VW Tiguan Models: Find The Right SUV For Your Needs

Quick Summary

The Tiguan has come to the US in three generations, and each one suits a different buyer. First-generation 2009 to 2017 models are the budget pick with a 200-hp turbo four and five seats. The 2018 to 2024 Tiguan is the only version with a small third row, which came standard on front-wheel-drive models, while most 4Motion versions seat five. The 2025 and newer Tiguan is two-row only, with more power and newer tech, and the 2026 SEL R-Line Turbo raises output to 268 hp.

Volkswagen has put three pretty different Tiguans on US roads since 2009, with honestly less in common than the badge lets on, so when people ask us about VW Tiguan models we usually say to pick the generation first and fuss over trims later, since that more or less gets you to the right one.

We see Tiguans of nearly every vintage roll through AutoTrek, and the folks who seem happiest a year later are, in our experience, the ones who showed up already knowing which generation they wanted, so here is roughly the talk we'd give a neighbor.

First-Generation Tiguan (2009 To 2017)

The original is a compact five-seater running a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated at 200 horsepower, and at launch it came in S, SE or SEL trim, with the S staying front-wheel drive and 4Motion all-wheel drive showing up as you climbed the trim ladder.

Some early S models even left the factory with a six-speed manual, which is a bit of a unicorn now, and since these sit at the cheap end of the lot they tend to suit commuters who like a turbo without a big payment.

Space is where they fall short, with a tighter cargo area and back seat than later Tiguans, and with even a 2017 creeping up on ten years old, we'd care more about the service receipts than the paint.

Second-Generation Tiguan (2018 To 2024)

The 2018 Tiguan grew a good bit and switched to a 2.0-liter turbo making 184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque with an eight-speed automatic, and it is the generation we seem to see most.

Trims From 2018 To 2021

Early on the lineup ran S, SE, SEL and SEL Premium, R-Line styling available up top, and while the S handles the basics, the SEL Premium is where VW piled on most of the comfort and driver-assist gear.

Trims From 2022 To 2024

The 2022 refresh freshened the styling and interior tech and trimmed the lineup down to S, SE, SE R-Line Black and SEL R-Line, where the SE R-Line Black is basically an SE in sporty black exterior trim and the SEL R-Line gets 4Motion as standard.

Who Gets The Third Row

This is the only Tiguan generation with a third-row seat, and oddly enough the drivetrain decides whether a given one has it, because for 2018 the third row was standard on front-wheel-drive models and optional on 4Motion versions.

From 2022 to 2024, front-wheel-drive S, SE and SE R-Line Black models came with it while 4Motion models seat five, and the back bench is really for kids or carpool duty more than anything.

Third-Generation Tiguan (2025 And Newer)

The redesigned 2025 Tiguan dropped the third row and became a five-seat SUV, trading occasional seating for a more upscale cabin and big screens, with an updated 2.0-liter turbo making 201 horsepower, 207 lb-ft in front-wheel-drive models and 221 lb-ft with 4Motion.

For 2025 you could pick S, SE, SE R-Line Black or SEL R-Line, with 4Motion optional below the SEL R-Line, and for 2026 the top trim turned into the SEL R-Line Turbo, which Volkswagen rates at 268 horsepower and 258 lb-ft and which gets 4Motion standard.

Matching A Tiguan To Your Needs

Families who occasionally need seven seats would probably do best with front-wheel-drive 2018 to 2024 models, snug third row and all, whereas drivers heading up I-70 most winter weekends will usually be happier with 4Motion, which on later second-generation models means giving up that third row.

If budget is the main thing, first-generation Tiguans or the early second-generation S and SE trims are where we'd start, while the newest tech, extra power and a nicer cabin point to 2025 and newer models, especially the SEL R-Line Turbo.

Find Your Next Tiguan At AutoTrek

Our no-haggle, one-price guarantee covers every vehicle we sell, and each comes with a free CARFAX report plus our 3-day return policy and 3-month/3,000-mile warranty, so weighing, say, a 2019 SE against a 2023 SE R-Line Black turns out a lot less stressful.

Browse our used cars, trucks and SUVs for sale in Littleton, CO or narrow it down with our used SUV inventory and get financing and pre-approval going early, and we'll happily line up back-to-back test drives.

Frequently Asked Questions