2012 Volkswagen Tiguan — Full Specifications
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The 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan is an SUV powered by a 2L 4-cyl turbo premium gasoline engine. Its most fuel-efficient configuration returns around 29 mpg (UK) / 24 mpg (US EPA) combined, with 25–29 mpg (UK) across all configurations. Owners often keep a Volkswagen Tiguan workshop manual to hand for servicing and repairs.
Related 2012 listings: Volkswagen Tiguan 4motion.
Compared with the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan: Fuel economy improves from 26 to 29 mpg (UK) combined on the most efficient configuration. The engine line-up listed by EPA is unchanged.
Full Specifications
| Engine | 2L 4-cyl turbo |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Automatic (S6) |
| Fuel Type | Premium Gasoline |
| Powertrain | Conventional |
| Drive | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Body Style | SUV |
| Fuel Economy (UK) | 29 combined / 26 urban / 31 extra-urban mpg |
| Fuel Economy (US EPA) | 24 combined / 22 city / 26 highway mpg |
| CO₂ Emissions | 230 g/km |
| EPA Est. Annual Fuel Cost | $3,400 (15,000 mi/yr, US prices) |
Engine & Transmission Options
EPA lists 3 configurations for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan, all with the 2L 4-cyl turbo engine. Combined fuel economy ranges from 21 to 24 mpg (US), or 25 to 29 mpg (UK), depending on engine, transmission and drive. The headline figures at the top of this page describe the most fuel-efficient configuration.
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG (UK) | MPG (US) | CO₂ g/km | Fuel cost / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 28 | 23 (21/26) | 240 | $3,550 |
| 2L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 24 (22/26) | 230 | $3,400 |
| 2L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 21 (18/26) | 263 | $3,900 |
MPG (US) shows combined, with city/highway in brackets. Highlighted row = the configuration used for the headline figures. Source: US EPA fueleconomy.gov.
Owner Essentials for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
Running Costs: 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
Covering around 8,000 miles a year in a 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan at 29 mpg combined, expect roughly 1,254 litres of fuel annually — multiply by your local price per litre for a cost estimate. For US owners, the EPA estimates about $3,400 a year in fuel for the most efficient configuration (15,000 miles, national average prices). Work out exact fuel costs with the fuel cost calculator on 247Calculators.
Convert between MPG and L/100km with the unit converters on 247QuickTools. Not sure what tyre size fits? 247TyreCheck explains tyre sizing.
Planning a road trip? Grab a road trip packing list. Only need this car occasionally? See our buy vs rent comparison.
2012 Volkswagen Tiguan Safety Ratings (NHTSA)
No NHTSA crash-test rating is on record for this model year. The NHTSA rates only a subset of vehicles each year; you can browse every rated vehicle on our NHTSA Safety Ratings hub.
Recalls & Owner Complaints (NHTSA)
NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns that include the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan (as of 6 October 2026). Most affected areas: Unspecified (1), Air bags (1), Fuel system (1). A campaign often covers several model years or models, so check your own VIN to see whether your car is affected.
- Unspecified — campaign 18V329000, reported 16 May 2018. Risk: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.
- Air bags — campaign 15V483000, reported 4 August 2015. Risk: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fuel system — campaign 14V441000, reported 21 July 2014. Risk: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Owners have filed 153 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan. The most-reported areas are Engine (50), Air bags (33), Electrical system (23). Complaints include 10 reported crashes, 6 reported injuries. That is close to the median of 110 complaints across the 17 Volkswagen Tiguan model years in our data.
Used-buyer checklist for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan
Based on where NHTSA recalls and owner complaints cluster for this model year, these are the areas worth checking before you buy:
- Engine (50 owner complaints) — Listen for unusual noise on a cold start, check for warning lights and ask for the service records.
- Air bags (1 recall campaign · 33 owner complaints) — Confirm any air bag inflator or module recalls were completed — enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Electrical system (23 owner complaints) — Test every switch, window, light and warning lamp on a test drive, and ask about battery or alternator replacements.
- Steering (21 owner complaints) — Check for play, noise or heavy steering, and ask whether any steering recall work was done.
Source: US NHTSA recall and consumer-complaint databases, retrieved 6 October 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects. Check any vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, and see our guide to checking a used car for recalls.
How It Compares
How does the Volkswagen Tiguan compare to similar SUVs? For context, SUVs in our database average around 27 mpg (UK) combined — this model's 29 mpg figure is 2 mpg better than that average. Its 230 g/km CO₂ figure is 23 g/km lower than the 253 g/km average for SUVs on this site. This comparison is based on 1824 SUVs in our dataset.
Volkswagen models in our database average about 33 mpg (UK) combined on their most efficient configuration; the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan's 29 mpg is 4 mpg below that make average. Its 230 g/km CO₂ figure is 17 g/km higher than the 213 g/km Volkswagen average.
Of the 17 Volkswagen Tiguan model years we cover, the 2012 ranks 9th for combined fuel economy on its best configuration (29 mpg UK combined, against a high of 34 mpg). See every Volkswagen Tiguan year side by side.
Last updated: · Data: US EPA (fueleconomy.gov) and NHTSA safety ratings 18 July 2026; NHTSA recalls and complaints 6 October 2026; Wikidata & curated EU catalogue 18 July 2026; European generation and engine data from Wikipedia 7 October 2026
Vehicle data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Always verify with your vehicle handbook or a qualified mechanic. This is a reference tool, not professional advice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What engine does the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan have?
It's fitted with a 2L 4-cyl turbo premium gasoline engine, paired with a automatic (s6) transmission.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan?
The most efficient configuration returns around 29 mpg (UK) combined, or 24 mpg on the US EPA cycle. Across all configurations the UK combined figure runs from 25 to 29 mpg.
How much does the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan cost to fuel per year?
The US EPA estimates about $3,400 a year in fuel for the most efficient configuration, based on 15,000 miles of mixed driving and national average fuel prices. Your own cost will depend on mileage and local prices.
Does the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 safety recall campaigns that include the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan (as of 6 October 2026). Most affected areas: Unspecified (1), Air bags (1), Fuel system (1). A campaign often covers several model years or models, so check your own VIN to see whether your car is affected.
What are the most common problems reported for the 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Among the 153 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported areas are Engine (50 complaints), Air bags (33 complaints), Electrical system (23 complaints). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects, and raw counts rise with how many cars were sold.
Is the Volkswagen Tiguan's fuel economy good for an SUV?
Yes — it returns around 29 mpg (UK) combined, against a same-body-style average of roughly 27 mpg among the SUVs we track.