The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan small SUV comes in four different trim levels. The Tiguan has been in production since 2007. Which VW Tiguan trims should you want, get, and pass on?

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line: Want

The Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line starts at $37,680. It uses the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine as lower trim levels to make 184 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque.

The 2023 VW Tiguan SEL R-Line comes standard with a hands-free remote rear liftgate, a power tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof, and rain-sensing wipers. It also includes silver roof rails, leather seating surfaces, and a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line features ventilated front seats, adaptive cruise control, and all-wheel drive. The SEL R-Line trim costs $10,730 more than the base model Tiguan S. It comes with plenty of great standard features for the money that make the small SUV more comfortable and more refined.

The 2023 Volkwagen Tiguan SEL R-Line is the trim to get because it comes with the best Tiguan features that VW has to offer for a price that’s still affordable.

The Volkswagen Tiguan SE: Get

Car and Driver recommends the Tiguan SE over other Tiguan trims. This is the trim to buy because it’s the perfect balance between affordability and standard features for Tiguan trims.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan SE starts at $30,580. It comes standard with heated side mirrors, a leatherette-wrapped steering wheel, and V-Tex leatherette seating surfaces. The small SUV also features an anti-theft alarm system with an engine immobilizer, adaptive cruise control, and wireless device charging (for certain devices).

The Volkswagen Tiguan SE won’t break the bank, and it still comes with features that improve its overall ownership experience. If you’re considering the VW Tiguan, the SE offers the most value for the money.

Pass on the Volkswagen Tiguan S and SE R-Line Black

The Volkswagen Tiguan S is too barebones for the average driver. It doesn’t offer enough standard features to appeal to consumers the way the SE trim does. Skip the 2023 Volkwagen Tiguan S because the SE has more luxurious features for a decent price.

The VW Tiguan SE R-Line Black comes with great standard features, but it’s significantly more expensive than lower trim levels. The 2023 VW Tiguan SE R-Line Black starts at $33,210. After taxes and fees, the Tiguan SE R-Line Black can cost close to or over $35K. The small SUV space is competitive, and there are plenty of great small SUVs on the market that offer incredible value for under $35,000. If you’re going to spend that much on a Tiguan, you might as well go all out with the SEL R-Line.

If the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan SE doesn’t suit you, there are more popular small SUV nameplates on the market that are value-oriented. The Toyota RAV4 is the current most popular SUV in America for a reason. The RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid small SUVs are great places to start when searching for a new compact SUV.