Compare the2023 Volkswagen TiguanVS 2022 Fiat 500X

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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 500X 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 500X 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 500X doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Tiguan’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The 500X doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

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 500X 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 has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the 500X’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Tiguan has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the 500X Trekking/Sport/Trekking Plus offers a rear cross-path warning system and it costs extra.

Both the Tiguan and the 500X 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 all wheel drive and lane departure warning systems.

The Volkswagen Tiguan weighs 432 to 516 pounds more than the Fiat 500X. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 500X last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

The Tiguan’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the 500X’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tiguan for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Fiat doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 500X.

There are over 78 percent more Volkswagen dealers than there are Fiat 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 500X’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

Engine

The Tiguan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 7 more horsepower (184 vs. 177) and 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 210) than the 500X’s 1.3 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Tiguan uses regular unleaded gasoline. The 500X requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Tiguan FWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the 500X (15.3 vs. 12.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Tiguan AWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the 500X (15.9 vs. 12.7 gallons).

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Tiguan higher (7 out of 10) than the Fiat 500X (6). This means the Tiguan produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the 500X every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Tiguan’s brake rotors are larger than those on the 500X:

	Tiguan	500X
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	10.95 inches

The Tiguan stops shorter than the 500X:

	Tiguan	500X
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	135 feet	146 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 500X (255/45R19 vs. 225/55R18).

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 500X Sport’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tiguan SEL R-Line has standard 20-inch wheels. The 500X’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tiguan’s wheelbase is 8.7 inches longer than on the 500X (109.9 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Tiguan is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than on the 500X.

The Tiguan’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55.9% to 44.1%) than the 500X’s (60.3% to 39.7%). This gives the Tiguan more stable handling and braking.

The Tiguan SEL R-Line 4Motion® handles at .83 G’s, while the 500X pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Tiguan 4Motion® executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the 500X Trekking (28.1 seconds @ .58 average G’s vs. 28.7 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Tiguan offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the 500X can only carry 5.

The Tiguan has 32.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 500X (123.9 vs. 91.7).

The Tiguan has .5 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear legroom, 1.3 inches more rear hip room and 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the 500X.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Tiguan’s middle row seats recline. The 500X’s rear seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Tiguan is 2 inches lower than the 500X (17.4” vs. 19.4”). The Tiguan’s rear step up height is 2.1 inches lower than the 500X’s (17.5” vs. 19.6”).

Cargo Capacity

The Tiguan’s cargo area provides more volume than the 500X.

	Tiguan	500X
Third Seat Folded	33 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	37.6 cubic feet	14.1 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	65.3 cubic feet	39.8 cubic feet
Max Cargo Volume	73.4 cubic feet	39.8 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Tiguan easier. The Tiguan’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.4 inches, while the 500X’s liftover is 31.4 inches.

The Tiguan’s cargo area is larger than the 500X’s in every dimension:

	Tiguan	500X
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	17.2”/39.7”/74.5”	n.a./n/a
Max Width	55”	41.3”
Min Width	39.8”	37.8”
Height	33.5”	28.8”

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the Tiguan’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The 500X doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Tiguan SE/SEL has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the Tiguan SEL R-Line, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The 500X doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Servicing Ease

The Tiguan uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The 500X uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Tiguan SEL R-Line, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The 500X doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Tiguan’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The 500X’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Tiguan SE/SEL/SEL Premium the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows with the driver’s door power window switch. The driver of the 500X can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Tiguan has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The 500X doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

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 500X doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Tiguan’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the 500X’s headlights are rated “Poor.”

The Tiguan has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The 500X only offers an automatic headlight on/off feature as an extra cost option.

The 500X’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.

When the Tiguan SEL Premium is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The 500X’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

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 500X doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Tiguan SEL R-Line’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The 500X doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Tiguan has a standard center folding armrest for the middle row passengers. A center armrest helps make middle row passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The 500X doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the Tiguan has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The 500X doesn’t offer rear vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen Tiguan SE/SEL has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The 500X doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Tiguan SEL R-Line’s Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The 500X doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The Tiguan is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The 500X doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Tiguan is less expensive to operate than the 500X because typical repairs cost less on the Tiguan than the 500X, including $28 less for a fuel pump.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen Tiguan outsold the Fiat 500X by over 85 to one during the 2021 model year.