Skip advert
Advertisement

Used Volkswagen Tiguan (Mk1, 2008-2016) – What do owners think?

Owners complain of reliability issues and high running costs, but the Mk1 Tiguan shares plenty of parts with the dependable Golf

The Volkswagen Tiguan finished a lowly 102nd out of the 200 cars that scored in the 2015 Driver Power survey, which may be partially down to the car's age. Volkswagen took 22nd position out of the 32 manufacturers rated.

A year later, the Tiguan was ranked 92nd out of 150 cars, with owners criticising its reliability, high running costs and uncomfortable suspension. That said, all parts are tried and tested, and the Volkswagen Tiguan even shares components with the reliable Volkswagen Golf.

Reliability

Volkswagen finished a middling 17th out of 29 brands in our 2021 Driver Power survey of manufacturers. A score of 85.97 per cent placed VW below sister brand SEAT but higher than Audi in 23rd. The badge might be premium, but the service is often anything but.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The current Volkswagen Tiguan is no better than the Mk1. In the latest 2021 survey, the Tiguan finished 62nd out of 75, making it one of the lowest-ranked SUVs. It speaks volumes that Volkswagen offers a three-year warranty, while Kia and Hyundai cover their cars for seven and five years respectively.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £38,050Avg. savings £3,063 off RRP*Used from £25,149
Mazda Cx-80

Mazda Cx-80

RRP £50,320Avg. savings £9,875 off RRP*Used from £42,500
KIA Sorento

KIA Sorento

RRP £41,425Avg. savings £3,749 off RRP*Used from £19,855
Hyundai Santa FE

Hyundai Santa FE

RRP £48,640Avg. savings £6,423 off RRP*Used from £39,639
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Dacia Duster and Bigster hybrids get a hefty price cut
Dacia Duster - cornering

Dacia Duster and Bigster hybrids get a hefty price cut

The Dacia Duster and Bigster hybrid models now start from £23,345 and £26,715 respectively
News
4 Aug 2026
New Volkswagen ID.3 Neo 2026 review: EV puts VW back where it belongs
New Volkswagen ID.3 Neo - front tracking

New Volkswagen ID.3 Neo 2026 review: EV puts VW back where it belongs

Has VW’s all-electric hatchback finally grown up? We get behind the wheel to find out
Road tests
4 Aug 2026
Long-term test: Renault 4 E-Tech Iconic+
Renault 4 - charging fleetwatch

Long-term test: Renault 4 E-Tech Iconic+

Second fleetwatch report: living without a home charger means regular public charging, but the R4 is proving it isn’t as inconvenient as expected
Long-term tests
5 Aug 2026