2026 Volkswagen Tiguan: mileage, fuel cost, safety and recalls
The 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan gets 25 to 29 miles per gallon combined, depending on the version. The best is the 2026 Tiguan S at 29 mpg.
How the Tiguan ranks in its class
In the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for 2026, the Tiguan ranks 17th of 31 for combined mileage (29 mpg), 17th of 31 for yearly fuel cost ($2,150 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 17th of 31 for tailpipe CO2 (307 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 30 mpg, costs $2,100 a year and puts out 297 grams per mile.
Across all 235 2026 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 24 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 234 other models, 60 get more miles per gallon than the 2026 Tiguan's best version, 7 other models get the same and 167 get less. The 2026 Tiguan's cheapest version costs $2,150 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 225 other models with a cost figure, 48 cost less, 4 the same and 173 more.
Nearest models in the class (places 11 to 19 of 31)
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2026. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 2026 Nissan Kicks | 2026 Kicks | 31 | $2,000 | 287 |
| 11 | 2026 Volkswagen Taos | 2026 Taos | 31 | $2,000 | 287 |
| 16 | 2026 Buick Encore | 2026 Encore GX FWD | 30 | $2,100 | 297 |
| 17 | 2026 Volkswagen TiguanThis car | 2026 Tiguan S | 29 | $2,150 | 307 |
| 18 | 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander | 2026 Outlander 2WD | 28 | $2,200 | 314 |
| 19 | 2026 Chevrolet Equinox | 2026 Equinox FWD | 27 | $2,300 | 329 |
| 19 | 2026 GMC Terrain | 2026 Terrain FWD | 27 | $2,300 | 329 |
Your fuel cost
Pick a 2026 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2026 Tiguan S, 4-cyl 2.0 L: 26 mpg city, 34 highway, 29 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 Tiguan version is $2,150 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
Compare with a rival
The 3 nearest rivals in the Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD class for 2026, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The Encore costs $69 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the Encore costs $345 less to fuel than the Tiguan (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
- 2026 Buick Encore
- 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander
- 2026 Chevrolet Equinox
The Tiguan against its nearest rivals
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2026 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Tiguan (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Tiguan | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Buick Encore | 2026 Encore GX FWD | 30 mpg | $2,100 | 1 higher | $50 less a year | - |
| 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander | 2026 Outlander 2WD | 28 mpg | $2,200 | 1 lower | $50 more a year | - |
| 2026 Chevrolet Equinox | 2026 Equinox EV FWD | 108 MPGe | $700 | not the same measure (MPGe and mpg) | $1,450 less a year | Compare |
Every version of the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan
EPA test figures for 2026; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tiguan S | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (S8) | Front-wheel | 26 | 34 | 29 | $2,150 | 307 | cheapest |
| 2026 Tiguan | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (S8) | Front-wheel | 25 | 32 | 28 | $2,200 | 320 | +$50 |
| 2026 Tiguan 4motion | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 22 | 30 | 25 | $2,500 | 351 | +$350 |
| 2026 Tiguan SEL 4Motion | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (S8) | All-wheel | 22 | 29 | 25 | $2,500 | 360 | +$350 |
Does a cheaper-to-fuel 2026 version pay back?
Enter the price difference you were quoted for the 2026 Tiguan; this page has no prices. Miles come from the calculator. The fuel price box there sets the price of the fuel of the version picked there; a version here that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. Versions with no fuel-cost figure are not listed.
Type the price difference you were quoted to see the payback.
Emissions
Tailpipe CO2: the 2026 Tiguan S puts out 307 grams per mile; across the 4 tested versions the figure runs from 307 to 360.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 Tiguan S: fuel economy score 6 (5 to 6 across versions), greenhouse gas score 6 (5 to 6 across versions).
Mileage by model year
Best combined figure of the Tiguan gas version each model year since 2016, set against the 2026 model.
| Model year | Best gas version | Versions tested | Against 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 23 mpg | 2 | 6 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2017 | 22 mpg | 2 | 7 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2018 | 24 mpg | 4 | 5 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2019 | 25 mpg | 2 | 4 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2020 | 25 mpg | 2 | 4 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2021 | 25 mpg | 2 | 4 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2022 | 26 mpg | 3 | 3 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2023 | 27 mpg | 4 | 2 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2024 | 27 mpg | 4 | 2 mpg lower than 2026 | |
| 2025 | 29 mpg | 3 | same as 2026 | |
| 2026This page | 29 mpg | 4 | this page |
Compared with the 2025 model: 3 versions were tested then and 4 now; the best figure went from 29 to 29 mpg (no change).
| Version in 2026 | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tiguan S, 4-cyl 2.0 L | 29 mpg | 29 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Tiguan, 4-cyl 2.0 L | 28 mpg | 28 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Tiguan 4motion, 4-cyl 2.0 L | 25 mpg | 25 mpg | no change |
| 2026 Tiguan SEL 4Motion, 4-cyl 2.0 L | 25 mpg | 25 mpg (listed in 2025 as Tiguan 4motion) | no change |
Safety record
Crash-test ratings, 2026
Crash-test stars from the U.S. safety agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings, checked 2026-11-14. 5 is the best.
| Vehicle | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN SUV N/A AWD | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| 2026 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN SUV N/A FWD | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
The agency's record for the first rated vehicle also lists 42 complaints, 0 recalls, 0 investigations.
Owner complaints, 2026
42 complaints for the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan are on file (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints are reports that owners sent to the safety agency. They are not proven defects, and the counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Part named in the reports | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 16 | |
| Electrical System | 12 | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 10 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 | |
| Power Train | 7 |
0 of the 42 reports say the car was in a crash, 1 mentions a fire and 1 mentions an injury. One report can name more than one part.
Safety recalls
The U.S. safety agency's model list has the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan (as TIGUAN). The U.S. safety agency's database returned no recalls for the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan on 2026-11-14. Recalls can be added later; check your own car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
More Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD for 2026
Other 2026 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Tiguan itself is at 29 mpg.
Other Volkswagen models of 2026
More Volkswagen models that have a 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
Common questions
Which 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan gets the best mileage?
The 2026 Tiguan S with 29 mpg combined (26 city, 34 highway).
How much does a 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan cost to fuel for a year?
The 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan costs between $2,150 and $2,500 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. The cheapest is the 2026 Tiguan S at $2,150; the dearest is the 2026 Tiguan 4motion at $2,500. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
What mileage does the all-wheel-drive Tiguan get?
2026 Tiguan 4motion: 25 mpg combined (22 city, 30 highway); 2026 Tiguan SEL 4Motion: 25 mpg combined (22 city, 29 highway).
How does the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan rank among 2026 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD models?
The 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan is 17th of 31 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Kia Niro at 53 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 30 mpg. In the list, the next one ahead is the 2026 Buick Encore at 30 mpg and the next one behind is the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander at 28 mpg.
Did the Tiguan change from 2025 to 2026?
The 2025 model had 3 tested versions and the 2026 model has 4. The best figure went from 29 to 29 mpg (no change).
How did the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan do in crash tests?
In the agency's 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14; 5 is the best), the stars are 2026 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN SUV N/A AWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4; 2026 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN SUV N/A FWD: overall 5 of 5, front 4, side 5, rollover 4. The agency lists 2 variants; all 2 are shown.
Do owners complain about the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan?
42 complaints for the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan are on file at the safety agency (checked 2026-11-14); the part named most often is Engine (16 reports). Complaints are reports owners sent in, not proven defects.
Does the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan have recalls?
The agency's database returned no recalls for the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan on 2026-11-14 (its model list has this car). Check your own car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How fresh these numbers are
For the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14; complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.