Compare the2023 Mazda CX-5VS 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan

The CX-5 has standard Whiplash-Reducing Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Headrests 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 CX-5. But it costs extra on the Tiguan.

The CX-5’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-5 Turbo 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-5 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 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-5 is safer than the Volkswagen Tiguan:

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-5 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Tiguan last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-5 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-5’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-5’s reliability 44 points higher than the Tiguan.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 50 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Volkswagen.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volkswagen is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda fourth in overall reliability. Volkswagen is ranked 23rd.

The CX-5’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 3 more horsepower (187 vs. 184) than the Tiguan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 72 more horsepower (256 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-5 is faster than the Volkswagen Tiguan:

On the EPA test cycle the CX-5 gets better mileage than the Tiguan:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-5 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CX-5 stops much shorter than the Tiguan:

For better traction, the CX-5 has larger tires than the Tiguan (225/65R17 vs. 215/65R17).

The CX-5 handles at .81 G’s, while the Tiguan 4Motion® pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CX-5 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Tiguan 4Motion® (27.8 seconds @ .59 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the Tiguan’s (36 feet vs. 37.7 feet).

The CX-5 is 6 inches shorter than the Tiguan, making the CX-5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the CX-5 is quieter than the Tiguan 4Motion® (38 vs. 42 dB).

The CX-5 has .1 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more front shoulder room, 3 inches more rear legroom and 1.8 inches more rear hip room than the Tiguan.

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume than the Tiguan with its rear seat up (30.8 vs. 12 cubic feet).

The CX-5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Tiguan’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

The CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, 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.

The CX-5’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-5 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.

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 CX-5’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Tiguan’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

Both the CX-5 and the Tiguan offer available heated front seats. The CX-5 Premium Plus/Turbo also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the Tiguan.

Insurance will cost less for the CX-5 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the CX-5 with a number “1” insurance rate while the Tiguan is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CX-5 is less expensive to operate than the Tiguan because it costs $346 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the CX-5 than the Tiguan, including $458 less for a water pump, $281 less for a muffler, $5 less for front brake pads, $309 less for a starter, $63 less for fuel injection, $226 less for a fuel pump, $198 less for front struts, $219 less for a timing belt/chain and $110 less for a power steering pump.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mazda CX-5, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volkswagen Tiguan isn't recommended.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its May 2020 issue and the Mazda CX-5 won out over the Volkswagen Tiguan 4Motion®.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Volkswagen Tiguan by 71% during 2022.