These options make the Volkswagen Tiguan brighter, safer and more fun to drive

The Volkswagen Tiguan has been with us for almost a decade, and its continued popularity means there’s little to suggest it’s going away any time soon.

It’s won praise for its practicality, economy and subtle good looks; the very things that attract it to the school run multitude. If you’re set on joining them – or just like the idea of parking a Tiguan outside your house – you’ll need to put aside some time to work your way through the various options.

We’re here to make things easier, so we’ve picked out the six add-ons that we reckon deserve the most attention.

Essential Options

Rear side airbag system (£275)

Airbags in the front are a given, but they’re an optional extra in the back. That’s a shame on a car that’s so often used for running the kids between school, sports and music lessons.

Adding the rear side airbag system bumps up the price by £275, but we’re sure you’ll agree that’s a small price to pay for the extra piece of mind they’ll deliver.

Bluetooth telephone connection (£560)

It would be fair to assume that pretty much every driver owns a mobile phone these days. It’s illegal to use them while you’re driving and getting caught can land you with a fine, points, or a day spent in driver awareness training… and that’s beside the fact that it’s dangerous to let your mobile distract you at the wheel.

Fitting the Bluetooth telephone kit is a far safer option, because it upgrades the Tiguan’s steering wheel, bolting on the controls you need to handle your calls on the move. You may wince at the idea of forking out £560 for this option, but surely it’s preferable to being pulled over by the police.

Useful Options

Cruise Control (£235)

For long, tedious trips spent on Britain’s tortuous motorways, cruise control is more than a treat that lets you sit in comfort while the car takes care of your speed.

Setting it just below the limit means you don’t need to worry about speeding tickets – and by spending less time hopping from gas to brake and back again you’ll be able to make the most of the Tiguan’s impressive fuel economy.

Just make sure that you don’t get too relaxed behind the wheel when cruise control is engaged…

Panoramic sunroof (£980)

Everyone likes a bit of sunlight, and fitting your Tiguan with a panoramic sunroof means you’ll be able to make the most of Britain’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it summer.

It’s a real step up from a regular sunroof, and might be just enough to keep your kids entertained on longer journeys  – before the inevitable cries of “I’m bored” start filtering through from the back.

Frivolous options

Dynamic Chassis Control (£790)

Sure, adjustable suspension is great if you own a Ferrari or Nissan GT-R, but on a sensible family crossover like this? It would be hard to justify, because you’d want to spend most, if not all of your time in ‘comfort’ mode.

Besides, bragging to your mates that you can put your Tiguan into ‘sport’ mode will likely illicit some skeptical looks, and a fair deal of awkward questions.

18-inch wheels (£870 on S specification level)

While they may look good, the only thing that 18-inch wheels will do is ruin your Tiguan’s ride and fuel economy. Remember, this is a sensible family car – not a sports car. There’s a time and place for such things, and the Tiguan is neither.

Don’t even get us started on the 19-inch wheels.

What next?

Head over to the Volkswagen Tiguan’s aggregated review page to see what the UK’s motoring press thought of it. If you’re thinking of getting a Tiguan, take a look at it in our car configurator or, if you’d like to see more options, check out our deals page.