SPY PICS: Third-gen Volkswagen Tiguan spotted again

The upcoming third-generation Volkswagen Tiguan has been spotted testing again in near-production guise, this time in Colorado as the all-new mid-size SUV inches toward its anticipated global reveal in 2024.

Completely undisguised and wearing the vast majority of its production trim bits, it’s clear this particular prototype is a different grade to the black example spotted in Europe last year, going by the horizontal slats spanning the lower intake and differing alloy wheel design.

It’s hard to tell exactly which grades the two separate prototypes are, but we’d hazard an educated guess that the white vehicle is a mid-range Elegance variant or its equivalent, while the black one is likely an entry-level Life or Style (or equivalent) judging by its black grille mesh and smaller wheels.

Either way, the new images emphasise just how different the new Tiguan will be to the model it replaces in terms of design, with a big and boofy new front-end treatment appearing similar to that of the all-electric VW ID.4 – its zero-emissions equal.

The new nose is matched by a voluptuous rear-end adorned with fake silver exhaust outlets, however, the Tiguan’s overall stature looks similar to the current model’s. Indeed, if it got much bigger it would cannibalise the seven-seat Tiguan Allspace.

Petrol, diesel and electrified versions of the new Tiguan will be offered globally and there’s a good chance we’ll get a reasonable mix of all three powertrains Down Under in the name of variety and Australia’s lack of emissions regulations.

There’s been no word yet on whether a high-performance R variant will return for the next generation, but it’s fair to assume it will given the current version’s popularity both here and abroad.

Volkswagen’s answer to the Australia’s favourite SUV, the Toyota RAV4, the original Volkswagen Tiguan first appeared in 2007, before is second-gen successor arrived in 2016.

So far this year, it remains Volkswagen’s third most popular model in Australia behind the smaller VW T-Cross and T-Roc – and the German brand’s top-seller if you include the Allspace.

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