A Little Less For A Lot Less: The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0T SEL with 4MOTION

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0T SEL with 4MOTION.

If it seems like not that long ago you were reading a review of the Volkswagen Tiguan here, it wasn't.

Just six months ago, we reviewed the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0T SEL Premium with 4MOTION. Not much has changed about the Tiguan.  2020 models now have a standard wi-fi hotspot, forward collision warning and a blind spot warning system.  There's also a shortened warranty, dropping from 6 years or 72,000 miles to 4 years or 50,000 miles---a blow VW softens by adding two years of free scheduled maintenance.

But while the Tiguan is largely the same, the world has changed unimaginably in the six months since our evaluation of the '19 Tiguan.  And this 2020 model may be better suited to the times.

The 2019 we drove was the top-of-the-line 2.0T SEL Premium with 4MOTION. The base price was $37,195  That model doesn't exist in exactly the same form this year---it's now the 2.0T SEL Premium R-Line with 4MOTION and it now starts at $38,795.

But our 2020 Tiguan is the 2.0T SEL with 4MOTION.  And removing the word "Premium" results in big savings with very little in the way of trade-offs.

All the mechanicals are identical.  It's a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, making 184 horsepower, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic, powering all four wheels through VW's 4MOTION all-wheel drive system.  EPA fuel economy averages are also identical:  20 miles per gallon city/27 highway.

The base price of the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0T SEL with 4MOTION is $33,545.  You give up the R-Line front bumper and badging and a premium Fender audio system and you save $5,250, which, in a massive recession, is not an insignificant amount of money.

And that's it.  The one extra-cost option in our tester was a set of Monster Mats for $92.50.

So, with $1,020 destination charge, the bottom line on the window sticker reads $34,657.50.  Which for an otherwise loaded (sunroof, solid audio system, dual-zone climate control, intelligent cruise control) five-passenger SUV), is a remarkably low price.

Economists say our financial world could take years to heal.  The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0T SEL is a way to roll through the troubled times in style that's pretty gentle on your bank balance.