VW’s ID. Tiguan Is the EV it Should Have Launched in the First Place

Volkswagen’s big plans for the battery-electric market never took hold. But, with the new ID. Tiguan set to replace the largely unloved ID.4 EV, it might just get another chance.

At one point, the Volkswagen Group planned to invest as much as $100 billion to flesh out its EV line-up. Like most of the industry, the troubled automaker has pared back that plan but it’s far from giving up.

Much of the cutback has focused on the U.S. market. No surprise following the phase-out of federal tax credits in September 2025. But VW was already struggling, American motorists largely ignoring the brand’s original ID.4 EV.

Now, the “people’s car” brand is hoping to put things back on track. The ID.4 is set to be replaced by the new ID. Tiguan. Volkswagen hopes the new EV will be a more appealing alternative based on one of its more popular gas-powered models.

Here’s what happens when the ID.4 meets the ID.5

ID.4 was Volkswagen’s first long-range EV sold – and built – in the U.S. But, from the start, it was the target of a number of complaints. The design was a bit too quirky. The interior, in particular, was faulted for its tiny digital display, confusing power window controls and the lack of buttons for audio and climate control, among other things. It didn’t help that range was initially just 250 miles, according to the EPA.

The ID. Tiguan clearly attempts to address those concerns. Its design retains an emphasis on range-boosting aerodynamics while picking up key cues from the familiar gas-powered Tiguan. The cabin is also more user-friendly, with more conventional controls and a widescreen gauge cluster, a 15-inch center touchscreen, and a third, 12-inch display for passengers. It also offers more power and better range.

“The Tiguan is our best-selling model worldwide, and the ID.4 and ID.5 are among our most successful electric cars,” said Volkswagen brand CEO Thomas Schäfer. “The ID. Tiguan brings these two success stories together. A pure, confident design with the presence of a vehicle from the next class up, intuitive operation and, thanks to MEB+, a range of up to 600 kilometers: a new benchmark for our electric SUVs made in Germany.”

Under the skin

Tiguan is based on the updated MEB+ architecture which is designed to address some of the concerns about the original MEB platform. Among other things it allows for a larger battery pack and more powerful motor drive system. There’ll also be a modest-sized frunk, or front trunk, though much of that space will be used for charging cables.

The new EV will first debut in Europe where buyers will be offered three battery and powertrain configurations:

• RWD with 58-kWh battery and 187 horsepower
• RWD with 77-kWh battery and 282 horsepower
• AWD with 77-kWh battery and 295 horsepower

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U.S. Plans

The European version will debut first, as is so often the case with VW, arriving in dealerships in the months ahead.

For now, we’ll have to hang tight and wait for more details about U.S. plans, the automaker issuing a statement noting, “The ID. Tiguan is planned to succeed the ID.4 in the North American market. Volkswagen has not announced North American timing for the vehicle. Following the European ID. Tiguan launch in early 2027, the company will share North American timing, offer structure, pricing, and other market-specific details in due course.”

What we’ve been able to learn, however, is that the U.S. ID. Tiguan will be offered in two configurations:

• A base rear-drive model featuring a 77kWh battery and making 188 hp; and
• An all-wheel-drive 4Motion model using the same battery but turning out 295 hp, thanks to the addition of a second motor up front.

The European models using the larger battery pack reportedly will deliver up to 600 km, or about 373 miles, range – but that’s based on the liberal WLTP standard. In the U.S. was can expect something just north of 300 miles under the EPA test cycle.

“Retro Mode”

Beyond replacing the awkward ID.4 window switch and adding more conventional climate controls, ID. Tiguan adds a full 1-Pedal mode which will allow a driver to slow, and even come to a complete stop, by modulating the throttle, rather than flipping to the brake pedal.

An optional Connected Travel Assist system comes closer to hands-free operation. It can spot a red light and come to an automatic stop and it will allow a driver to tap the turn signal to change lanes when the vehicle has steering assistance activated and is running in Active Cruise control.

It wouldn’t be a VW without at least some quirky features, however. And that includes a “Retro” mode that switches the gauge cluster from the latest design to the blue-red display found in the old MkIV Golf. That also puts a “virtual garage” display on the driver’s touchscreen, allowing a choice of six classic VW production and race cars.