Compare the2025 Toyota Rav4VS 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 Rav4 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.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Toyota Rav4 achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Volkswagen Tiguan has not been tested.

The Rav4’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 Rav4 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Rav4 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Tiguan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Tiguan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Rav4’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Tiguan’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are almost 2 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rav4’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 25 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Toyota higher than Volkswagen.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 123 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 35th.

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

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 gets better mileage than the Tiguan:

The Rav4 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.

For better traction, the Rav4 has larger standard tires than the Tiguan (225/65R17 vs. 215/65R17).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Rav4 is .5 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Tiguan.

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 LE/XLE’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Tiguan’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The Rav4 XLE Premium/Limited’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Tiguan’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 LE/XLE has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Tiguan (8.4 vs. 7 inches), allowing the Rav4 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Rav4 XLE Premium/Limited’s minimum ground clearance is 1.6 inches higher than on the Tiguan (8.6 vs. 7 inches).

The Rav4 is 3.5 inches shorter than the Tiguan, making the Rav4 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Rav4 Limited uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Tiguan doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Rav4 has .8 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tiguan.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Rav4’s rear seats recline. The Tiguan’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Tiguan with its rear seat up (37.6 vs. 26.5 cubic feet). The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Tiguan with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 58.9 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Rav4. The Tiguan doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Rav4 has a higher standard payload capacity than the Tiguan (1120 vs. 949 lbs.).

The Rav4 has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Tiguan (1240 vs. 1014 lbs.).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Rav4 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.

Compared to the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Toyota Rav4 eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Toyota Rav4 retains 69.74% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 52.24% resale value of the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan after five years, which can save the Toyota’s owner up to $5235.169274 in depreciation.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Rav4, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Volkswagen Tiguan by over five to one during 2024.