Compare the2024 Volkswagen TiguanVS 2024 Jeep Compass

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages

Safety

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The Tiguan has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Compass doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

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 use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Compass doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Tiguan and the Compass 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, available all wheel drive and 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 Volkswagen Tiguan is safer than the Jeep Compass:

	Tiguan	Compass
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	37%	41%
Neck Stress	417 lbs.	445 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.7 inches	.8 inches
Neck Compression	62 lbs.	92 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 Volkswagen Tiguan is safer than the Jeep Compass:

	Tiguan	Compass
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	49	102
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	82 lbs.	134 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	44 G’s	56 G’s
Hip Force	510 lbs.	928 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	330	355

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 Tiguan, with its four-star roll-over rating, is 3.6% less likely to roll over than the Compass, which received a three-star rating.

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

Warranty

The Tiguan comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Compass’ 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Tiguan’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Compass’ (7 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

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

Fuel Economy and Range

The Tiguan FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Compass (15.3 vs. 13.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Tiguan AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Compass (15.9 vs. 13.5 gallons).

The Tiguan has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Compass. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Tiguan	Compass
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	11.8 inches	10.95 inches

The Tiguan stops much shorter than the Compass:

	Tiguan	Compass
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	195 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	124 feet	144 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	135 feet	151 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Tiguan SE R-Line Black’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Compass (255/45R19 vs. 235/45R19).

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 Compass Limited’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tiguan SEL R-Line has standard 20-inch wheels. The Compass’ largest wheels are only 19-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tiguan’s wheelbase is 6.1 inches longer than on the Compass (109.9 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Tiguan is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than on the Compass.

The Tiguan SEL R-Line 4Motion® handles at .83 G’s, while the Compass Sport pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Tiguan 4Motion® executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Compass Trailhawk (28.1 seconds @ .58 average G’s vs. 29.6 seconds @ .53 average G’s).

Passenger Space

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

The Tiguan has 24.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Compass (123.9 vs. 99.6).

The Tiguan has .4 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, .4 inches more rear legroom, 4.3 inches more rear hip room and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Compass.

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

The front step up height for the Tiguan is 2 inches lower than the Compass (17.4” vs. 19.4”). The Tiguan’s rear step up height is 3.2 inches lower than the Compass’ (17.5” vs. 20.7”).

Cargo Capacity

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

	Tiguan	Compass
Third Seat Folded	33 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	37.6 cubic feet	27.2 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	65.3 cubic feet	59.8 cubic feet
Max Cargo Volume	73.4 cubic feet	59.8 cubic feet

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Tiguan easier. The Tiguan’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.4 inches, while the Compass’ liftover is 31.1 inches.

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

	Tiguan	Compass
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	17.2”/39.7”/74.5”	n.a./32.4”/65.7”
Max Width	55”	53.8”
Min Width	39.8”	38.1”
Height	33.5”	29.6”

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

Towing

The Tiguan’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Compass’ (1500 vs. 0 pounds).

Servicing Ease

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

Ergonomics

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 Compass’ rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Tiguan SE/SEL/SEL Premium the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows with the driver’s door power window switch. The driver of the Compass can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Tiguan’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 Compass’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 Compass doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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

The Compass Latitude/Trailhawk/Limited’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Tiguan SEL Premium R-Line’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

When the Tiguan SEL Premium is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Compass’ mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Model Availability

The Tiguan is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Compass doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Tiguan is less expensive to operate than the Compass because typical repairs cost less on the Tiguan than the Compass, including $12 less for front brake pads.

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