2027 VW ID.Tiguan.

The VW ID.4 has already received a surprisingly long list of updates for the 2025 model year. Including revisions to the powertrain, updated battery options, and much-improved software that finally feels closer to what customers expected from the start. While these upgrades are meaningful and welcome, the reality is that the ID.4 still looks almost identical to the version that debuted a few years ago. Visually, it’s basically the same car.

For some time now, there have been rumors about a more significant redesign coming for the 2027 model year. We now know those rumors were accurate. This won’t be a simple mid-cycle refresh or facelift. Instead, VW is almost treating this as a full generational change. In fact, it will be considered an entirely new model. Complete with a brand-new name: ID.Tiguan.

This move signals a broader shift in VW’s EV strategy. The company has decided to revive well-known, traditional model names for its ID lineup. Which feels like a smart and overdue decision. That strategy is already underway, with upcoming compact models expected to be called the ID. Polo and ID Cross. Familiar names help ground these EVs in VW’s long history and make them easier for mainstream buyers to understand and remember.

The transformation could begin later this year when the new design is officially introduced. Recent spy shots have given us a good idea of what the next-generation model could look like. A design that resembles a larger, more confident ID.Cross would be a strong direction. VW itself has promised big changes, stating: “We’ll re-do the ID.4 completely inside and out. It will be a completely different car, a huge step up.” Which, on paper, sounds very encouraging.

The interior is expected to see just as many changes. A heavily redesigned cabin will feature an all-new dashboard layout, and, perhaps most importantly, VW claims physical buttons are finally making a comeback. These controls are said to resemble those found in the new ID.Cross, suggesting a more user-friendly and less frustrating experience overall.

One insider even confirmed the return of a round volume knob, saying: “If you develop something that works, and it has worked for years, there’s no reason to replace it.” This is, of course, coming from the same company that famously replaced traditional buttons with touch sliders, so the irony isn’t lost here…

Motors and batteries are also expected to receive further improvements. These updates will debut first on the European-market ID.3 early next year, with the ID.4, or rather, the ID.Tiguan—following later in the same year.

Personally, I think the current VW ID.4 still looks quite good. With modest exterior refinements and more substantial interior upgrades, it could have remained very competitive. Still, if VW truly delivers on all these promises, the next-generation model could be a major leap forward.

Let’s just hope these changes make their way to the US market quickly.