Compare the2024 Acura RDXVS 2024 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
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Acura RDX 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.

With its standard Collision Mitigation Braking System, the Acura RDX is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Volkswagen Tiguan, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	RDX	Tiguan
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	-16 MPH	-12 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-20 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	-24 MPH	-20 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	-23 MPH	No Slowing
25 MPH Low beams	No Slowing	No Slowing
37 MPH Brights	-31 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Brights	2.2 sec	No Warning
37 MPH Low beams	No Slowing	No Slowing

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the RDX. But it costs extra on the Tiguan.

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Acura RDX is safer than the Volkswagen Tiguan:

	RDX	Tiguan
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	26%	37%
Neck Stress	262 lbs.	417 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	80 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	328/464 lbs.	408/641 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	30%	37%
Neck Stress	99 lbs.	261 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	362/441 lbs.	428/471 lbs.

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

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 Acura RDX is safer than the Volkswagen Tiguan:

	RDX	Tiguan
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
Hip Force	217 lbs.	337 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	124	156
Hip Force	462 lbs.	510 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	12 inches
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	49 G’s
Hip Force	704 lbs.	855 lbs.

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the RDX is 1.8% less likely to roll over than the Tiguan.

The Acura RDX achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Tiguan is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Warranty

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the RDX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Tiguan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Tiguan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The RDX’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Tiguan’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

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 RDX’s reliability 46 points higher than the Tiguan.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Acura vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 42 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Acura higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura fourth in overall reliability. Volkswagen is ranked 27th.

Engine

The RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 88 more horsepower (272 vs. 184) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 221) than the Tiguan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Acura RDX is faster than the Volkswagen Tiguan:

	RDX	Tiguan
Zero to 30 MPH	3 sec	4.1 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7 sec	10.3 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.9 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter Mile	15.5 sec	17.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95 MPH	83 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The RDX has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tiguan FWD’s standard fuel tank (17.1 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The RDX has 1.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tiguan AWD’s standard fuel tank (17.1 vs. 15.9 gallons).

The RDX has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Acura RDX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Tiguan.

Brakes and Stopping

The RDX stops much shorter than the Tiguan:

	RDX	Tiguan
70 to 0 MPH	180 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	134 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	129 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the RDX has larger standard tires than the Tiguan (235/55R19 vs. 215/65R17).

The RDX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Tiguan S’ standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RDX has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Tiguan S.

The RDX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Tiguan doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The RDX offers an available 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 better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RDX is 2 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than on the Tiguan.

The RDX A-Spec handles at .83 G’s, while the Tiguan 4Motion® pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The RDX executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Tiguan 4Motion® (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the RDX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Tiguan (8.2 vs. 7.6 inches), allowing the RDX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The RDX uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Tiguan doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The RDX has 1.4 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room and .8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tiguan.

Cargo Capacity

The RDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Tiguan with its rear seat up (31.1 vs. 12 cubic feet). The RDX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Tiguan with its rear seat folded (79.8 vs. 73.4 cubic feet).

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

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Volkswagen. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 38% lower rating, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

Ergonomics

The RDX’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Tiguan doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The RDX Advance has a standard heads-up display that projects speed 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 RDX 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. The driver of the Tiguan can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the RDX 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 RDX’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Tiguan’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

Both the RDX and the Tiguan have standard heated front seats. The RDX Advance 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.

The RDX 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.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the RDX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the RDX will cost $35 to $905 less than the Tiguan over a five-year period.

The RDX will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the RDX will retain 53.7% to 55% of its original price after five years, while the Tiguan only retains 48.29% to 50.45%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the RDX is less expensive to operate than the Tiguan because it costs $146 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the RDX than the Tiguan, including $276 less for a water pump, $230 less for a muffler, $147 less for a starter, $155 less for fuel injection, $12 less for a fuel pump, $153 less for front struts and $285 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

The Acura RDX has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

	RDX	Tiguan
Consumer Reports® Recommends	TRUE	FALSE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	FALSE

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