Compare the2025 Toyota HighlanderVS 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Highlander are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Highlander’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Highlander and the Tiguan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Highlander 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Tiguan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Tiguan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Highlander’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Tiguan’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are almost 2 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 25 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Toyota higher than Volkswagen.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 123 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 35th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Volkswagen is ranked 18th.

The Highlander’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 64 more horsepower (265 vs. 201) and 103 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 207) than the Tiguan’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Highlander’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 64 more horsepower (265 vs. 201) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 221) than the Tiguan’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

The Highlander has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tiguan FWD’s standard fuel tank (17.9 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Highlander has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tiguan AWD’s standard fuel tank (17.9 vs. 15.6 gallons).

The Highlander has a tether attaching its gas cap to prevent its loss. The Tiguan’s gas cap isn’t tethered, so it can be left at a gas station if the driver forgets to screw the cap back in.

For better traction, the Highlander has larger tires than the Tiguan (235/65R18 vs. 215/65R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Highlander LE/XLE has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Tiguan.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Highlander’s wheelbase is 2.3 inches longer than on the Tiguan (112.2 inches vs. 109.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Highlander is 3 inches wider in the front and 3.6 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Tiguan.

For better maneuverability, the Highlander’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Tiguan’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Highlander has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Tiguan (8 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Highlander offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Tiguan can only carry 5.

The Highlander has 38 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Tiguan (141.8 vs. 103.8).

The Highlander has 1.7 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front hip room, 2 inches more front shoulder room, 3.7 inches more rear hip room and 3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tiguan.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Highlander’s middle and third row seats recline. The Tiguan’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Highlander’s cargo area provides more volume than the Tiguan.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Highlander. The Tiguan doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Highlander’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Tiguan’s (5000 vs. 1500 pounds).

The Highlander has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Tiguan (1638 vs. 949 lbs.).

The Highlander has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Tiguan (1715 vs. 1014 lbs.).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Highlander has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Tiguan only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Highlander to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Tiguan doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Compared to the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Toyota Highlander XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its standard integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

The Highlander Limited/Platinum has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Toyota Highlander retains 58.21% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 52.24% resale value of the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan after five years, which can save the Toyota’s owner.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Highlander, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Volkswagen Tiguan by 62 units during 2024.