What is the difference between the Tiguan L and the Tiguan?

[DelLondyn]

Volkswagen launched the Tiguan L in December 2016. The previous Tiguan was referred to as the old Tiguan. The main differences between the two are as follows: 1. Appearance: The old Tiguan is more conservative, while the Tiguan L is more avant-garde. 2. Space: The Tiguan L has more space than the old Tiguan. 3. Price: The Tiguan L is approximately 15,000 to 30,000 RMB more expensive than the old Tiguan. 4. Configuration: The old Tiguan does not come with a central control display screen. The Tiguan L features a 6.5-inch central control screen, USB ports, and an SD card slot. Additionally, the Tiguan L includes a keyless start system and engine start-stop technology, which are not available in the old Tiguan. 5. Powertrain: The Tiguan L uses a hybrid injection system, which allows for more complete fuel combustion and improves fuel economy. The old Tiguan is equipped with a turbocharged engine.

[SanMiranda]

Last time I accompanied my friend to look at cars, when I sat in the rear seat of the Tiguan L, I immediately noticed how much more spacious it felt. The legroom in the older Tiguan model was just barely adequate, but the Tiguan L, with its wheelbase extended by 107 mm, offers enough space to even cross your legs comfortably. The trunk capacity has also increased from 400 liters to 495 liters, allowing a baby stroller to be placed upright. Externally, the Tiguan L features sharper headlights and a full-width taillight strip with dynamic turn signals, making it significantly more stylish than the boxy design of the older Tiguan. The difference in features is quite significant—the Tiguan L comes with a fully digital instrument cluster and a 12-inch central touchscreen with gesture control, along with additions like wireless charging, which the older model lacked. Although it costs about 20,000 to 30,000 RMB more, the upgrades in space and technology are quite practical for family users.

[JoelLee]

As someone who frequently drives long distances, I find the driving differences between the Tiguan L and the Tiguan quite noticeable. After adopting the MQB platform, the Tiguan L is 65 kg lighter, resulting in significantly less body roll during turns. The throttle response is also more linear, whereas the turbo lag in the older Tiguan is particularly noticeable when climbing hills. In terms of noise insulation, the Tiguan L features double-layer glass that is 0.5 mm thicker, noticeably reducing wind noise at high speeds. The seat padding has been reformulated, allowing for four hours of continuous driving without back pain. The main differences in configuration lie in active safety features; the Tiguan L comes with lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control, making long-distance driving much less taxing. The chassis tuning balances comfort and support, with more refined bump absorption over speed bumps.

[XavierFitz]

When choosing a car, I focused on comparing the exterior design and tech features of both vehicles. The Tiguan L has sharper body lines and LED headlights with dynamic lighting that sweeps when unlocking at night, which looks particularly cool. The biggest interior upgrade is the 10.2-inch full LCD instrument cluster that can display full-screen navigation, making the old Tiguan's mechanical gauges seem outdated. The center screen has grown from 8 to 12 inches and features gesture control - just wave your hand to skip songs. It supports wireless CarPlay, while the Tiguan requires a cable. The infotainment system responds much faster, and voice recognition can control the sunroof and AC. Although it's 20,000 yuan more expensive, driving with these cool features every day definitely improves the mood.

[EmmettFitz]

With kids, car selection prioritizes space and safety. The Tiguan L's rear row is 10cm wider than the Tiguan, allowing two adults to sit comfortably even with a child safety seat installed. The panoramic sunroof expands to 1.17 square meters, preventing kids from feeling cramped in the back. The safety feature gap is significant—the Tiguan L includes autonomous emergency braking, which once automatically stopped for me when the car ahead braked suddenly. The 360-degree camera during reversing is far more intuitive than the Tiguan's parking sensors, especially in rain when spotting children in blind spots. The rear independent climate control allows zoned airflow, ensuring kids aren't woken by cold drafts while sleeping. Though the older model offers bigger discounts, spending extra for these safety upgrades is well worth it.

[DiEthan]

After careful calculation, I chose the older Tiguan model. The Tiguan L is over 30,000 yuan more expensive, but the difference in daily commuting is negligible. The Tiguan 1.4T has a fuel consumption of 6.6 liters, while the Tiguan L with the same powertrain consumes 7.2 liters, adding over a hundred yuan to monthly fuel costs. Although the Tiguan L offers more space, the trunk of the Tiguan is sufficient for a stroller for a family of three. The main configuration differences lie in technology, but spending 3,000 yuan to upgrade the central control screen can compensate for that. Both models use the EA211 engine, so maintenance costs are the same. Considering depreciation, the newer model loses value faster in the first three years. The money saved in the end is enough to cover two years of insurance, making it a much more economical choice for salaried workers.