With summer approaching, you wouldn’t be alone in thinking there’s nothing better than cruising on the highway with the top down or the sunroof open. Sunlight, fresh air, and the open road are a recipe for great memories, especially in a brand-new car. If you’re thinking of getting a Volkswagen Tiguan, you’ll want to check the trim levels carefully if you’re looking for a panoramic sunroof.

Inside the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

RELATED: The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan Is the Cheapest 3-Row SUV Under $25,000

And if you’re looking at a 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan, you’re making a good choice. The Tiguan is a sharp, three-row compact SUV that starts at $25,245 and handles relatively well, Autotrader reports. The base model, the Tiguan S, has front-wheel drive and 17-inch alloy wheels. Its turbocharged 2-liter four-cylinder engine pairs with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Tiguan S harnesses 184 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. It also gets 23/29 mpg city/highway and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds.

Though the Tiguan offers third-row seating, that row is better suited to children than adults. With the third row up, you’ll have only 12 cubic feet of cargo space. But if you need more, folding the third row down will yield 33.3 cubic feet; with the second and third rows down, you’ll get 65.7 cubic feet. You’ll also get plenty of headroom, legroom, and tech features like a six-speaker audio system and a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and wireless connectivity.

Adaptive cruise control is standard across all trims, as are several other advanced safety features. They include automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and forward-collision warning. However, though the base model is impressive, it doesn’t come with a panoramic sunroof.

The Volkswagen Tiguan’s trim levels

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan offers several trim levels providing various additional amenities. The Tiguan SE, the next trim up from the base model, adds quite a few, including a leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, and an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. Technology upgrades include a voice-controlled 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a security system, wireless charging, and an emergency communications system. The SE starts at $27,395.

The SEL trim, starting at $32,545, adds 18-inch wheels, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. You’ll also get a powered liftgate, remote start, and fog lights. Tiguan trims with LED headlights and an adaptive front-lighting system, such as the SEL, have earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety‘s Top Safety Pick distinction.

There’s also the SE R-Line Black, which includes black-accented bumpers, fog lights, front and rear parking sensors, and 20-inch black wheels. It starts at $31,315. You can add all-wheel drive for an extra $1,300. However, AWD reduces passenger capacity from seven to five.

And with the top-of-the-line Tiguan Premium R-Line, you’ll get all the lower-level trims’ amenities and then some. The R-Line also boasts a nine-speaker sound system, ambient cabin lighting, leather upholstery, an overhead-view camera, and an automatic parking system. And if you can afford the $39,095 starting price, this top-level Tiguan and its 20-inch wheels may be what you’re looking for.

Which trims have a panoramic sunroof?

Of the Tiguan’s trims, the SE has an optional panoramic sunroof. If you purchase this model, an additional $1,200 will get you Volkswagen’s one-touch power tilting/sliding sunroof, which moves to a ventilation position when fully opened. This may be ideal if you’re on a budget because the SE with a sunroof will run you under $29,000.

However, the panoramic sunroof comes standard with the SE R-Line Black, SEL, and SEL Premium R-Line. The least expensive of these trims is about $2,000 more than the SE with the sunroof. However, the abundant additional features that come with these higher trims might make paying the extra few thousand dollars for one of them worth the expense.

Either way, the Tiguan is an excellent compact crossover SUV for daily use and superb for vacation adventures. If you’re looking at a new Tiguan, consider a higher trim level. It’ll have you driving in style and give even your back passengers wide-open views through its panoramic glass roof.