• Interior dominated by large central touchscreen
• Well-built and attractive inside
• We wish there were more physical buttons

How is the quality and layout?

The interior design of the Mk3 VW Tiguan is sleek, modern and dominated by screens – but eschews the somewhat clinical minimalism of Volkswagen’s all-electric ID models. Beyond the sheer size of the central touchscreen, intriguing details include backlit panels that give the cabin a welcoming glow at night and the ‘multifunction driving experience switch’.

Material quality and construction feels among the best in class, but you’ll find most key rivals excel in this area now as well, so this isn’t the leading position for VW that it might have been a few years ago. For instance, Skoda certainly doesn’t lag behind in this department any more, while in some respects the Hyundai Tucson feels even more tightly screwed together.

Infotainment and tech

The Tiguan gets VW’s latest infotainment system and digital instrument cluster – but crucially it places the former inside a touchscreen at least 12.9-inches in diameter, and on many models that’s upgraded to a monster 15.1-inch display. Some might find the sheer size of this distracting, but at least it makes using the software easier.

We do wish VW would drop the touch-sensitive sliders for some of the ancillary functions, such as the heating and volume control, as these remain awkward to operate at a standstill, let alone when you’re driving. On the plus side, they are now backlit so you can see them at night, and Volkswagen has reverted to proper buttons on the steering wheel.

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The multifunction driving experience switch is better bit of tech. This is a rotary controller on the centre console with a screen in the middle that shows you its current deployment – which you can change by pressing on it. Skoda premiered similar controls in the latest Kodiaq, but went for a whole trio of them.

Other news for the Tiguan is the integration of ChatGPT, which can be used for voice control that’s better able to respond to natural speaking commands and answer a wider range of questions. It’s a bit hit and miss in our experience of it so far, but is likely to improve rapidly with further development. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are available as alternatives to the VW operating system, as before.

Comfort

• High-quality seats
• Plenty of room
• Good refinement

The Tiguan’s front seats are multi-adjustable and supportive, with a massaging function on the top trim levels. This is a little bit of a token effort compared with some, but welcome on a longer journey, nonetheless. On all but entry-level models you get powered four-way lumbar adjustment, while the heated seats can be programmed to come on automatically at a set outside temperature, which is another neat trick.

Engine refinement, wind noise and road noise are all more than acceptable. The powerful 265hp petrol model makes some good sounds when you accelerate, which is probably what most buyers will want from this particular car. It too quietens down when at cruising speed, regardless.

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