Compare the2023 Volkswagen TiguanVS 2022 Volvo XC60

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 XC60 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Tiguan and the XC60 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, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

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, results indicate that the Volkswagen Tiguan is safer than the Volvo XC60:

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

There are over 2 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Volvo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Tiguan’s warranty.

The Volkswagen Tiguan’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the XC60’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 26 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Volvo With 39 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Volvo.

On the EPA test cycle the Tiguan gets better mileage than the XC60 running its gasoline engine:

Both the Tiguan and the XC60 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Tiguan’s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The XC60 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Tiguan uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XC60 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Tiguan higher (7 out of 10) than the Volvo XC60 (5 to 7). This means the Tiguan produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XC60 every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Tiguan’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the XC60:

The Tiguan stops shorter than the XC60:

The front and rear suspension of the Tiguan uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC60, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The Tiguan 4Motion® handles at .82 G’s, while the XC60 T8 eAWD Momentum pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Tiguan offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the XC60 can only carry 5.

The Tiguan has 20.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC60 (123.9 vs. 103).

The Tiguan has .5 inches more front headroom and .2 inches more rear headroom than the XC60.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Tiguan’s middle row seats recline. The XC60’s rear seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Tiguan is 1.6 inches lower than the XC60 (17.4” vs. 19”). The Tiguan’s rear step up height is 2 inches lower than the XC60’s (17.5” vs. 19.5”).

The Tiguan’s cargo area provides more volume than the XC60.

The Tiguan’s cargo area is larger than the XC60’s in almost every dimension:

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the Tiguan’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The XC60 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Tiguan’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The XC60’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Tiguan to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. Heated windshield washer nozzles cost extra on the XC60.

To shield the driver’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side window, the Tiguan has a standard extendable sun visor. The XC60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Tiguan is less expensive to operate than the XC60 because typical repairs cost much less on the Tiguan than the XC60, including $126 less for front brake pads, $44 less for fuel injection and $324 less for a fuel pump.

The Volkswagen Tiguan outsold the Volvo XC60 by almost three to one during the 2021 model year.