IIHS flags poor rear-seat safety in the 2025 VW Tiguan

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The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan failed one of the IIHS’s toughest crash tests, earning a poor rating in the frontal-overlap evaluation. The issue centered on rear-seat occupant safety, particularly for smaller passengers such as women and children. According to the report, the rear dummy’s shoulder belt rode too high during the test, a condition that can lead to neck injuries. The lap belt also slid up onto the abdomen, increasing the risk of harm to internal organs.

For this assessment, IIHS uses a smaller dummy to more precisely gauge protection for occupants with slighter builds, who face greater injury risks. Even so, the Tiguan delivered solid results in other evaluations, including front-occupant protection and crash-prevention systems. The contrast underscores a lingering gap between front-row safety and rear-seat protection.

For 2025, the Tiguan is equipped with modern LED headlights, though not every setup received top marks for illumination. Versions with LED projectors on the SEL R performed well, while other trims were rated average. The Tiguan remains a popular choice, yet the crash-test findings put rear-passenger safety back under the spotlight—something families who rely on the second row are likely to watch closely.