Before using your vehicle for the first time, please read and observe the information in this
owner's manual. It will quickly help you to become familiar with your vehicle and all of its
functions as well as making you aware of dangers to yourself and others and of how these
dangers can be avoided.
If you have any further questions about your vehicle, or if you think that the vehicle wallet has not
covered everything, please get in touch with your Volkswagen dealership. They will always be
happy to deal with your questions, suggestions or problems.
We hope you enjoy driving your new vehicle. Happy motoring.
Volkswagen AG
•This owner's manual is valid for all models and versions of the Tiguan.
•An alphabetical index is included at the end of this manual.
•A list of abbreviations at the end of the manual explains the abbreviations used.
•Directions and positions such as left, right, front and rear are normally relative to the vehicle's
direction of travel, unless otherwise indicated.
•Illustrations help with orientation and should be regarded as a general guide.
•This owner's manual was written for left-hand drive vehicles. In right-hand drive vehicles the
controls may sometimes be different to those displayed in illustrations or described in the text
⇒ Overview of driver side.
•Values given in miles instead of kilometres or mph instead of km/h refer to the country-specific
instrument clusters or Infotainment systems.
•Short definitions appear in a different colour before some sections of this manual. They provide
a summary of the function and use of a system or feature. More detailed information about the
features, conditions and limitations of systems and equipment can be found in the relevant
sections.
•Any technical changes that may be made to the vehicle after publication of this booklet are
contained in a supplement that is included with the vehicle wallet.
All equipment and models are described without indicating whether the equipment is optional or
specific to the model type. This means that your vehicle may not have some of the equipment
described, or it may only be available in certain markets. The scope of equipment fitted in your
vehicle can be found in the sales documentation and you can contact your Volkswagen dealership
for further information.
All data in this owner's manual correspond to the information available at the time of going to print.
Because the vehicle is constantly being developed and further improved, there may be differences
between your vehicle and the data in this owner's manual. No discrepancy in data, illustrations or
descriptions shall form the basis for any legal claim.
Please ensure that the complete vehicle wallet is always in the vehicle if you lend or sell the vehicle
to someone else.
Standard booklets in the vehicle wallet:
•Owner's manual
Additional booklets in the vehicle wallet (optional):
•Supplements
•Infotainment system
•Other supplements
Refers to a section within a chapter that contains important information and safety
notes that should always be observed.
Indicates that the section is continued on the next page.
Indicates the end of a section.
Indicates situations in which the vehicle must be stopped as quickly as possible.
®The symbol indicates a registered trademark. However, the absence of this symbol
does not constitute a waiver of the rights concerning any term.
⇒Symbols like these refer you to warnings within the same section or on a given
page. They draw your attention to possible risks of accident or injury and explain
how they can be avoided.
⇒Cross reference to potential risks of damage to property in the same section or on
the page specified.
About this owner's manual
About this owner's manual
m/k/a995MK Vehicles with manual gearbox: change from first to second gear immediately
after setting off. Change to higher gears rapidly.
m/k/a995MK Vehicles with DSG dual clutch gearbox: accelerate slowly and avoid using the
kickdown function.
Gear-change indicator ⇒ Gear-change indicator.
Eco driving profile ⇒ Driving profile selection and 4MOTION Active Control.
Avoid full throttle
Never fully use the maximum speed of the vehicle. Driving at excessive speeds, e.g. above 130
km/h on the motorway, will increase air resistance and thus the amount of force needed to move
the vehicle.
Reduce idling
Drive off immediately with low revs. If you are stopped for a long period, do not allow the engine to
idle but switch it off, e.g. when in a traffic jam or at a railway crossing.
In vehicles with an activated start/stop system, the engine will switch off automatically when the
vehicle is stopping and when the vehicle is stationary ⇒ Start/stop system .
Refuel with moderation
A full fuel tank increases the weight of the vehicle. A fuel tank that is half to three quarters full is
sufficient for urban journeys in particular.
Avoid short journeys
A cold engine has a very high fuel consumption. The optimum operating temperature is reached
only after driving a few miles. The fuel consumption is above average at very low ambient
temperatures, e.g. in winter ⇒ Fig. 116. Plan journeys economically and combine short distances.
Carry out regular maintenance
Regular maintenance is an essential prerequisite for economical driving and increases the service
life of the vehicle.
Observe the correct tyre pressures
An inadequate tyre pressure does not just mean greater wear, but also increases the rolling
resistance of the tyres and thus the fuel consumption. Use optimised rolling resistance tyres.
Adjust the tyre pressure according to the vehicle load. Observe the information on the tyre pressure
sticker ⇒ Useful information about wheels and tyres
Tyre Pressure Loss Indicator or Tyre Pressure Monitoring System ⇒ Tyre monitoring systems.
Use low viscosity engine oil
Fully synthetic engine oils with a low viscosity decrease frictional resistance in the engine and
spread better and more quickly, especially for cold starts.
Do not drive with unnecessary loads in the vehicle
You can reduce fuel consumption by clearing out the luggage compartment before setting off, for
example by removing empty drink crates or unused child seats.
In order to keep the drag coefficient of the vehicle as low as possible, remove attachments and
add-on parts such as ski, bicycle or roof carriers after use.
Save electrical energy
The alternator is driven by the engine and generates power for convenience consumers such as the
air conditioning system, window heating and ventilation. Saving electrical energy is easy, e.g.:
•At high ambient temperatures, ventilate the car before starting a journey and drive a short
distance with open window. Only then switch on the air conditioning system.
•Switch off convenience systems as soon as they have served their purpose.
Adapt your speed and distance from the vehicles ahead to suit visibility, weather, road
and traffic conditions.
WARNING
Inform yourself about other ways of protecting the environment. Think Blue. is the global
Volkswagen brand for sustainability and environmental friendliness.
Your Volkswagen dealership will gladly provide you with further information on correct
maintenance and replacement parts that are particularly energy-efficient, e.g. new tyres.
On vehicles with active cylinder management (ACT), individual engine cylinders can be
deactivated in driving situations with a low power requirement. When a cylinder is deactivated, no
fuel is injected into that cylinder, which leads to an overall reduction in fuel consumption.
Think Blue. Trainer.
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
The Think Blue. Trainer analyses and
visualises your driving style and helps
you to drive more economically.
Fig. 117 In the Infotainment system: Think Blue. Trainer.
Key to ⇒ Fig. 117:
Blue Score:The higher the displayed value on a scale from 0 to 100, the more efficient
your driving style. A blue border symbolises an efficient and constant driving style. A grey
border indicates an inefficient driving style.Touch the display to open the statistics of the last
30 driving minutes Since start.
Acceleration and braking:At a constant speed, two arcs appear in the central area. The
arcs move up and down during acceleration and braking.
History display:The efficiency of the driving style is indicated by the blue bars. The white
bar stores a blue bar approximately every 5 seconds.The larger the bar, the more efficient the
driving style has been.
Driving tips: Think ahead when driving. Gear-change indicator. Adapt your
speed. Economic driving style.
Fuel consumption:The display shows the average fuel consumption Since start
in l/100 km. A blue border symbolises an efficient and constant driving style. A grey border
indicates an inefficient driving style.Touch the display to open the statistics of the last 30 driving
minutes Since start.
Tips for saving energy:Press the Think Blue. function button to access additional
tips.
Selecting Think Blue. Trainer.
•Depending on the equipment level, press the button or function button in the
Infotainment system.
•Touch the Vehicle, Selection, Think Blue. Trainer. button.
Information on the brakes
First read and observe the introductoryinformation and safety warnings⇒
Introduction
New brake pads cannot generate the full braking effect during the first 200 to 300 km (124 to 186
miles) and must first be run in ⇒. However, you can compensate for the slightly reduced braking
force by applying more pressure to the brake pedal. During the run-in period, the braking
distance is longer when the brakes are depressed fully or during emergency braking than
with that have been fully run in. In the run-in period, the brakes should not be depressed fully and
®
Accidents and injuries can occur if the driver is distracted. Operating the Infotainment
system can distract you from the road.
•Always drive carefully and responsibly.
WARNING
situations should be avoided that create a heavy load on the brakes, e.g. when driving up close to
the vehicle ahead.
The rate of wear of the brake pads depends to a great extent on the conditions under which the
vehicle is operated and the way in which the vehicle is driven. If the vehicle is used for regular
urban trips, short journeys, and is driven with a sporty driving style, the brake pads must be
regularly checked by a qualified workshop.
When driving with wet brakes, for example after driving through water, after heavy rainfall or after
washing the vehicle, the braking effect may be delayed as the brake discs will be wet, or possibly
iced up (in winter). The brakes must be dried as quickly as possible by careful braking at higher
speed. Please ensure that no following vehicle and no other road user is put at risk as a result of
this action ⇒.
Any salt layer accumulating on the discs and pads will delay the braking effect and increase the
braking distance. If the brakes on the vehicle have not been applied for a long time on roads that
have been gritted with salt, the layer of salt must be reduced through careful braking ⇒.
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt in the brake pads are facilitated through long periods of
inactivity, low mileage and low load levels. If the brake pads have been hardly used, or if they are at
all corroded, Volkswagen recommends that the brake discs and brake pads be cleaned by braking
strongly several times from high speed. Please ensure that no following vehicle and no other road
user is put at risk as a result of this action ⇒.
Brake servo
The brake servo will only function when the engine is running and reinforces the pressure applied
by the driver on the brake pedal.
If the brake servo is not functioning or the vehicle is being towed, the brake pedal will have to be
depressed more forcefully as the braking distance will be increased due to the lack of assistance for
the brake system ⇒.
Driving with worn brake pads or with a faulty brake system can cause accidents and
serious injuries.
•If the warning lamp lights up either alone or together with a text message in the
instrument cluster display, go to a qualified workshop immediately to have the brake
pads checked and the worn brake pads replaced.
WARNING
New brake pads will not have the optimal braking effect when first fitted.
•New brake pads cannot generate the full braking effect during the first 300 km (186
miles) and must first be run in. A reduced braking effect can be increased by applying
more pressure to the brake pedal.
•You must drive particularly carefully when driving with new brake pads in order to
reduce the risk of accidents, serious injuries and loss of control of the vehicle.
•Never drive too close to other vehicles when running in new brake pads, and never
create a driving situation that will place a heavy load on the brakes.
WARNING
Overheated brakes reduce the braking effect and considerably increase the braking
distance.
•When driving downhill the brakes are placed under particular strain and become hot
very quickly.
•Before driving down a long, steep gradient, reduce speed and change to a lower gear
(with manual gearboxes or in Tiptronic mode with the DSG dual clutch gearbox). This
will make use of the engine braking effect and relieve the load on the brakes.
•Non-standard or damaged front spoilers could restrict the airflow to the brakes and
cause them to overheat.
WARNING
•From the PR number on the vehicle data sticker ⇒ Fig. 250 (arrow) ⇒ Technical data.
•From the table below.
Service
event
PR
No.
Service
type
Service interval
Oil change
service
QI1
Fixed
Every 5,000 km / 3,000 miles or 1 year.
QI2Every 7,500 km / 4,500 miles or 1 year.
QI3Every 10,000 km / 6,000 miles or 1 year.
QI4Every 15,000 km / 9,000 miles or 1 year.
QI6FlexibleAccording to service interval display.
InspectionAccording to service interval display.
Note the information on engine oil specifications according to VW standards ⇒ Engine oil.
Features of the flexible service
With the flexible service, you need to have an oil change service carried out only if your vehicle
requires one. To determine this point in time, individual operating conditions and personal driving
style are taken into account. An important part of the flexible service is the use of LongLife engine
oil instead of conventional engine oil.
Note the information on engine oil specifications according to VW standards ⇒ Engine oil.
If you do not wish to have the flexible service, you can opt for the fixed service instead.
However, a fixed service can affect your service costs. Your service advisor will be pleased to
advise you.
Service interval display
Scheduled services at Volkswagen are displayed in the service interval display in the instrument
cluster ⇒ Service interval display or in the Vehicle settings menu in the Infotainment system
⇒ Operation and display in the Infotainment system. The service interval display informs you about
the scheduled services which include an oil change and also about scheduled services which
include an inspection. When the respective service is due, additional work that is due can also be
carried out, e.g. changing brake fluid and spark plugs.
Information is stated for vehicles used under normal operating conditions.
Whichever comes first.
Information on operating conditions
The service intervals and service content are always for vehicles used under normal operating
conditions.
If the vehicle is operated under severe conditions, some work will have to be performed before the
next service is due or at shorter intervals than those specified.
Severe operating conditions are, for example:
•Fuels containing sulphur,
•Regular short trips,
•Long periods of engine idling (taxis for example),
•Operation in regions with high dust levels,
•Regular trailer towing ⇒ Trailer towing,
•A high percentage of stop-and-go traffic, as is typical in city driving and
•Driving mainly in winter conditions.
This applies particularly to the following components:
•Dust and pollen filter
•Air filter
•Toothed belt
•Diesel particulate filter
•Engine oil
The service advisor at your qualified workshop will be pleased to advise you on whether your
vehicle requires more frequent work due to the conditions under which it is used.
a)
b)
b)
b)
b)
a)
b)