VW shifts Tiguan upscale to create room for Taos

Volkswagen's 2022 Tiguan will upgrade the compact crossover in both styling and technology to give it some separation from the brand's new, lower-priced Taos in the same segment.

The midcycle freshening for the Tiguan — the German brand's top-selling vehicle in the U.S. since 2017 — arrives this fall as VW seeks to double up its offerings in the industry's biggest segment, which includes the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V, the fourth- and fifth- bestselling vehicles in the country.

Expected to be priced at least $2,500 higher than the smaller Taos that arrives in U.S. dealerships beginning next month, the 2022 Tiguan will feature a standard 8-inch instrument cluster screen, with a 10-inch screen available on top trims, VW's improved MIB3 infotainment system on mid- and upper-level trims and heated front seats. The automaker also installed haptic response controls on the Tiguan's steering wheel and new upscale digital HVAC slider controls in the cabin, along with configurable LED mood lighting.

The brand's IQ.Drive driver-assistance suite — which offers automated emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitor, lane keeping, adaptive cruise control and other safety functions — comes standard on all but the base model.

The exterior features a restyled front fascia that highlights the brand's redesigned logo and an optional lighted accent strip across the grille. The 2022 Tiguan will be available in eight exterior colors — including new Oryx White and Kings Red Metallic — and each of the four trim levels will receive newly designed aluminum wheels, ranging from 17 to 20 inches.

VW reported selling 27,265 Tiguans in the first quarter, up 23 percent from a year ago. In 2020, the Tiguan was the only VW model to crack 100,000 sales in the U.S. at 100,867, down 8.1 percent.