include all three rows standard, but all-wheel-drive models make it optional. The base price for a FWD 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan S is $26,245 and includes LED taillights, LED daytime running lights, 17-inch aluminum wheels, a rearview camera, start/stop technology and the Apple CarPlay/Android Auto interface. As previously mentioned, adding 4Motion all-wheel drive costs $1,300. The Tiguan SE costs $29,980 and adds a bright 8-inch central touchscreen, leatherette seats, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, a power driver's seat, Front Assist collision mitigation and blind spot monitoring.</p> <div id="attachment_6334" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <div class="article-body-image"><img class="size-full wp-image-6334" src="https://blogs-images.forbes.com/kbrauer/files/2017/06/2018-Volkswagen-Tiguan-Front-Orange.jpg?width=960" alt="2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Front Orange" data-height="467" data-width="750" /> <p class="article-photo-credit">Volkswagen of America</p> </div> <div class="ng-scope"> <div class="caption-container"> <p class="wp-caption-text">The new 2018 Tiguan will be a welcome addition to VW's U.S. line up</p> </div> </div> </div> <p>The Tiguan SEL costs $33,450 and add 18-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof, a navigation system, smart cruise control, a power liftgate and remote start. The top-line SEL Premium costs $37,150 and features 19-inch wheels, LED headlights, leather seats, a memory driver's seat, ambient lighting, VW's "Digital Cockpit" gauge cluster, a Fender premium audio system, surround view parking cameras and hands-free liftgate operation. An "R-Line Package" with 20-inch wheels plus sporty exterior and interior treatments, will be offered later in the year for $1,795 on SEL models and $1,495 on SEL Premium Tiguans.</p> <p>As an all-new offering in the market's hottest segment, the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan is VW's best opportunity to reverse the brand's 4-year sales decline. The Tiguan will please buyers looking for VW handling dynamics and build quality in a functional 5-passenger SUV. It arrives at dealers in late July. Shoppers seeking a genuine 7-passener vehicle with satisfying power delivery should probably look at something in the midsize SUV category.</p> </div> </div> </div>
