Volkswagen Tiguan — Buyer's Guide

Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.

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Volkswagen Tiguan overview

With 342,039 currently licensed in the UK, the Volkswagen Tiguan is one of Britain's most popular cars.

Euro NCAP awarded the Tiguan 5 stars in 2024, with 96% adult occupant and 89% child protection scores.

It has a 81.5% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, tyres.

Annual running costs are estimated at £3,524 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £294/month or 44p/mile.

Theft risk is rated low at 4.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles.

NCAP Safety

2024

MOT Pass Rate

81.5%

140,000 tests

Monthly Cost

£294

est. annual total

New From

£38,000

Safety rating

Euro NCAP tested the Tiguan in 2024 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.

Adult Occupant

96%

Child Occupant

89%

Pedestrian

82%

Safety Assist

84%

Safety recalls

There are 30 known DVSA recalls affecting the Volkswagen Tiguan. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.

R/2025/223

On Tiguan Allspace vehicles of a limited production period there is a possibility that one or several faulty curtain airbags may have been fitted in the vehicle.

Build dates: 2018-12-05 to 2019-02-17

R/2025/004

Volkswagen AG has established that on VW Tiguan vehicles of a limited production period there is the possibility that because of a faulty protective felt in the event of a front crash a tear in the seat belt on the front seats could occur. In the event of an accident the seat belt could get caught in the side lever for seat height adjustment. The faulty protective felt on the lever for the seat height adjustment can cause the seat belt to tear in the event of a front crash. A torn seat belt increases the risk of severe or deadly injuries in the event of accidents.

Build dates: 2024-05-14 to 2024-05-21

R/2024/114

In Tiguan Allspace vehicles within a specified range of VINs curtain airbags with a defective gas generator may have been installed due to a manufacturing error. A defective gas generator may cause the airbag not to work correctly and therefore not provide the required level of protection. In the event of an accident where the curtain airbag is deployed components from the gas generator may become detached and injure vehicle passengers

Build dates: 2018-11-27 to 2019-02-09

R/2023/178

The function of the driver airbag inflators can degrade due to air and moisture ingress.

Build dates: 2015-02-06 to 2015-02-06

R/2022/166

On Tiguan LWB vehicles of a limited production period sporadic malfunctions in a pressure casting system caused individual rear wheel bearing housings to be fitted with oxide inclusions.

Build dates: 2021-07-23 to 2021-09-20

+ 25 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.

Reliability & MOT

Based on 140,000 MOT tests, the Tiguan has a first-time pass rate of 81.5% above the UK national average of 72%.

This is a positive sign for reliability. The Tiguan is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.

Running costs

Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Volkswagen Tiguan are estimated at around £3,524 per year, or £294 per month.

Fuel

£1,139

/year

Road Tax

£195

/year

Depreciation

£1,535

/year

MOT

£55

/year

Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.

Fuel economy

The Tiguan achieves a combined fuel economy of around 46.3 mpg (37.7 mpg urban, 53.3 mpg extra-urban).

VariantFuelCombinedEngine
TIGUANPETROL42.2 mpg1.4L
TIGUANPETROL44.1 mpg1.4L
TIGUANPETROL/ELECTRIC49.6 mpg1.5L
TIGUANDIESEL52.3 mpg1.5L
TIGUANDIESEL53.3 mpg2.0L
TIGUANPETROL33.2 mpg2.0L
TIGUANDIESEL42.8 mpg2.0L
TIGUAN ALLSPACEPETROL43.5 mpg1.4L

Depreciation

Starting from £38,000 new, a Volkswagen Tiguan typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.

AgeRetainedEst. ValueLost
1 year75%£28,500−£9,500
2 years64%£24,250−£13,750
3 years56%£21,300−£16,700
4 years50%£19,200−£18,800
5 years46%£17,650−£20,350
6 years43%£16,400−£21,600
7 years41%£15,450−£22,550
8 years39%£14,650−£23,350
9 years37%£13,950−£24,050
10 years35%£13,250−£24,750

Theft risk

The Tiguan has a theft rate of 4.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000.

How common is the Tiguan?

There are currently 342,039 licensed and 4,658 SORN Tiguans in the UK (346,697 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?

The Tiguan has a 81.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 140,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.

How safe is the Volkswagen Tiguan?

Euro NCAP awarded the Tiguan 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2024. It scored 96% for adult occupant protection, 89% for child occupant protection, 82% for vulnerable road users, and 84% for safety assist features.

How much does a Volkswagen Tiguan cost to run?

Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Tiguan are estimated at around £3,524 per year (£294/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.

Are there any recalls on the Volkswagen Tiguan?

There are 30 known safety recalls affecting the Tiguan. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.

Is the Volkswagen Tiguan likely to be stolen?

The Tiguan has a theft rate of 4.9 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated low compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Standard security precautions should be sufficient.

How much does a new Volkswagen Tiguan cost?

A new Tiguan starts from around £38,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.

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