2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Priced From $26,245, Third Row Costs 500 Times More Than Challenger Demon's Second Row

Timothy Cain
by Timothy Cain

Volkswagen of America announced pricing for the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan starts at $26,245, including fees, when the second-generation small crossover arrives at U.S. dealers this summer.

Volkswagen will charge $500 for an optional third row of seats for buyers who are selecting 4Motion all-wheel drive. Front-wheel drive 2018 Tiguans include the third row as standard equipment

Base Tiguan pricing increases by only $385 compared with the 2017 model, another sign that Volkswagen plans to move the first-generation Tiguan — which takes the Tiguan Limited name — downmarket.

The top-spec 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan’s U.S. price, when every option and package plus all-wheel drive and a third row are added to the SEL Premium trim, climbs to $40,445.

All-wheel drive, with four selectable modes, is a $1,300 option on each of the Tiguan’s four trim levels: S, SE, SEL, and SEL Premium.

To the S’s standard equipment (6.5-inch touchscreenm 17-inch alloys, LED daytime running lights, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto) the $29,980 Tiguan SE adds an 8.0-inch touchscreen, proximity access with push-button start, dual-zone automatic climatr control, leatherette seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. Forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, rear traffic alert, and blind spot monitoring are also standard on the SE — they cost $850 as a Driver Assistance Package on the Tiguan S.

The $33,450 SEL swaps the 17-inch wheels for 18s and adds navigation, a power tailgate, remote start, a panoramic sunroof (that costs $1,200 on the Tiguan SE), and adaptive cruise control. At the top of the heap, the $37,150 Tiguan SEL Premium exchanges the 18-inch wheels for 19-inch wheels and adds adaptive front-lighting, rain-sensing wipers, a hands-free power tailgate, a heated steering wheel, and leather seating. The SEL Premium also includes lane departure warning with lane assist, auto high beams, ParkPilot, an overhead view camera, Fender audio, and a 12.3-inch Digital Cockpit display in the gauge cluster.

For $1,795, the Tiguan SEL can add an R-Line package with sportier exterior design elements and ParkPilot. The R-Line package is $1,495 extra on the SEL Premium, which already includes ParkPilot. The R-Line package won’t be available at launch.

All Tiguans bound for the United States are fitted with a new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, producing 184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque, that makes less horsepower than the old Tiguan’s 2.0T but more torque.

With nearly a foot of extra length, the new Tiguan promises 58-percent more cargo volume. Launched with the larger Atlas in May, the Tiguan also inclues a six-year/72,000-mile comprehensive warranty.

Prices for the 2017 Honda CR-V, America’s top-selling utility vehicle in each of the last five years and a prime Tiguan rival, start at $24,985 and top out at $34,735. The CR-V, of course, doesn’t offer a third row of seating, let alone come standard with sixth and seventh seats.

The Nissan Rogue, on the other hand, is America’s top-selling utility vehicle through 2017’s first five months. A Family Package drives the base 2017 Rogue’s price up to $26,570, $325 more than the entry-level 2018 Tiguan S.

Timothy Cain is a contributing analyst at The Truth About Cars and Autofocus.ca and the founder and former editor of GoodCarBadCar.net. Follow on Twitter @timcaincars.

Timothy Cain
Timothy Cain

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  • Oberkanone Oberkanone on Jun 15, 2017

    Is there a "Limited" trim level for the Tiguan Limited?

    • Mchan1 Mchan1 on Jun 15, 2017

      The current smaller Tiguan model will become the 'Tiguan Limited', based on some media reports from VW, which will continue to make the older Tiguan model before phasing it out. It's similar to what Nissan did with the old smaller Rogue by making it the 'Rogue Limited' before phasing it out years later.

  • Bryanska Bryanska on Jun 15, 2017

    Ugh I would not want to compete in this segment. The Edge, the RX, the SRX, the Volvo... all excellent big two-row machines. The third row will be a non-starter for this car.

    • La834 La834 on Jun 15, 2017

      Making three-row seating standard on FWD models but optional with AWD is just bonkers. Let's not have a two-row FWD price leader that could help sway a few buyers away from CR-Vs and RAV4s.... The *transferable* 6 year/72,000 mile warranty is a big plus that should help mollify those who are antsy about VW reliability as well as bolster residual values. It will likely crush VW's 'certified pre-owned' program though; why pay more than used-car prices for "certified" cars when regular used cars still have two years left on the factory warranty?

  • MaintenanceCosts It's not a Benz or a Jag / it's a 5-0 with a rag /And I don't wanna brag / but I could never be stag
  • 3-On-The-Tree Son has a 2016 Mustang GT 5.0 and I have a 2009 C6 Corvette LS3 6spd. And on paper they are pretty close.
  • 3-On-The-Tree Same as the Land Cruiser, emissions. I have a 1985 FJ60 Land Cruiser and it’s a beast off-roading.
  • CanadaCraig I would like for this anniversary special to be a bare-bones Plain-Jane model offered in Dynasty Green and Vintage Burgundy.
  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
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