Compare the2026 Mazda CX-5 VS 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan

The Mazda CX-5 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 a front passenger side knee airbag.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-5. But it costs extra on the Tiguan.

The CX-5’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 CX-5 and the Tiguan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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 and available around view monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the CX-5 is much safer than the Tiguan:

	CX-5	Tiguan
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Chest Rating	GOOD	MARGINAL
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	POOR

The Mazda CX-5 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The Tiguan is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-5 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 CX-5’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Tiguan’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

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 CX-5’s reliability 15 points higher than the Tiguan.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda third in reliability, above the industry average. With 124 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 35th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 2 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

On the EPA test cycle the CX-5 gets better mileage than the Tiguan:

			MPG
CX-5
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/30 hwy
Tiguan
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/30 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	22 city/29 hwy

The CX-5 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 stopping power the CX-5’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the Tiguan:

	CX-5	Tiguan
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	12 inches

The CX-5 stops shorter than the Tiguan:

	CX-5	Tiguan
70 to 0 MPH	173 feet	175 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the CX-5 has larger tires than the Tiguan (225/65R17 vs. 215/65R17).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-5 is 1 inch wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Tiguan.

The CX-5 S Premium Plus handles at .83 G’s, while the Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Tiguan’s (36.8 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-5 S/Select has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Tiguan (8 vs. 7 inches), allowing the CX-5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-5 Preferred/Premium’s minimum ground clearance is 1.2 inches higher than on the Tiguan (8.2 vs. 7 inches).

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the CX-5 S Premium Plus is quieter than the Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo (67 vs. 68 dB).

The CX-5 has 2.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Tiguan (106.5 vs. 103.8).

The CX-5 has .2 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room and .5 inches more rear headroom than the Tiguan.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the CX-5’s rear seats recline. The Tiguan’s rear seats don’t recline.

The CX-5 has a higher standard payload capacity than the Tiguan (1058 vs. 959 lbs.).

The CX-5 has a higher maximum payload capacity than the Tiguan (1058 vs. 1014 lbs.).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-5 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 Mazda CX-5 Preferred/Premium 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.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Mazda CX-5 retains 57.6% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 52.24% resale value of the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan after five years, which can save the Mazda’s owner up to $1889 in depreciation.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-5 and the Volkswagen Tiguan, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Volkswagen Tiguan by 73% during 2025.