Compare the2023 Volkswagen TiguanVS 2023 Lexus UX

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 UX 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.

Both the Tiguan and the UX 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 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 Lexus UX:

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 101 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The UX is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

The Tiguan’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the UX’s (7 vs. 6 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tiguan for 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the UX (2/20,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are almost 3 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Lexus 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 UX’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

The Tiguan’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 3 more horsepower (184 vs. 181) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Both the Tiguan and UX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Tiguan has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Tiguan FWD’s standard fuel tank has 4.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (15.3 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Tiguan AWD’s standard fuel tank has 5.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (15.9 vs. 10.6 gallons).

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

The Tiguan stops shorter than the UX:

For better traction, the Tiguan SE R-Line Black’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the UX (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 UX’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tiguan SEL R-Line has standard 20-inch wheels. The UX’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Tiguan has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the UX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tiguan’s wheelbase is 6 inches longer than on the UX (109.9 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Tiguan is 1.2 inches wider in the front and .9 inches wider in the rear than on the UX.

The Tiguan’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55.9% to 44.1%) than the UX’s (57% to 43%). This gives the Tiguan more stable handling and braking.

The Tiguan 4Motion® handles at .82 G’s, while the UX 250h F Sport Handling AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

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

The Tiguan has 33.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the UX (123.9 vs. 90.4).

The Tiguan has 2.3 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front hip room, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, 2.8 inches more rear headroom, 3.5 inches more rear legroom, 1.2 inches more rear hip room and 3 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

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

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

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

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

The Tiguan has a higher standard payload capacity than the UX (937 vs. 890 lbs.).

The Tiguan has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the UX (1157 vs. 890 lbs.).

The Tiguan uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The UX 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.

The power windows standard on both the Tiguan and the UX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Tiguan is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The UX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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 UX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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

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 UX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.