Quick Facts
- Original starting price: $26,440 (including a $1,195 destination fee)
- Class: Compact SUV
- Competitors: Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Toyota RAV4
- KBB.com Fair Purchase Price
Introduction
The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan ensured that anyone looking for a compact SUV offering a mix of performance, fuel economy, and interior space had at least one option. Unlike the vast majority of its competitors, the Tiguan offered the possibility of 3-row seating with room for up to seven passengers.
The 2021 Tiguan featured one powertrain combination: a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine tied to an 8-speed transmission, putting out 184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. It came with standard front-wheel drive (FWD), and all-wheel drive (AWD) was available. The combination wasn’t race-track ready, but powerful enough to easily get around town and make merging with highway traffic a non-event. Fuel economy was middle of the road for the segment, coming in at an EPA-reported 23 mpg city/29 mpg highway/25 mpg combined for the RWD model. If your vehicle had VW’s 4Motion AWD, you paid only a minor penalty at 21 mpg city/27 mpg highway/24 mpg combined.
VW offered buyers some choices when it came to the Tiguan. The German automaker offered the SUV in five trims: S, SE, SE R-Line Black, SEL, and the top-of-the-line SEL Premium R-Line 4Motion. Adding AWD was a $1,300 option for each trim level. The base price for the Tiguan in 2021 was $26,440, and it rose steadily to $40,290 for the SEL Premium R-Line 4Motion. No hybrids were available.
While it offered VW’s usual conservative but not staid exterior styling, the Tiguan enjoyed one other advantage over many vehicles in its class: a third-row seat. However, that was only available in AWD models. The others offering 3-row seating included the Mitsubishi Outlander, Kia Sportage, and Kia Sportage Hybrid. Other competitors in the segment include the Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Rogue, and Ford Escape.
Volkswagen CPO Warranty Program Highlights
- Limited Warranty: 12 months/12,000 miles from purchase for 2018 or 2019 vehicles
- Limited Warranty: two years/24,000 miles from purchase for 2020 and newer vehicles
- 24-Hour Roadside Assistance concurrent with limited warranty
- Buying a Certified Pre-Owned Volkswagen
Key Competitors
KBB Review Highlights
Volkswagen’s reputation for performance continued with the 2021 Tiguan. Our reviewer lauded the compact SUV’s performance while driving in the city while longing for more power from the accelerator once on the freeway. However, the impressive ride quality, quiet cabin, and excellent handling offset the disappointment in the lack of passing performance.
The Tiguan is one of the longer vehicles in the segment and is surprisingly agile. The length also makes it a very comfortable vehicle for drivers and passengers, especially the sliding and reclining second-row seats. Our reviewer noted that the third row is more suited for children than adults and chews up much of the available rear cargo space when used.
The Tiguan has plenty of storage. The interior is not only spacious but attractive and features plenty of technology, including a large touchscreen as well as safety aids like rear cross-traffic alert with emergency braking, an overview camera, and more. Our reviewers praise the Tiguan’s outward visibility, noting its tall greenhouse and slim pillars. The Tiguan wasn’t the most or least expensive vehicle in its segment when new, and that’s carried over to its current used values.
See Kelley Blue Book’s Expert Review of the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan
If you’re ready to shop, see certified pre-owned 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan models
Related reading:
2024 Volkswagen Tiguan Expert Review
2023 Volkswagen Tiguan Expert Review
2022 Volkswagen Tiguan Expert Review
