Volkswagen’s Tiguan, one of the brand’s best-selling SUVs worldwide, is about to become significantly more expensive for the 2026 model year, and international tariffs are playing a key role in that price jump. Depending on which version customers choose, the cost could rise by as much as $2,630, even though the 2026 Tiguan remains largely unchanged from the 2025 model. The only major addition for the new model year is the introduction of the SEL R-Line Turbo trim, which replaces the outgoing SEL R-Line and brings with it more performance — and a noticeably higher price.
To understand how Volkswagen arrived at these new figures, it helps to look at the Tiguan’s recent pricing history. When the redesigned 2025 Tiguan launched in May 2024, it came with a starting price of $30,920. That was already a jump from the previous generation, but the SUV proved popular thanks to its sharper design, improved interior, and more refined driving experience. However, not long after sales began, Volkswagen quietly applied a mid-year price adjustment in July, increasing costs before the model had even completed its first full sales cycle. Fast forward to October, and the company has now issued yet another update — the third price revision since the vehicle’s debut.
For 2026, the entry-level Tiguan S FWD now begins at $32,280, representing a $610 increase or about 1.9 percent compared to earlier in the year. The same $610 price hike applies across several other versions, including the Tiguan S AWD, SE FWD, and SE AWD trims. Higher in the lineup, the increases become more pronounced. The Tiguan SE R-Line FWD now costs $38,720, while the SE R-Line AWD climbs to $40,220 — both up by $1,090, or roughly 2.8 percent.
The most significant change arrives at the top of the range with the SEL R-Line Turbo, which replaces the former SEL R-Line model. Previously priced from $41,930, the new trim now starts at $44,560, marking a hefty $2,630 increase. Despite the steep hike, Volkswagen argues that this isn’t simply a case of price inflation — the SEL R-Line Turbo comes with a reworked 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 67 more horsepower and 51 lb-ft of extra torque, making it meaningfully more powerful than before.
Volkswagen executives have cited global market pressures and tariff costs as major contributors to these adjustments. Petar Danilovic, VW of America’s senior vice president for product marketing and strategy, explained that the company’s pricing strategy reflects both competitor movements and broader economic factors. Because the new Tiguan is assembled in Mexico, it currently faces a 25 percent import tariff, which has directly influenced production and retail pricing.
In short, while the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan brings modest updates on the surface, the combination of tariffs, production costs, and competitive positioning has made it one of the brand’s most expensive compact SUVs yet. For buyers, that means paying more for a familiar model — albeit one that now delivers a stronger top-end variant and the promise of added performance.