Volkswagen’s hefty but swift full-size SUV, the Tiguan, is coming back for the 2018 model year and its second generation, and VW let several exciting details slip about how the model will change. In particular, it looks like VW aimed to add more American appeal to the Tiguan, which led to some pretty dramatic alterations and some welcome new features that considerably increase the model’s value. Read on to see what’s new with the Tiguan.
Longer Body and Cavernous Cargo Area
One of the most obvious changes visually when comparing the 2017 and 2018 models is the body length. The new Tiguan will be about 15 feet and 6 inches long, an increase of more than 10 inches in length. While not pushing the Tiguan beyond the compact SUV class, the added length will push the cargo area all the way to 37 cubic feet, a 57 percent increase over last year. But there is an even more dramatic purpose behind the model’s lengthening, which we’ll cover next.
Made For Families of Eight
That’s right, the new Tiguan will have up to three seat rows if you so desire. All-wheel drive models are the only ones capable of the third seat row, as the security of all-wheel drive over front-wheel drive is only right for the families that will need so many seats. Additionally, the third seat row is only really suitable for children given its tighter space. Still, Volkswagen saw what many drivers considered a deal breaker last year and added the capability of a third seat row to accommodate bigger families who didn’t want a hulking, full-size SUV.
Virtual Cockpit Driver Information Screen
On top of the returning 6.5-inch and 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment systems from the 2017 Tiguan, there will be a special Digital Cockpit on the top-level SEL Premium 2018 Tiguan. This 12.3-inch driver screen fits in place of the traditional gauge cluster and can be fully customized to show exactly what you want at any given time, such as song information, fuel economy numbers, or your navigation route. No longer do drivers have to look all the way to the right at the central infotainment screen to check on anything.
R-Line Package Coming Soon
Many will be happy to hear that once again the Tiguan will offer a separate package specifically for performance driving, called the Tiguan R-Line, sometime after the regular model’s release. Every Volkswagen R-Line model is akin to the top-level model of the ordinary vehicle in terms of fancy comfort and entertainment features, all while packing a range of performance-oriented parts that push the model harder and make it more appealing to sporty drivers.
With these changes in mind, it’s clear the Tiguan could be a heavy hitter in the current SUV market, especially since so many competitors with more footing in the United States have inexplicably shrunk their models to the satisfaction of few. Contact us if you’d like to know more about the upcoming Tiguan or the current models. Remember, Volkswagen is just as great at making larger vehicles like SUVs as they are at sleek sedans and hatchbacks.
Image via Pixabay
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