Compare the2023 Volkswagen TiguanVS 2022 BMW X1

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen Tiguan are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X1 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests front crash prevention systems. With a score of 6 points, IIHS rates the Automatic Emergency Braking in the Tiguan as “Superior.” The X1 scores only 4 points and is rated only “Advanced.”

The Tiguan has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The X1 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Tiguan SE R-Line Black/SEL R-Line has standard Maneuver Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The X1 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Tiguan SEL R-Line has a standard Area View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The X1 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Tiguan’s blind spot warning system uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The X1 doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Tiguan’s standard rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The X1 doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Tiguan and the X1 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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 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 Volkswagen Tiguan is safer than the BMW X1:

	Tiguan	X1
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	49	143
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	82 lbs.	154 lbs.
Hip Force	337 lbs.	486 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	156	193
Spine Acceleration	44 G’s	65 G’s
Hip Force	510 lbs.	637 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches

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 “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Tiguan its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 92 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The X1 last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

There are over 81 percent more Volkswagen dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Tiguan’s warranty.

Reliability

The Volkswagen Tiguan’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the X1’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Tiguan’s brake rotors are larger than those on the X1:

	Tiguan	X1
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	13 inches

The Tiguan stops shorter than the X1:

	Tiguan	X1
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	180 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	131 feet	134 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	135 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Tiguan SE R-Line Black’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X1 (255/45R19 vs. 225/50R18).

The Tiguan SEL R-Line’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the X1’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tiguan SEL R-Line has standard 20-inch wheels. The X1’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tiguan’s wheelbase is 4.8 inches longer than on the X1 (109.9 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Tiguan has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X1 (7.6 vs. 7.2 inches), allowing the Tiguan to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Tiguan 4Motion® is quieter than the X1 xDrive28i (73 vs. 75 dB).

Passenger Space

The Tiguan offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the X1 can only carry 5.

The Tiguan has 22.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X1 (123.9 vs. 101.2).

The Tiguan has 1.4 inches more front shoulder room and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the X1.

Cargo Capacity

The Tiguan’s cargo area provides more volume than the X1.

	Tiguan	X1
Third Seat Folded	33 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	37.6 cubic feet	27.1 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	65.3 cubic feet	58.7 cubic feet
Max Cargo Volume	73.4 cubic feet	58.7 cubic feet

The Tiguan’s cargo area is larger than the X1’s in every dimension:

	Tiguan	X1
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	17.2”/39.7”/74.5”	n.a./35.1”/69”
Max Width	55”	51.5”
Min Width	39.8”	39.5”
Height	33.5”	33”

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the Tiguan’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The X1 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Payload and Towing

The Tiguan has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The X1 has no towing capacity.

The Tiguan has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the X1 (1157 vs. 926 lbs.).

Ergonomics

The Tiguan SE/SEL has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The X1 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Tiguan SE/SEL to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The X1 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the Tiguan’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the X1’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The X1’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Tiguan SEL Premium R-Line’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Tiguan SEL R-Line keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The X1 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Tiguan is less expensive to operate than the X1 because typical repairs cost much less on the Tiguan than the X1, including $96 less for a water pump, $322 less for a muffler, $86 less for front brake pads, $30 less for a starter, $136 less for fuel injection, $81 less for a fuel pump, $5 less for front struts, $701 less for a timing belt/chain and $629 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen Tiguan outsold the BMW X1 by over six to one during the 2021 model year.

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