Compare the2025 BMW X3VS 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the BMW X3 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Volkswagen Tiguan doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The BMW X3 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help 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 a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Tiguan doesn’t offer front seat center 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the X3. But it costs extra on the Tiguan.

Both the X3 and the Tiguan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 BMW X3 is safer than the Volkswagen Tiguan:

	X3	Tiguan
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	96	260
Neck Injury Risk	32.2%	37%
Neck Stress	262 lbs.	417 lbs.
Neck Compression	30 lbs.	80 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	546/448 lbs.	408/641 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	119	198
Neck Stress	168 lbs.	261 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 BMW X3 is safer than the Volkswagen Tiguan:

	X3	Tiguan
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
Hip Force	214 lbs.	337 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	108	156
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	162	330
Spine Acceleration	37 G’s	49 G’s
Hip Force	472 lbs.	855 lbs.

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

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 27 points higher than the Tiguan.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 35 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Volkswagen.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 With 77 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks BMW higher than Volkswagen.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 10 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

Engine

The X3 30 xDrive’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 71 more horsepower (255 vs. 184) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 221) than the Tiguan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The X3 M50 xDrive’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 209 more horsepower (393 vs. 184) and 207 lbs.-ft. more torque (428 vs. 221) than the Tiguan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the X3 30 xDrive 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Volkswagen Tiguan:

	X3	Tiguan
Zero to 60 MPH	6 sec	8.9 sec
Quarter Mile	14.5 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94.5 MPH	83.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the X3 gets better mileage than the Tiguan:

			MPG
X3
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	27 city/33 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	25 city/30 hwy
Tiguan
	FWD	S 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/31 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/30 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
		R-Line 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy

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 M50’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 M50 xDrive’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Tiguan:

	X3 M50 xDrive	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
60 to 0 MPH	108 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 285/35R21 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.

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 1.5 inches wider in the front and 2.7 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Tiguan.

The X3’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.5% to 49.5%) than the Tiguan’s (55.9% to 44.1%). This gives the X3 more stable handling and braking.

The X3 30 xDrive handles at .92 G’s, while the Tiguan 4Motion® pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X3 30 xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.5 seconds quicker than the Tiguan 4Motion® (25.8 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X3 M50 xDrive has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Tiguan (8.3 vs. 7.6 inches), allowing the X3 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The X3 30 xDrive’s minimum ground clearance is .9 inch higher than on the Tiguan (8.5 vs. 7.6 inches).

Passenger Space

The X3 has .9 inches more front headroom and .9 inches more front shoulder room than the Tiguan.

Cargo Capacity

The X3 has a much larger cargo volume than the Tiguan with its rear seat up (31.5 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

Standard Trailer Stabilization Control on the X3 uses the Dynamic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Tiguan doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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.

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 standard Comfort Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Access standard on the Tiguan doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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 has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The BMW X3 has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the Tiguan SEL Premium R-Line.

Both the X3 and the Tiguan have standard 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.

Compared to the Volkswagen Tiguan, the BMW X3 eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its standard integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Compared to traditional radio, the BMW X3’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the Tiguan SE/SE R-Line/SEL R-Line.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the BMW X3 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Tiguan SE/SEL offers wireless charging.

The X3’s Parking Assistant can parallel park by itself, with the driver only controlling the transmission and speed with the brake pedal. With its available fully controlled system, the driver just activates it and it parks autonomously, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Tiguan SEL R-Line’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park and it doesn’t offer remote control parking.

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