Volkswagen's ID. Tiguan Rolls Off the Line, Set to Replace the ID.4 in 2027

Volkswagen announced Thursday that series production of the ID. Tiguan has begun at its Emden plant in Germany. The electric SUV takes over the Tiguan nameplate — VW's best-selling model worldwide — as the brand ditches the numerical naming of the outgoing ID.4 and ID.5. Orders opened in Germany and a few other European markets in October, with prices starting at €42,695 ($47,800) across three trims: Trend, Life, and Style.

VW Brand CEO Thomas Schafer framed the move as a merger of two winners. 'The Tiguan is our best-selling model worldwide, and the ID.4 and ID.5 are among our most successful electric cars,' he said last month after unveiling the SUV, adding that 'The ID. Tiguan brings these two success stories together.' It follows the ID. Polo and ID. Cross, which are already on sale in Europe.

The new model leans boxy and traditional rather than aerodynamic. VW's 'Pure Positive' design language brings a wide, chunky front end and old-school pull-style door handles instead of flush ones, drawing closer to the gas-powered Tiguan. In Volkswagen's words, it 'looks like a vehicle from the premium segment.'

Inside, VW loaded up a 10-inch Digital Cockpit, a 15-inch center display and an optional 12-inch passenger screen — plus a Retro Mode that restyles the screens after icons like the first-generation Golf. Drivers can park six classic models in a virtual 'garage': Golf I, Golf II Country, Golf IV, Tiguan I, Race Touareg and Beetle. Physical buttons return under the center display and on the steering wheel for climate and other functions, a change VW says came from customer feedback.

The ID. Tiguan ships with two battery packs and three performance levels, and VW claims a WLTP range of up to 377 miles (607 km) depending on configuration. For comparison, the current ID.4 runs an 82 kWh battery with an EPA-estimated 291 miles in RWD form and around 263 miles with AWD. Electrek notes the European model's WLTP figure is close to 25 miles more than the outgoing ID.4's, so the ID. Tiguan is expected to clear 300 miles on the EPA scale.

Europe gets the ID. Tiguan first, through early 2027, before it heads to North America to replace the ID.4. Volkswagen hasn't announced US pricing or other details yet, saying they'll come 'in due course.' The outgoing ID.4 starts at about $45,000.