Compare the2022 Kia SportageVS 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The Sportage’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 Sportage and the Tiguan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Volkswagen Tiguan:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Sportage is 1.3% to 2.1% less likely to roll over than the Tiguan.

The Sportage comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Tiguan’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Tiguan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Tiguan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 19 percent more Kia dealers than there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Sportage’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Sportage has a standard 600-amp battery. The Tiguan’s 360-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sportage’s reliability 50 points higher than the Tiguan.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sportage second among compact suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Tiguan isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 9th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 66 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 9 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 53 more horsepower (237 vs. 184) and 39 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 221) than the Tiguan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Sportage SX Turbo’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 56 more horsepower (240 vs. 184) and 39 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 221) than the Tiguan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Sportage 4 cyl. is faster than the Volkswagen Tiguan:

The Sportage stops much shorter than the Tiguan:

For better traction, the Sportage has larger standard tires than the Tiguan (225/60R17 vs. 215/65R17).

The Sportage LX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Tiguan S/SE’s standard 65 series tires.

The Sportage has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Tiguan’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Tiguan.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Tiguan SEL 4Motion® pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Tiguan SEL 4Motion® (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sportage’s turning circle is 2.9 feet tighter than the Tiguan’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.7 feet).

The Kia Sportage may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 450 pounds less than the Volkswagen Tiguan.

The Sportage is 8.7 inches shorter than the Tiguan, making the Sportage easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Sportage has 1.3 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room and 1.7 inches more rear legroom than the Tiguan.

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume than the Tiguan with its rear seat up (30.7 vs. 12 cubic feet).

The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Tiguan’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Sportage 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.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Sportage (except LX/Nightfall) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Tiguan doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Insurance will cost less for the Sportage owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sportage will cost $240 less than the Tiguan over a five-year period.

The Sportage will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Sportage will retain 45.89% to 49.54% of its original price after five years, while the Tiguan only retains 42.99% to 45.73%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Sportage is less expensive to operate than the Tiguan because it costs $128 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Sportage than the Tiguan, including $344 less for a water pump, $121 less for a muffler, $5 less for front brake pads, $473 less for a starter, $182 less for fuel injection, $234 less for a fuel pump, $181 less for front struts and $85 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Sportage will be $1341 to $4125 less than for the Volkswagen Tiguan.

The Kia Sportage has won recognition from these important consumer publications: