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Independent review & score by Carivo
| Engine | 2.0L 4-Cylinder |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Automatic (S6) |
| Drivetrain | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel Type | Premium |
| City / Hwy MPG | 21 / 26 MPG |
| Combined MPG | 23 MPG |
| Est. Annual Fuel Cost | $3,550 |
| CO₂ Emissions | 393 g/mi |
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
| Body Style | SUV |
| Base Price | $25,049–$32,028 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
The 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan is a suv that earns a Carivo score of 7.2/10 — rated Good. Its strongest dimension is Value at 8.8/10, while Reliability at 7.0/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a capable but unexceptional suv — stronger alternatives exist if you're willing to shop the segment carefully.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. The reliability picture is solid rather than spectacular: 7.0/10, which puts it comfortably above the class median. Safety lands at 8.0/10 — solid, though some rivals offer more advanced driver-assist features as standard. Confirm official results for your trim at nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Few rivals match it for performance: 8.8/10. Expect handling and power delivery that make this one of the more entertaining suvs to actually drive. On technology it rates 8.0/10: a modern, well-integrated suite that compares favorably with anything at this price point.
Priced from $25,049–$32,028, 19 MPG, seating 5, the Volkswagen Tiguan sits in the mid-market bracket of the suv segment. Its value score of 8.8/10 confirms that the price reflects the quality — you're getting a lot for your money here. At 10 years old, resale value, parts availability, and whether a successor model has improved on its weak points are all worth investigating before committing.
Verdict: The 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan sits in the middle of the field. Worth a look if it fits a specific need; otherwise use our compare tool against the segment leaders first.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan ranks #1611 of 2454 suvs in the Carivo database — better than 34% of the segment. Its 7.2/10 overall score is 0.2 points below the segment average of 7.4/10. Its $25,049 starting price undercuts the segment's median of $36,079 by about 31%.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full SUV ranking → · Best SUVs under $35k →
Across the Tiguan model years we've scored, the 2016 holds its position — we didn't find an older year that delivers similar scores for meaningfully less money.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7.8/10 | $33,948 | Read review → |
| 2025 | 7.8/10 | $33,948 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 7.7/10 | $32,960 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 7.6/10 | $31,971 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.6/10 | $30,982 | Read review → |
| 2021 | 7.5/10 | $29,993 | Read review → |
| 2020 | 7.5/10 | $29,004 | Read review → |
| 2019 | 7.5/10 | $28,016 | Read review → |
| 2018 | 7.5/10 | $27,027 | Read review → |
| 2017 | 7.2/10 | $26,038 | Read review → |
| 2016 (this review) | 7.2/10 | $25,049 | |
| 2015 | 7.2/10 | $24,060 | Read review → |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Air bags / air bag/restraint control module 17/07/2019 · 19V535000 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Tiguan and CC vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have a defective power supply capacitor that can result in air bag deactivation or inadvertent deployment… |
|---|---|
| Latches/locks/linkages 24/06/2016 · 16V464000 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016 CC vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016, to February 3, 2016, Golf R and Tiguan vehicles manufactured November 25, 2015, to January 28, 2016, and e-Golf vehicles manufactured… |
Source: NHTSA recall database, fetched at page build time.
We rate the 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan's reliability 7.0/10 — above the middle of the pack for this class. It has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
2 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 7.2/10 overall, ranking #1611 of 2454 suvs in our database (better than 34% of the segment). Stronger-scoring alternatives exist at similar prices — use our compare tool before committing.
The 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan starts at $25,049 and ranges up to $32,028 across trims (MSRP when new). At 19 MPG, expect roughly $2,763/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Explore the full lineup of Volkswagen models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.