Tiguan is an invented name made from two German words: Tiger, meaning tiger, and Leguan, meaning iguana. Volkswagen did not simply invent the final badge in a meeting, either. Readers of the European Auto Bild group selected Tiguan in a public naming poll in 2006.
Is Tiguan a German word?
No. Tiguan does not have a separate dictionary meaning in German, and it is not an acronym. It is a portmanteau, a new word formed by joining parts of Tiger and Leguan. In plain English, the Volkswagen Tiguan name means “tiger-iguana.”
Who chose the name Tiguan?
Auto Bild announced the result on July 19, 2006. The magazine reported that 117,824 readers voted for Tiguan, giving it more than 36 percent of the vote. Volkswagen planned to bring the compact SUV to the European market in autumn 2007.
Tiguan beat four other finalists: Namib, Rockton, Samun and Nanuk. That voting history matters because some accounts describe the name as if Volkswagen launched the SUV first and explained the badge later. The name was settled before the production model reached showrooms.
Does “tiger” mean power and “iguana” mean agility?
That is a popular marketing-style interpretation, but it is not part of Volkswagen’s documented explanation. Volkswagen confirms the two-word blend and the reader poll. It does not officially assign power, agility, toughness or off-road ability to either half of the name.
Sources
- Volkswagen of America: the history behind Volkswagen model names
- Auto Bild: the original 2006 Tiguan naming-poll result
Related Guides
Why Does My Volkswagen Burn So Much Oil? Causes and What to Check
How Big Is a Volkswagen Jetta Trunk? Cargo Space Explained
Is VW 4MOTION the Same as AWD? Yes—Here’s What the Name Means
What Is the Volkswagen Beetle Dune? The 2016 Crossover-Style Special Edition