Volkswagen Tiguan Third-Row Seating Review
The Volkswagen Tiguan is a bit of an oddity as a compact SUV with third-row seating.
Written by Mary Alice Morris
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The Volkswagen Tiguan is part of a very exclusive club—compact SUVs that offer third-row seating. The only other SUV in this group for 2022 is the
Mitsubishi Outlander
. That means if you’re looking for a compact SUV that can seat up to seven, you’ll either need to choose between the two or size up to a bigger class. With the Volkswagen Tiguan, the standard 109.9-inch wheelbase can come with seating for five or the optional third row which kicks it up to seven. With a starting price of $27,785, the Tiguan won’t beat many competitors when it comes to the price point. Its distinct style and impressive interior space, on the other hand, could make this compact worth the price.
If you’re on the market for a smaller SUV with third-row seating, check out this guide to the Tiguan from
Jerry
, the super app
for car owners. We’ll cover passenger dimensions and other specs, compare the model to some of its top competitors, and even offer a way to save money on Volkswagen Tiguan car insurance costs
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What is the Volkswagen Tiguan’s 3rd row like?
The Tiguan’s third row is surprisingly spacious for such a small SUV, and could even rival the third-row seating of some mid-size SUVs. That said, it’s still a third-row seat in the back of a compact SUV, so let’s be realistic.
The seats in the Tiguan are notoriously stiff—maybe not uncomfortable for short stints of even moderate-length drives. However, the somewhat restrictive conditions in the very back row are prone to cause discomfort throughout a long drive. A child in a car seat or a booster seat would probably fare well, as would just one or two bigger kids so as long as they had their tablets and earbuds to distract them.
While it’s not exactly the lap of luxury, there’s no denying that the Tiguan’s third-row seat presents a huge practical advantage over competing models. It makes this compact SUV much more versatile for growing families and commuters alike.
Space and comfort
To get a better idea of just who and what can fit in the 2022 Tiguan, let’s take a closer look at the legroom, headroom, shoulder room, and passenger volume dimensions:
- Headroom: 39.6 inches in the front row; 39.1 inches in the second row; and 33.8 inches in the third row
- Legroom: 40.2 inches in the front; 36.5 inches in the second row; and 27.9 inches in the third row
- Shoulder room: 57 inches in the front; 55.9 inches in the second row; and 47.8 inches in the third row
- Total passenger volume: 124 cubic feet
Although the headroom is reasonable, you can see a deep dive for the Tiguan’s third-row passengers when it comes to legroom and shoulder room. However, it fares better on legroom than the Outlander.
That said, if you’re looking for a car that will let your back-row passengers stretch out their legs a little more, you’ll probably want to move up to one of the smaller mid-size SUVs, like the
Kia Telluride
or Honda Pilot
.Here’s how the Tiguan compares to the Mitsubishi Outlander—the only other compact SUV with third-row seating—as well as a handful of mid-size crossover SUVs.
Model | Starting price | Third-row legroom | Third-row headroom | Total passenger volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$27,785 | 27.9 inches | 33.8 inches | 124 cubic feet | |
$27,290 | 18.7 inches | 34.5 inches | 125.5 cubic feet | |
$39,375 | 31.9 inches | 38.9 inches | 152.9 cubic feet | |
$34,685 | 31.4 inches | 38.1 inches | 157.1 cubic feet | |
$37,070 | 27.7 inches | 36.1 inches | 141.3 cubic feet | |
$38,590 | 33.5 inches | 37.8 inches | 141 cubic feet | |
$38,105 | 29.3 inches | 34.3 inches | 97.3 cubic feet | |
$29,590 | 29.6 inches | 36.8 inches | 115.5 cubic feet | |
$35,630 | 29.7 inches | 35.4 inches | 135.8 cubic feet |
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ driversIs the Volkswagen Tiguan good for big families and long trips?
The Tiguan might be a good family vehicle for those who want the features of an SUV but are on a budget that won’t allow for a mid-size purchase. Be aware that when the third row is in use in the Tiguan, the cargo space diminishes to just 12 cubic feet behind the third row. When the third row is folded, you can get up to 38 cubic feet of space for your stuff.
It can haul your family where you want to go, but you might need a luggage rack on top for all your stuff. Long trips with a lot of people may pose a challenge. Here are some factors that go in favor of the Tiguan:
- Two years of maintenance services: Volkswagen has trimmed its warranty program, but to make the deal more enticing, they now offer two years of regularly scheduled maintenance services for no charge.
- Standard hotspot: Every trim level offers hotspot connectivity.
- Cabin flexibility: When you’re not hauling the kids or extra friends, you can fold the third-row seats down for more space in the back—an option that most other compact SUVs just can’t compete with.
How to find affordable car insurance for your Volkswagen Tiguan
If you end up in a new Tiguan—or opt for something a little larger—you’ll need to get it insured right away, and the best way to shop for high-quality, low-cost insurance is with the
Jerry
app. Jerry is a
car insurance
comparison super app
with a mission to save people time and money—and it’s really easy to use. Just download the app, answer a few basic questions, and look over the set of competitive car insurance quotes that Jerry tailors for you. After you find the policy you like, Jerry makes switching over easy. They’ll even help you cancel your old insurance, and, best of all, the average Jerry user saves more than $800 a year on car insurance!
“Jerrywas spot on. I’m young with one rear end on my record. Still, they dropped my monthly insurance rate from $468 to $250. This really saved me money.” —Jason M.
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