2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Elegance TSI S-A 1.5L Petrol · LB21 ETD

The vehicle maintains a roadworthy status, though the maintenance history reveals a concerning trend regarding rubber components. While the car passed its most recent test on 19 March 2026 at 26,868 miles, the tester flagged defects for cracking and perishing across all four tyres. This issue mirrors an advisory from the March 2025 test, indicating a persistent degradation of tyre material despite low annual mileage. The mileage pattern is consistently low for a five-year-old vehicle, averaging approximately 5,374 miles per year. Between the March 2024 test at 9,465 miles and the March 2025 test at 17,117 miles, the car covered 7,652 miles, while another 9,751 miles were recorded prior to the 2026 test. This low usage suggests the vehicle likely sits for long periods, which explains the age-related cracking of the tyre sidewalls despite sufficient remaining tread depth. A buyer must prioritize a physical inspection of all four tyres, as the recurring failures suggest they are reaching the end of their functional life due to age. Given the low mileage, the inspector should also check for brake disc corrosion and seized caliper pistons, which often occur on vehicles that are not driven frequently. The suspension bushes and rubber components should be examined for dry cracking to ensure the long periods of standing have not caused structural deterioration beyond the visible tyres.