Compare the2022 Fiat 500XVS 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

The Fiat 500X has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Tiguan doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The 500X has standard Reactive Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Reactive Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the 500X. But it costs extra on the Tiguan.

Both the 500X and the Tiguan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, front and rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The 500X’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Tiguan’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

The engine in the 500X 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 500X has a standard 500-amp battery. The Tiguan’s 360-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

On the EPA test cycle the 500X gets better mileage than the Tiguan:

The 500X has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Fiat 500X, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Tiguan.

The 500X stops much shorter than the Tiguan:

The 500X AWD’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’ standard 65 series tires.

The 500X has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Tiguan’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The 500X Pop handles at .79 G’s, while the Tiguan 4Motion® pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the 500X’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Tiguan’s (36.3 feet vs. 37.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the 500X has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Tiguan (7.9 vs. 7.6 inches), allowing the 500X to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Fiat 500X may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 550 pounds less than the Volkswagen Tiguan.

The 500X is 1 foot, 6.9 inches shorter than the Tiguan, making the 500X easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The 500X has a much larger cargo volume than the Tiguan with its rear seat up (14.1 vs. 12 cubic feet).

The 500X’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 500X 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 500X owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the 500X with a number “5” insurance rate while the Tiguan is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 500X is less expensive to operate than the Tiguan because it costs $428 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the 500X than the Tiguan, including $235 less for a water pump, $438 less for a muffler, $390 less for a starter, $7 less for fuel injection, $325 less for front struts, $251 less for a timing belt/chain and $31 less for a power steering pump.