Small overlap front: driver-side
Rating applies to 2009-17 models
Tested vehicle: 2013 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4-door 4wd
The Volkswagen Tiguan was introduced in the 2009 model year. Beginning with the 2018 model year, the Tiguan was renamed the Tiguan Limited. The Tiguan Limited shares no ratings with the redesigned 2018 Tiguan, which is a midsize SUV due to its increased size and weight.
Evaluation criteria | Rating |
---|---|
Structure and safety cage | |
Driver injury measures | |
Head/neck | |
Chest | |
Hip/thigh | |
Lower leg/foot | |
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off the left side as the steering column moved 15 cm to the right, leaving the head vulnerable to contact with forward structure. The side curtain airbag deployed and had sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects. |

Action shot taken during the small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space wasn't maintained well.

During the crash, the dummy's head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off to the left as the steering column moved to the right. The side curtain airbag extended far enough forward toward the A-pillar to protect the head from contact with forward side structure.

Intrusion by the instrument panel and door hinge pillar contributed a high risk of injury to the dummy's left hip.
Moderate overlap front: original test
Rating applies to 2009-17 models
Tested vehicle: 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4-door 4wd
The Volkswagen Tiguan was introduced in the 2009 model year. Beginning with the 2018 model year, the Tiguan was renamed the Tiguan Limited. The Tiguan Limited shares no ratings with the redesigned 2018 Tiguan, which is a midsize SUV due to its increased size and weight.
Evaluation criteria | Rating |
---|---|
Overall evaluation | |
Structure and safety cage | |
Driver injury measures | |
Head/neck | |
Chest | |
Leg/foot, left | |
Leg/foot, right | |
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics |

Action shot taken during the frontal offset crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

Smeared greasepaint indicates where the dummy's head hit the B-pillar and roof rail during rebound. Head acceleration from this hit was low.

Intrusion into the driver's space was minimal, and all leg and foot injury measures were low.
Side: original test
Rating applies to 2009-17 models
Tested vehicle: 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4-door 4wd with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags
The Volkswagen Tiguan was introduced in the 2009 model year. Beginning with the 2018 model year, the Tiguan was renamed the Tiguan Limited. The Tiguan Limited shares no ratings with the redesigned 2018 Tiguan, which is a midsize SUV due to its greater size and weight.
Evaluation criteria | Rating |
---|---|
Overall evaluation | |
Structure and safety cage | |
Driver injury measures | |
Head/neck | |
Torso | |
Pelvis/leg | |
Driver head protection | |
Rear passenger injury measures | |
Head/neck | |
Torso | |
Pelvis/leg | |
Rear passenger head protection |

View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.
Roof strength
Rating applies to 2009-17 models
Tested vehicle: 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan S 4-door 2wd
Curb weight from 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan SE 4-door 4wd. Rating also applies to 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited.
Overall evaluation | |
---|---|
Curb weight | 3,665 lbs |
Peak force | 21,316 lbs |
Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.82 |
Head restraints & seats
Seat type: Manual cloth seats
Overall evaluation | |
---|---|
Dynamic rating | |
Seat/head restraint geometry |
About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.
Headlights
Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.
Trim level(s)
- SE trim
- SEL trim
Evaluation criteria | Rating |
---|---|
Low-beam headlight type | HID projector |
High-beam headlight type | HID projector |
Curve-adaptive? | Yes |
High-beam assist? | No |
Overall rating | |
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination: |
Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp left and both right curves and inadequate on the gradual left curve.
The low beams created some glare.
High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.
Trim level(s)
- S trim
- R-Line trim
Evaluation criteria | Rating |
---|---|
Low-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
High-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
Curve-adaptive? | No |
High-beam assist? | No |
Overall rating | |
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination: |
Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.
The low beams never exceeded glare limits.
High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.
Child seat anchors
Rating applies to 2016-17 models
Evaluation criteria | Rating |
---|---|
Overall evaluation | |
Vehicle trim | SEL |
Seat type | leather |
This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.
It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.
Evaluation criteria | Rating |
---|---|
Overall evaluation | |
Vehicle trim | SEL |
Seat type | leather |
Rating icon | Rating |
---|---|
G | Good |
A | Acceptable |
M | Marginal |
P | Poor |
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated. | |
thether anchor symbol | Tether anchor |
lower anchor symbol | Lower anchors |
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s) | |
No hardware available |
Details by seating position
Position | Rating |
---|---|
1 | |
Tether anchor | |
easy-to-find location | |
no other hardware could be confused for anchor | |
Lower anchors | |
too deep in seat | |
not too much force needed to attach | |
easy to maneuver around anchors | |
2 | |
Tether anchor | |
easy-to-find location | |
no other hardware could be confused for anchor | |
Lower anchors | |
none available | |
3 | |
Tether anchor | |
easy-to-find location | |
no other hardware could be confused for anchor | |
Lower anchors | |
too deep in seat | |
not too much force needed to attach | |
easy to maneuver around anchors |