Compare the2023 BMW X3VS 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The X3’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Tiguan doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The BMW X3 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Tiguan doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The X3 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The X3’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 X3’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 X3 and the Tiguan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the BMW X3 is safer than the Volkswagen Tiguan:

	X3	Tiguan
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.7 inches
Hip Force	275 lbs.	337 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	133	156
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	281	330
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	49 G’s
Hip Force	624 lbs.	855 lbs.

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 front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the X3 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 124 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Tiguan is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

The X3’s corrosion warranty is 5 years and unlimited miles longer than the Tiguan’s (12/unlimited vs. 7/100,000).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X3 for 1 year and 16000 miles longer than Volkswagen pays for maintenance for the Tiguan (3/36,000 vs. 2/20,000).

Reliability

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 X3’s reliability 30 points higher than the Tiguan.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X3 first among compact premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Tiguan isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in initial quality. With 65 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 5 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 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 12 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

Engine

The X3 s/xDrive30i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 64 more horsepower (248 vs. 184) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 221) than the Tiguan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The X3 M40i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 198 more horsepower (382 vs. 184) and 148 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 221) than the Tiguan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the X3 s/xDrive30i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Volkswagen Tiguan:

	X3	Tiguan
Zero to 30 MPH	3.1 sec	4.1 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.7 sec	10.3 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16 sec	17.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92 MPH	83 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the X3’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The X3 has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tiguan FWD’s standard fuel tank (17.2 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The X3 has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tiguan AWD’s standard fuel tank (17.2 vs. 15.9 gallons).

Transmission

The X3 M40i’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Tiguan doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the X3 M40i’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Tiguan:

	X3 M40i	Tiguan
Front Rotors	13.7 inches	13.4 inches
Rear Rotors	13.5 inches	11.8 inches

The X3’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Tiguan are solid, not vented.

The X3 stops much shorter than the Tiguan:

	X3	Tiguan
70 to 0 MPH	158 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	112 feet	134 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X3 has larger standard tires than the Tiguan (245/50R19 vs. 215/65R17).

The X3’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Tiguan S’ standard 65 series tires. The X3’s optional 275/35R21 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Tiguan SEL R-Line’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X3 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Tiguan S. The X3’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Tiguan SEL R-Line.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the X3 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Tiguan doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The X3 has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Tiguan’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The X3 offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Tiguan’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X3’s wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the Tiguan (112.8 inches vs. 109.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the X3 is 1.3 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Tiguan.

The X3’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (49% to 51%) than the Tiguan’s (55.9% to 44.1%). This gives the X3 more stable handling and braking.

The X3 M40i xDrive handles at .88 G’s, while the Tiguan 4Motion® pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The X3 M40i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.4 seconds quicker than the Tiguan 4Motion® (25.9 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X3 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Tiguan (8 vs. 7.6 inches), allowing the X3 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the X3 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Tiguan doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the X3 M40i xDrive is quieter than the Tiguan 4Motion® (40 vs. 42 dB).

Passenger Space

The X3 has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tiguan.

Cargo Capacity

The X3 has a much larger cargo volume than the Tiguan with its rear seat up (28.7 vs. 12 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the X3. The Tiguan doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The X3’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Tiguan’s (4400 vs. 1500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the X3 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Tiguan. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Volkswagen. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 33% lower rating, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

Ergonomics

The X3 offers an optional 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.

If the windows are left open on the X3 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote or with the driver’s door power window switch. The driver of the Tiguan can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

The X3’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.

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 X3’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Tiguan’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The X3’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Tiguan offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the X3 and the Tiguan offer available heated front seats. The X3 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the Tiguan.

The X3 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/SEL.

The X3’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Tiguan SEL R-Line’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the X3 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the X3 with a number “5” insurance rate while the Tiguan is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW X3, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Volkswagen Tiguan isn't recommended.