Compare the2022 Honda HR-VVS 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the HR-V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The HR-V’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Tiguan’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the HR-V 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes and lane departure warning systems.

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 Honda HR-V 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 HR-V is 1.5% to 3.3% less likely to roll over than the Tiguan.

Honda’s powertrain warranty covers the HR-V 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 HR-V’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Tiguan’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 67 percent more Honda dealers than there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the HR-V’s warranty.

The engine in the HR-V has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engine in the Tiguan has dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the HR-V has a standard 410-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 HR-V’s reliability 59 points higher than the Tiguan.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 27th in reliability. With 18 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 19 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The HR-V has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a CVT.

The HR-V stops shorter than the Tiguan:

The HR-V’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Tiguan S/SE’s standard 65 series tires.

The HR-V EX-L AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Tiguan SEL 4Motion® pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The HR-V EX executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Tiguan SEL 4Motion® (27.8 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

The Honda HR-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 850 pounds less than the Volkswagen Tiguan.

The HR-V is 1 foot, 2.7 inches shorter than the Tiguan, making the HR-V easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The HR-V Sport/EX/EX-L uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Tiguan doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The HR-V has 1 inch more front legroom and 2.8 inches more rear legroom than the Tiguan.

The HR-V has a much larger cargo volume than the Tiguan with its rear seat up (24.3 vs. 12 cubic feet).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the HR-V 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.

Insurance will cost less for the HR-V owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the HR-V will cost $165 less than the Tiguan over a five-year period.

The HR-V will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the HR-V will retain 52.22% to 53.55% 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 HR-V is less expensive to operate than the Tiguan because it costs $310 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the HR-V than the Tiguan, including $378 less for a water pump, $363 less for a muffler, $12 less for front brake pads, $42 less for a starter, $274 less for fuel injection, $87 less for a fuel pump, $211 less for front struts and $171 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda HR-V will be $5597 to $11971 less than for the Volkswagen Tiguan.