Compare the2025 Lexus TXVS 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the TX are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The TX’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 TX and the Tiguan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, 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 Lexus TX weighs 619 to 1837 pounds more than the Volkswagen Tiguan. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the TX 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 TX’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Tiguan’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 67 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 132 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 27th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus second in overall reliability. Volkswagen is ranked 18th.

The TX has more powerful engines than the Tiguan:

	Horsepower	Torque
TX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	275 HP	317 lbs.-ft.
TX 500h 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	366 HP	406 lbs.-ft.
TX 550h+ 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid	404 HP
Tiguan 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	201 HP	207 lbs.-ft.
Tiguan 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	201 HP	221 lbs.-ft.

On the EPA test cycle the TX running on electricity gets better mileage than the Tiguan:

			MPGe
TX
	AWD	550h+ Electric Motors	81 city/70 hwy
Tiguan
			MPG
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. (207 TQ)	26 city/34 hwy
		SE/SEL 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/32 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/30 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the TX running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Tiguan:

			MPG
TX
	AWD	3.5 V6 Hybrid	29 city/28 hwy
		2.4 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	27 city/28 hwy
Tiguan
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/30 hwy

The TX 550h+ CVT can travel with zero emissions for 33 miles. The Tiguan can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The TX 500h’s standard fuel tank has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tiguan FWD’s standard fuel tank (17.1 vs. 14.5 gallons). The TX 350’s standard fuel tank has 2.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tiguan AWD’s standard fuel tank (17.8 vs. 15.6 gallons).

The TX has a tether attaching its gas cap to prevent its loss. The Tiguan’s gas cap isn’t tethered, so it can be left at a gas station if the driver forgets to screw the cap back in.

The TX 550h+ has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the TX 500h/550h+’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Tiguan:

	TX 500h/550h+	Tiguan
Front Rotors	15.7 inches	13.4 inches
Rear Rotors	13.3 inches	11.8 inches

The TX’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.

For better traction, the TX has larger tires than the Tiguan (255/55R20 vs. 215/65R17).

The TX’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 TX has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Tiguan. The TX’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Tiguan.

The TX 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 a smoother ride and more stable handling, the TX’s wheelbase is 6.2 inches longer than on the Tiguan (116.1 inches vs. 109.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the TX is 5 inches wider in the front and 5.9 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Tiguan.

For greater off-road capability the TX 550h+ Luxury has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Tiguan (7.7 vs. 7 inches), allowing the TX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The TX 500h F Sport Performance Premium’s minimum ground clearance is 1 inch higher than on the Tiguan (8 vs. 7 inches).

The TX F Sport 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.

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

The TX has 49.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Tiguan (153 vs. 103.8).

The TX has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front hip room, 3 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 3.5 inches more rear hip room and 3.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tiguan.

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

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

	TX	Tiguan
Third Seat Folded	57.4 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	26.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	97 cubic feet	58.9 cubic feet

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

The TX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Tiguan’s (5000 vs. 1500 pounds).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Volkswagen. J.D. Power ranks Lexus second in service department satisfaction. With a 71% lower rating, Volkswagen is ranked 31st.

The TX’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Tiguan does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The TX’s standard Smart Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. KESSY 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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the TX 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.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The TX Luxury/F Sport has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Tiguan doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the TX to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Tiguan doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The TX’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.

The Lexus TX 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.

The TX Premium/Luxury/F Sport has standard front air conditioned seats and the TX offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Tiguan doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The TX has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Tiguan SEL.

Compared to the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Lexus TX 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.

The TX 500h/550h+ offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The TX Premium/Luxury/F Sport’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park 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 does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus TX, based on reliability, safety and performance.