2017 Volkswagen Tiguan
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2017 models.

- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
- Body styles
- 2.0 4motion 4dr SUV, 2.0 FWD 4dr SUV
- Engines
- 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
- Horsepower
- 200 hp
- Transmission
- 6-speed automatic
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Seats
- 5
- Fuel
- Premium Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 22 combined · 20 city / 24 hwy
- Length
- 174.4 in
- Curb weight
- 3,393–3,591 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 4 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
- Few owner complaints76 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 321 for similar models.
Watch out for
- Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 18 similar 2017 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan is a small SUV offered with a 2.0L 4-cyl turbo engine and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 174 inches long and 71 inches wide on a 102-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,591 lb (2.0 4motion 4dr SUV).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 22 MPG combined (20 city / 24 highway), 9% worse than the 2017 small SUV average of 24.3 MPG, for an estimated $3,750 a year in fuel.
NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.
It has 4 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 76 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the air bags.
What changed for 2017
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2016 Tiguan — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2016; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2016 Tiguan →
Trims, performance & features
Trims
Safety & driver-assist features
Built in: Osnabruck, Germany
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 5 2017 Tiguan configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 4motion 4dr SUV | 174.4 in | 71.3 in | 66.9 in | 102.4 in | 61.8 / 61.8 in | 3,591 lb | 57/43 |
| 2.0 FWD 4dr SUV | 174.4 in | 71.3 in | 66.9 in | 102.4 in | 61.8 / 61.8 in | 3,393 lb | 57/43 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiguan | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 24 / 22 | -9% | $3,750 | 412 |
| Tiguan 4motion | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 23 / 21 | -8% | $3,900 | 424 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2017 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan.
Similar 2017 small SUVs
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan (this car) | 22 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2017 Toyota RAV4 | 32 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2017 Honda CR-V | 30 MPG | ★★★★★ | 7 |
| 2017 Hyundai Tucson | 28 MPG | ★★★★★ | 3 |
| 2017 Subaru Forester | 28 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2017 Mazda CX-5 | 27 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2017 Kia Sportage | 26 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
Recalls (4)
Unknown Or Other · May 5, 2021
NHTSA campaign 21V321000 · 46 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
- Risk
- Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
- Fix
- Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.
Unknown Or Other · May 16, 2018
NHTSA campaign 18V329000 · 252 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Eos, 2012 Passat, 2012-2016 CC, 2015-2016 e-Golf, 2011-2015 Touareg, 2012-2015 and 2017 Tiguan, and 2011-2016 Golf and 2011-2013 GTI vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
- Risk
- If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
- Fix
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will repair the vehicles to make them fully compliant or Volkswagen will repurchase them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Air Bags › Frontal · Feb 9, 2018
NHTSA campaign 18V102000 · 3,768 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Tiguan Limited vehicles. The front driver air bag installed on these vehicles may not be intended for use in vehicles sold in the United States. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, the incorrect air bags may not protect the driver as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering wheel and front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began May 30, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69V2.
Seat Belts › Pretensioner · Dec 29, 2016
NHTSA campaign 16V955000 · 5,947 vehicles
- Problem
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2017 Audi A7, A4, A6, Volkswagen Golf and Tiguan vehicles and 2016 Volkswagen e-Golf vehicles for driver frontal air bags, passenger frontal air bags or head air bags that may not deploy properly. Additionally, certain 2017 Audi Q7, A4 Sedan, A4 Allroad, and 2018 Audi Q5 vehicles are being recalled because the seat belt pretensioners may not activate properly.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, if the air bags and/or the seat belt pretensioners do not inflate or function properly, the vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury.
- Fix
- Volkswagen and Audi will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected air bags and seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Not every 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 4 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Air Bags — 24 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
- Engine — 15 owner reports. Cold-start the engine, listen for knocking, and watch for warning lights or hesitation on acceleration.
- Steering — 13 owner reports. Turn lock-to-lock while parked and on the road; listen for noises and feel for heavy or loose steering.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 26,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Tiguan years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Tiguan | 29 | 184.3 in | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 Tiguan | 29 | 184.3 in | Not rated | 0 | 37 |
| 2025 Tiguan | 29 | 184.3 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 56 |
| 2024 Tiguan | 27 | 185.8 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 76 |
| 2023 Tiguan | 27 | 185.8 in | ★★★★★ | 1 | 70 |
| 2022 Tiguan | 26 | 185.8 in | Not rated | 5 | 273 |
| 2021 Tiguan | 25 | 185.8 in | ★★★★★ | 5 | 144 |
| 2020 Tiguan | 25 | 185.8 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 141 |
| 2019 Tiguan | 25 | 185.8 in | ★★★★★ | 5 | 195 |
| 2018 Tiguan | 24 | 185.8 in | ★★★★★ | 14 | 294 |
| 2016 Tiguan | 23 | 174.4 in | Not rated | 2 | 97 |
| 2015 Tiguan | 23 | 174.4 in | Not rated | 4 | 62 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Volkswagen. How we calculate this →