Volkswagen ID. Tiguan Replaces the ID.4 with Stronger Styling and Also Revives Physical Buttons

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Late last month, Volkswagen confirmed that it would replace the ID.4 with a new compact electric SUV called the ID. Tiguan and teased us with a camouflaged prototype. Now, VW is already revealing the new ID. Tiguan in full, showing off its crisp new styling and modern, screen-covered cabin.

The ID. Tiguan serves as a successor to the ID.4, which Volkswagen stopped producing for the U.S. market back in April. While this official reveal is focused on European markets, Volkswagen’s American arm confirmed the ID. Tiguan will reach our shores, although it didn’t specify when and with which powertrains.

Visually, the ID.4 wears a bolder, blockier face, with the headlights linked by a thick LED light bar and an illuminated VW badge, all of which is situated within a black housing. Below that there’s a grille opening, which on the R-Line model is set within more black trim that spans the bumper and flicks up at the outer edges, where vertical LED running lights are housed. On other ID. Tiguans, the grille is tucked below the SUV’s chin, which is formed by character lines running between a pair of vertically oriented vents.

The black plastic trim along the side sills has been reduced to a line near the base of the doors, and the ID. Tiguan ditches the ID.4’s flush door handles for traditional units. At the rear, the full-width taillight remains, but it now features two rectangular elements at either end, connected by a series of thin lines.

The cabin is a drastic departure, featuring a flat dashboard covered in screens, with a 10.0-inch digital gauge cluster paired with a 15.0-inch center touchscreen, along with an available 12.0-inch passenger screen. The passenger can use the screen to play games or listen to music via paired Bluetooth headphones without distracting the driver.

Still, VW has been listening to customer feedback, and beneath the center display, there’s now a row of physical buttons for the climate controls, while a volume knob sits on the center console. Volkswagen has also now provided window switches on the driver’s door for all four windows, instead of the silly system in the ID.4 where there were only two switches and a button to make them operate the rear windows.

The squarer steering wheel also now features physical buttons instead of the previous capacitive controls, and the center console now comes with two magnetic wireless chargers. VW has also created retro-themed digital gauges that mimic the blue-and-red instrument cluster from the Golf IV. The center screen can also show a variety of classic VWs in a virtual garage: the Golf I, Golf II Country, Golf IV, Tiguan I, Race Touareg and Beetle.

Volkswagen promises that the materials inside are a “huge leap forwards in terms of quality,” and the ID. Tiguan will be available with power-adjustable front seats with massage, memory, and ventilation, along with a panoramic sunroof and a Harman Kardon sound system. There’s also a frunk with a little over a cubic foot of space, which the rear hatch opens to swallow up to 19 cubic feet of stuff.

The ID. Tiguan will come with three powertrains. The base rear-wheel-drive model will produce 188 horsepower and feature a 58-kWh battery, while VW will also offer a RWD variant with 282 hp and a 77-kWh battery. The top version will use the bigger battery but with all-wheel drive and 295 hp. It’s unclear which of these will come to the U.S., but we expect to at least get the top all-wheel-drive model.

Volkswagen estimates a maximum range of around 372 miles using Europe’s more lenient WLTP test method, which will likely translate to around 316 miles of EPA-rated range. Volkswagen also says the ID. Tiguan can tow up to 4409 pounds with the larger battery.

The ID. Tiguan comes with one-pedal driving and a new Connected Travel Assist system, which allows for assisted lane changing on highways and will bring the ID. Tiguan to a halt at red lights. There’s also a Digital Key that allows you to use your phone to unlock and start the ID. Tiguan, and a vehicle-to-load function lets you use the SUV’s battery to power external electronic devices.

Four trims will be offered: Trend, Life, Style, and R-Line. The ID. Tiguan will launch in Europe in early 2027, but we may have to wait a bit longer to see it reach our shores. Prices will start in Europe at the equivalent of around $47,865 based on current exchange rates, although pricing for the U.S. has yet to be announced.

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Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.