Compare the2022 Mazda CX-9VS 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-9. But it costs extra on the Tiguan.

The CX-9’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Tiguan.

The CX-9 Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature’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 CX-9 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Mazda CX-9 weighs 553 to 644 pounds more than the Volkswagen Tiguan. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 Mazda CX-9 is safer than the Volkswagen Tiguan:

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-9 its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 74 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Tiguan is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2021.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-9 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 CX-9’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Tiguan’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

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 CX-9’s reliability 39 points higher than the Tiguan.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda 23rd in initial quality. With 36 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 30th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda 14th in reliability. With 42 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda first in reliability. Volkswagen is ranked 24th.

The CX-9’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 66 more horsepower (250 vs. 184) and 99 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 221) than the Tiguan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Mazda CX-9 is faster than the Volkswagen Tiguan:

The CX-9 has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tiguan FWD’s standard fuel tank (19.5 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The CX-9 has 3.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tiguan AWD’s standard fuel tank (19.5 vs. 15.9 gallons).

The CX-9 stops much shorter than the Tiguan:

For better traction, the CX-9 has larger tires than the Tiguan (255/60R18 vs. 215/65R17).

The CX-9 Sport/Touring’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.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-9 Sport/Touring has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Tiguan S.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-9’s wheelbase is 5.4 inches longer than on the Tiguan (115.3 inches vs. 109.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-9 is 3.1 inches wider in the front and 3.3 inches wider in the rear than on the Tiguan.

The CX-9’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (54.7% to 45.3%) than the Tiguan’s (55.9% to 44.1%). This gives the CX-9 more stable handling and braking.

The CX-9 Signature handles at .85 G’s, while the Tiguan 4Motion® pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-9 Signature executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Tiguan 4Motion® (26.7 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the CX-9 has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Tiguan (8.8 vs. 7.6 inches), allowing the CX-9 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the CX-9 Signature is quieter than the Tiguan 4Motion®:

The CX-9 has 11.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Tiguan (135.1 vs. 123.9).

The CX-9 has .8 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room, 2.8 inches more rear legroom, 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.6 inches more third row headroom, 1.8 inches more third row legroom and 5.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the Tiguan.

The CX-9’s cargo area provides more volume than the Tiguan.

The CX-9’s cargo area is larger than the Tiguan’s in almost every dimension:

The CX-9’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Tiguan’s (3500 vs. 1500 pounds).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the CX-9 uses the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Tiguan doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The CX-9 Grand Touring/Signature has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

On a hot day the CX-9’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Tiguan can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

The CX-9’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Tiguan’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-9 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.

Both the CX-9 and the Tiguan have standard heated front seats. The CX-9 Carbon Edition/Grand Touring/Signature also has standard heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the Tiguan.

The CX-9 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Tiguan SE/SE R-Line Black/SEL R-Line.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CX-9 is less expensive to operate than the Tiguan because it costs $264 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the CX-9 than the Tiguan, including $137 less for a muffler, $390 less for a starter, $192 less for fuel injection and $108 less for front struts.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mazda CX-9, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volkswagen Tiguan isn't recommended.

The CX-9 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 4 of the last 14 years. The Tiguan has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.