New Volkswagen ID Tiguan tunes the Mk4 Golf with blue-backlit digital dials

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The Mk4 Golf-derived instruments will undoubtedly appeal to existing VW customers and potential new ones. They'll also make some of us feel very old.

GE

George East

14 October 2026 · 2 min read

The new, all-electric Volkswagen ID Tiguan SUV can be configured with a blue-backlit digital driver display inspired by the Mk4 VW Golf.

Manufactured from 1997 to 2003, the fourth-generation VW Golf marked a significant uptick in quality over previous versions and helped the Golf become synonymous with bombproof interiors.

Part of the cabin’s much-improved fit and finish was Volkswagen’s use of blue instrument backlighting, reportedly inspired by aircraft cockpit illumination and introduced to prevent drivers from falling asleep at the wheel.

The driver’s instrument binnacle housed blue-backlit dials offset by contrasting red needles, creating an almost floating effect when lit. Dropped in favour of white backlighting in the mid-to-late 2000s, the blue/red setup helped make VW a byword for cabin quality.

Now described as “retro” by VW, a digital version of the Mk4 Golf’s blue-backlit dials can be configured on the ID Tiguan’s 10-inch driver read-out. This is done by pressing the ‘View’ button on the newly introduced two-spoke steering wheel.

The large left dial displays the speedometer, while the one on the right indicates how much power and energy are being drawn from the battery. Meanwhile, two smaller dials at the top of the binnacle indicate battery temperature on the left, and battery percentage (State of Charge or ‘SOC’) on the right. The new ID Tiguan is available with two battery options: a 58kWh LFP unit or a 77kWh NMC pack.

The ID Tiguan is the second new-gen ID model to lean into the company’s past as a way of retaining existing customers and attracting a new client base. When launched last year, the new ID Polo was the first to introduce the retro-inspired visuals. The fully-electric supermini’s main infotainment display and digital driver readout can be configured with ‘analogue’ dials inspired by the Mk1 Golf.

Pricing and full specifications for the new Volkswagen ID Tiguan will be confirmed nearer to its official launch early next year.