Volkswagen’s ID.4 had a lot going for it, but owners had plenty to say about its touch controls. VW heard them. The brand’s new electric SUV, the ID. Tiguan, takes over for the ID.4 with a sharper look, a cabin full of screens, and real buttons right where your fingers expect them.
- The ID. Tiguan replaces the ID.4 and ID.5, starting with a European launch in early 2027.
- Physical climate buttons, a volume knob, four window switches on the driver’s door, and regular door handles are back.
- VW has confirmed the SUV for the U.S., but timing, powertrains, and pricing here haven’t been announced.
A Familiar Name for a New Electric SUV
Volkswagen said in late September that a new compact EV wearing the Tiguan name would replace the ID.4. The ID. Tiguan succeeds both the ID.4 and the ID.5. VW says it built more than 950,000 of those two models, so this new SUV has big shoes to fill.
For American shoppers, the timeline is a bit fuzzy. VW stopped building the ID.4 for the U.S. market back in April. Volkswagen’s American arm has confirmed the ID. Tiguan will come here, but it hasn’t said when, which powertrains we’ll get, or what it will cost.
Sharper Styling From Every Angle
The front end looks bolder and boxier than the ID.4’s. A thick LED light bar links the headlights, and an lit VW badge sits in the middle, all set inside a black housing. On the R-Line model, the grille sits within black trim that stretches across the bumper and kicks up at the corners, where vertical LED running lights live. Other versions tuck the grille low under the chin, between a pair of vertical vents.
Along the sides, the black plastic trim has shrunk to a thin line near the bottom of the doors. Out back, the full-width taillight stays, but it now has two rectangular elements at each end tied together by a series of thin lines.
Buttons, Knobs, and Big Screens
The biggest story is inside. The dash is flat and covered in screens, with a 10.0-inch digital gauge cluster and a 15.0-inch center touchscreen. An available 12.0-inch display sits in front of the passenger, who can play games or listen to music through paired Bluetooth headphones without bugging the driver.
ID.4 owners will like this part. A row of physical climate buttons now sits below the center display. A real volume knob lives on the center console. The driver’s door gets four window switches, replacing the ID.4’s odd setup of two switches plus a button to swap control to the rear windows. The squarer steering wheel trades capacitive touch pads for actual buttons. And the flush door handles are gone in favor of regular ones you can grab.
Retro digital gauges can mimic the Golf IV’s blue-and-red cluster.
The cabin adds two magnetic wireless chargers. Available extras include front-seat massage and ventilation, a panoramic sunroof, and Harman Kardon audio. There’s a small frunk with a little over a cubic foot of space, and the rear cargo area holds up to 19 cubic feet.
European Powertrains and Tech
In Europe, the ID. Tiguan comes with three powertrain choices. The base model uses rear-wheel drive, 188 horsepower, and a 58-kWh battery. A second rear-drive version steps up to 282 hp and a 77-kWh pack. The top model pairs that bigger battery with all-wheel drive and 295 hp. VW quotes up to about 372 miles of range on Europe’s WLTP test cycle. That test is more lenient than the EPA’s, and no EPA rating exists yet. With the larger battery, European models can tow up to 4,409 pounds.
The tech list includes one-pedal driving and Connected Travel Assist, which can handle assisted lane changes on the highway and bring the SUV to a stop at red lights. A Digital Key lets you open and start the car with your phone, and a vehicle-to-load feature lets the battery power outside devices. European buyers will choose from Trend, Life, Style, and R-Line trims.
Keep an Eye on the U.S. Details
The ID. Tiguan fixes the stuff that drove ID.4 drivers a little nuts, and it looks sharper doing it. Still, plenty is unknown for U.S. buyers. Specs, range ratings, and pricing for our market could differ from what Europe gets. If you’ve been eyeing an electric VW, watch for news from Volkswagen’s U.S. team over the coming months. And if you never warmed up to the ID.4’s touch controls, you can relax. Real buttons are back.
