GREEN | 6 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
22/27 mpg (FWD automatic); 18/26 mpg (FWD manual); 21/27 mpg (AWD automatic)
EPA
AWD Tiguans averaged 18.1-18.8 mpg in city/highway driving and 24.6 with mostly highway use
Consumer Guide
Our combined average during our time with the Tiguan was 22 mpg, a reflection of the fact that we did mostly highway driving
Edmunds
At 20 mpg overall, fuel economy is not a strong point
Consumer Reports
The 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan has what should be a very fuel-efficient powertrain: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed transmissions that seem geared quite tall.
And yet actual EPA results don't deliver to that supposition. VW managed to raise the Tiguan's fuel economy slightly last year, but they remain as low as 18 mpg city, 26 highway with the manual transmission, or as good as 22/27 mpg.
Those numbers are near the bottom of the crossover class; compared to other four-cylinder compact crossovers; and the embarrassing part is that it's even fallen behind some of the newer V-6-powered crossovers in its class. Not only that, the Tiguan also requires drivers use premium fuel.
There are other options, even within the VW fold, for those who deem that unacceptable: The 2013 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen offers a TDI clean-diesel engine that's just as perky but offers up to 42 mpg highway.
Conclusion
The Tiguan has lower fuel economy ratings than some other compact crossovers.
