Unveiled in full in September 2023, the third-generation Tiguan will soon receive a three-row version for the family-oriented. Dubbed Tiguan in the United States and Tayron in the Old Continent, the family-sized sport utility vehicle has been spied in European flavor while testing in Sweden.
Our carparazzi have spotted multiple prototypes, including a plug-in hybrid with the charging port door on the driver-side front fender. Similar to the combustion-only prototypes, the PHEV is rocking fake exhaust tips for the sake of styling. The actual exhaust outlet is hidden behind the rear bumper.
Extremely similar to the two-row Tiguan up front, the long-wheelbase sibling features minimal camo fore and aft. Considering how similar the previous Tiguan and Tiguan Allspace were in this regard, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the German automaker camo'd so little of these prototypes.
It should be noted that Volkswagen's regular-wheelbase Tiguan isn't meant for the US market due to the seven-seat version. Noticeably longer than the Tiguan, the newcomer slots just below the Atlas. Both of them are based on the German manufacturer's MQB platform, which means that four-cylinder lumps such as the 1.5-liter TSI, 2.0-liter TSI, and 2.0-liter TDI will have to suffice.
The front-biased crossover is closely related to the Skoda Kodiaq, which is produced at the Czech marque's Kvasiny plant in Czechia. By comparison, the five-seat Tiguan hails from the Volkswagen brand's Wolfsburg assembly plant in Germany.
Photo: Baldauf
Just like the Tiguan, the Tayron aims to reduce the German automaker's carbon footprint with a selection of mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid setups. Electrification is especially important in Europe, where automakers are fined for every gram of carbon dioxide per kilometer over the fleet average targets of 95 grams per kilometer between 2020 and 2024 and 93.6 grams from 2025 through 2034.
The lowliest specification of the 2024 model year Tiguan is – for the time being – the 1.5 eTSI mild hybrid. It develops 131 metric horsepower (128 mechanical horsepower) and 220 pound-feet (162 Nm) between 1,500 and 3,500 revolutions per minute. At the other end of the spectrum, the 1.5 TSI eHybrid plug-in hybrid puts out 272 ps (268 hp) and 400 Nm, of which 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) are delivered by the four-pot turbo at 1,500 to 4,000 rpm.
Prospective customers should also look forward to a seven-speed DSG for all non-plug-in powerplants. The eHybrid uses a six-speed version of the Volkswagen Group's dual-clutch transmission for transverse applications. When it comes to zero-emission range, the most you can expect from the Tiguan eHybrid is 120 kilometers (75 miles).
The 2.0-liter turbo gasser seems to be the most obvious choice for the US and Canadian markets. Like the second-gen Tiguan for North America, the third generation will be produced in Mexico at the facility where VW used to assemble the Beetle.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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