They told us this was coming and we're here. We live in a crossover SUV world. They are the biggest selling single type of vehicle after pickup trucks, and pretty much every manufacturer makes one or more of them---in varying sizes.
As you can imagine, in that crowded a field, it's tough to stand out. And that brings us to the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan.
The Tiguan has been available for 12 years now---and it's in its second generation. It's a right-sized, cleanly styled people carrier with a 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, making 184 horsepower and connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy, according to EPA estimates, is pretty good---21 miles per gallon city, 29 highway. And the SEL Premium model I've been driving this week also has Volkswagen's 4MOTION all-wheel drive, so it's ready to go when the snow finally starts falling in the Sierra.
The base price of the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0T SEL Premium with 4MOTION is $37,195 and that comes with a very lengthy list of standard equipment:
- Anti-slip regulation.
- Engine brake assist.
- Electronic brake pressure distribution.
- Hydraulic brake assist.
- Electronic stability control.
- Electronic differential lock.
- Intelligent crash response system.
- Rear view camera system.
- Tire pressure monitoring system.
- 19-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires.
- Automatic LED headlights and LED daytime running lights.
- LED taillights.
- Adaptive front lighting system.
- Halogen fog lights.
- Low-speed cornering lights.
- Power folding heated side mirrors with position memory and integrated turn signals.
- Rain-sensing variable intermittent windshield wipers with heated washer nozzles.
- Rear window wiper and washer.
- Silver roof rails.
- Power tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof.
- Dual-zone climate control with second-row air vents.
- Heated, leather-wrapped three-spoke multifunction steering wheel.
- Tilting and telescoping steering column.
- Heated 10-way power driver's seat with lumbar support and position memory.
- Heated six-way manual front passenger seat with height adjustment.
- 40/20/40 split folding rear seat, sliding and reclining, with armrest.
- Leather seating surfaces.
- Front center console with cupholders, armrest and storage.
- Carpeted cargo area with tie-down hooks and folding tonneau privacy cover.
- Auto-dimming inside rear-view mirror.
- Ambient interior lighting, front footwell lights and illuminated vanity mirrors.
- Illuminated door sill scuff plates.
- Carpeted floor mats, first and second rows.
- Overhead view camera.
- Park distance control, front and rear.
- Volkswagen Digital Cockpit (fully configurable digital gauge cluster).
- Adaptive cruise control with stop & go.
- Forward collision warning and autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian monitoring (front assist).
- Active blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.
- Lane keeping system.
- High beam control.
- Remote engine start.
- Keyless access.
- Pushbutton start.
- Remote power liftgate with hands-free open and close.
- Navigation.
- Fender Premium audio system.
- Apple CarPlay.
- Bluetooth.
- SiriusXM Satellite Radio (limited free trial).
- Electric parking brake.
- Anti-theft alarm with engine immobilizer.
- VW Car-Net (App Connect, Guide & Inform, Security & Service).
Again, that's all standard for $37,195. And that's all. Volkswagen is one of the manufacturers that packages trim levels a certain way and avoids the complexity of extra-cost options. So, with $995 destination charge, the bottom line on the window sticker for the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0T SEL Premium with 4MOTION is $38,190. Which is competitive in its class and within a few bucks of the average price of a new car these days.
With its German engineering, attention to detail, high-quality materials and workmanship, the Tiguan is a solid choice in this crowded field. And with 4MOTION, it's very much worth cross-shopping against competitors like the Subaru Outback.