Volkswagen Tiguan interior
The Tiguan’s interior is intuitively laid-out and has impressive optional tech. Most of its materials feel fairly plush too, but it doesn’t look particularly exciting…
Style
It might not be quite as interesting to look at as the quirky cloth-trimmed cabin you get in a Peugeot 3008 but the VW Tiguan’s interior is sensibly laid out and everything feels solid.
All the buttons you’ll use regularly are within easy reach and most operate with a posh-feeling metallic click. There’s even a soft felt lining in the door bins and some grippy rubber mats in the storage cubbies to stop smaller items rattling around.
Entry-level S models come with a neat leather-trimmed steering wheel, cloth seats and grey plastic trims on the dashboard and centre console, while SE versions get brighter silver trims and mood lighting for the front footwells.
Pick a mid-range SE L car instead and you’ll get some slick glossy black plastic trims on the dashboard and centre console – but be careful not to drop your keys on these – they scratch quite easily. Top-spec R-Line Tiguans get more resilient aluminium-effect trims, stainless steel pedals and a sporty black roof lining instead of the standard grey fabric.
Unfortunately, leather seats will set you back more than £1,500 – even on the top-spec Volkswagen Tiguan – and the plastic trims on the rear doors feel horribly scratchy compared to those in the front.
There are very few hard plastics inside and the level of technology you can add is impressive
Infotainment
Even the entry-level Volkswagen Tiguan comes with an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The screen is bright and the large menu icons make it relatively easy to use on the move. It responds quickly to your inputs and comes with Bluetooth connectivity for your phone.
Unfortunately, you don’t get satellite navigation in S models – you’ll have to pay extra for an SE car. It’s relatively easy to input a postcode using the on-screen keyboard and you can choose from three routes based on distance, time and fuel usage. You also get live traffic updates as standard alongside a handy feature that’ll help you find an empty parking space nearby.
If you don’t like VW’s own sat-nav system you can always mirror your phone’s navigation apps through the Tiguan’s built-in screen using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. These smartphone mirroring features come as standard on all but entry-level S models (where they’re a £170 option) and they also let you listen to music from apps such as Spotify through the car’s stereo.
Speaking of stereos, the optional Dynaudio speaker system is well worth paying an extra £500 for if you’re serious about sound quality. It isn’t just louder than the Tiguan’s standard setup but it delivers more powerful bass and clearer treble, too.
Another worthy upgrade is VW’s Active Info Display – a high-resolution 12.3-inch screen behind the steering wheel that replaces conventional analogue dials. It’ll set you back £590 on S and SE models but comes as standard on SE L and R Line cars. It’s just as sharp and bright as the system you’ll find in many high-spec Audis and can display a combination of sat-nav directions, media playback and speedometer functions right in your eye line.