The facelifted Hyundai Tucson (just released) also now has a steering column mounted gear shifter. I had a Mercedes E-Class company car around 20 years ago that had a steering column gear shifter and I have to say that I quite liked it. I got used to it in no time at all so it wouldn’t worry me.
We have had 3 VW Tiguans through Motability, and owned one privately, so I would consider another, even though our current BMW X1 betters the Tiguan in almost every respect. The thing that really puts me off the new Tiguan though is not the gear shifter, but the fact that VW don’t fit leather trim, or even faux leather, on their top spec models and the only way to get it is to pay around £2,500 to have leather trim with an electric drivers seat that I don’t need (as I’m the only person who ever drives the car)! Thats just a complete rip off, especially as they don’t even use good quality leather.