Volkswagen Tiguan
5N (WVGZZZ5N)Stock varies — page stays liveBuilt on the flexible PQ46 platform shared with the Passat, the first-generation Tiguan featured the WVGZZZ5N VIN prefix for European-spec markets. It was widely praised for its Golf-like driving dynamics, excellent interior packaging, and capable Haldex-based 4Motion all-wheel drive system.
Engine
2.0 TSI (EA888 Gen 1)
Displacement
1,984 cc
Drive
4WD
Gearbox
6MT / 6AT / 7DSG
Fuel
Petrol
Body
SUV
Volkswagen Tiguan — representative 1st Gen (5N) imageDimensions & shipping volume
Length
4,427 mm
Width
1,809 mm
Height
1,686 mm
Weight
1,590 kg
Shipping volume
13.5 M³
Manufacture year vs. registration year
Japanese paperwork shows the first registration date, but African customs count age from the month of manufacture. Verify with the chassis serial before purchase:
Serial prefixProduction periodSeries
5N1XXXXXXNov 2007 – Jun 2011Pre-facelift
5N2XXXXXXJul 2011 – Apr 2016Facelift
Import eligibility by country
Age limits are counted from the month of manufacture, not first registration. This 5N (WVGZZZ5N) was produced 2007–2016; the statuses below are checked against Jul 2026.
KenyaNot eligible
8-year limit from manufacture — all units now exceed it.UgandaCheck unit age
Only units manufactured Jul 2011 or later qualify (15-year limit).TanzaniaEligible
No age ban; vehicles over 10 years pay additional excise duty.ZambiaEligible
No age limit; surtax applies to vehicles older than 5 years.MalawiEligible
No age limit; duty calculated on cc and age band.Common questions about the 5N (WVGZZZ5N)
What does the WVGZZZ5N chassis/VIN code indicate?
WVG indicates a Volkswagen SUV manufactured in Germany, ZZZ represents filler characters for non-US market VINs, and 5N is the platform designator for the first-generation Tiguan.
What is a common mechanical issue to look out for on the 2.0 TSI engine?
The early EA888 Gen 1 and Gen 2 engines are prone to timing chain tensioner failures and excessive oil consumption; replacing the tensioner with the updated revised version is highly recommended.
Which automatic transmissions were used in this chassis?
Depending on the market and engine configuration, the Tiguan was equipped with either a conventional 6-speed torque-converter automatic (Aisin Tiptronic) or a 7-speed wet-clutch DSG (DQ500).