The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan gets a facelift, smarter interior, and new R-Line packages

A mid-life refresh sharpens the last remaining three-row crossover in the compact segment

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan has been given a mid-cycle refresh. The key upgrades include a new front fascia with an illuminated grille, LED headlights, a smarter interior, and better equipment across the model range, including optional 20-inch wheels and two attractive R-Line packages.

Inside, you’ll find sharper, more refined materials; a new shifter; and a heated steering wheel (now standard) with smart-touch controls for the audio, infotainment, dash configuration, and cruise functions.

Also new is a revised touch-based climate control system and VW’s reconfigurable Digital Cockpit. The latter brings more functionality and an eye-catching look to the instrumentation. It does make a big difference. To nit-pick, it’s too bad the 10-inch infotainment system and its smarter operating system, as found in the Golf, did not migrate over. The eight-incher now looks small in a substantially nicer cockpit.

Next up is the availability of Car-Net. This smartphone-based app allows the driver to start the Tiguan, lock/unlock the doors, as well as check and monitor the vehicle status including giving access to the stolen vehicle location assistance.

One of the notable upgrades is all Tiguans now drive all four wheels — 4Motion all-wheel-drive is finally standard. The engine has also been retuned to deliver its power more evenly over the operating range. While the 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque is rewarding, having just hopped out of the new VW GTI and its more powerful version of essentially the same engine, the GTI’s work ethic would put some welcome spring in the Tiguan’s step. As it stands, it pulls well in the early stages, but seems to run out of breath at the top-end.