Why the Volkswagen Tiguan offers strong value compared to the Toyota RAV4

Crossovers like the Toyota RAV4 have long dominated the market, but there’s one model quietly offering more value than most shoppers realize. The Volkswagen Tiguan often flies under the radar, yet its blend of space, refinement, and pricing makes it a compelling alternative for anyone considering the segment’s best-sellers. For buyers focused on practicality and long-term value, it may deliver more than expected.

Unlike many compact SUVs, the Tiguan offers features you typically don’t find without spending more; extra cabin room, a smoother ride, and an available third row that adds flexibility for growing families. Even better, its pricing often undercuts better-known rivals, giving budget-minded shoppers a chance to move a step up in comfort and capability without stretching their budget. These strengths make it a standout in a category where most options look and feel the same.

This article explores why the Tiguan’s hidden value deserves more attention, how it compares to the RAV4 in key areas, and why it could easily be the smarter buy for drivers who want more than the usual compact-SUV experience. If the RAV4 seems like the obvious choice, the Tiguan may convince you otherwise.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including the EPA.

Volkswagen’s Tiguan is refined, affordable, and packed with features

The compact SUV segment is loaded with some pretty tough competition, with it being one of the most popular segments on the market. Competitors have some pretty tough competition in the form of the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V, which is a pretty high benchmark when it comes to practicality. Aside from the most obvious choices, though, there are some hidden gems, such as Volkswagen’s sleek Tiguan.

Changes for 2026

For the 2025 model year, Volkswagen put the Tiguan under the knife, giving it a head-to-toe refresh. This poised it to better take on top rivals in the segment, with fresh styling, upgraded technology, and a more modern layout. Power was also increased across the board and it rides on a new platform.

For the 2026 model year, the German automaker has added an even more powerful model to the lineup. The SEL R-Line Turbo replaces the older SEL R-Line, coming with a raucous turbocharged engine. This helps it compete with sportier options in the segment like the Mazda CX-50 Turbo.

2026 Volkswagen Tiguan trims and pricing

The Tiguan finds a balance that is pretty rare in the mainstream compact SUV segment. It looks good, feels comfortable, delivers a ton of tech and comfort features, and is more fun to drive. While some top competitors may be better in any of those categories, very few offer such a balanced mix, which is what makes the Tiguan such great value in our eyes.

All the trim levels of the updated Tiguan offer some pretty great value for money, but we think the average buyer will be happiest with the SE R-Line Black. It’s a good balance of some near-luxury fitment and features without a price so inflated that it’s unpalatable. However, we’d be more inclined to spend the extra cash and get the new R-Line Turbo, with the extra power being too tempting.

Warranties and maintenance

• Limited warranty: Four years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty: Four years or 50,000 miles
• Complimentary maintenance: Two years or 20,000 miles

Volkswagen’s warranty plan is pretty reasonable, offering four years on both the bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage. The powertrain warranty is a year shorter than what is offered from the likes of Toyota, but the limited warranty is a year longer. VW also matches top options in this segment by offering two years or complimentary maintenance.

VW’s Tiguan is sportier and more fun to drive than most rivals

Buying a compact SUV is often a dull affair, where you trade any kind of fun for practicality. This is definitely the case with the likes of the RAV4, which focuses on simple transport above everything else. The Tiguan, however, is built for those that like to drive. It doesn’t achieve this level of engagement by making sacrifices to comfort or practicality either.

2026 Volkswagen Tiguan performance specs

Under the hood of most Tiguans is a sturdy turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It pairs with front-wheel drive as standard, with Volkswagen’s 4MOTION all-wheel drive system being optional across the board. SEL R-Line Turbo models geta zestier version of the engine, which puts down a whopping 67 more horsepower than the base powertrain and comes standard with all-wheel drive.

The Tiguan has always been a surprisingly agile and fun SUV to drive, with a well-tuned chassis and a fantastic steering system. The updated model is now lighter as well, which further adds to its playful nature. The Turbo model is even more fun thanks to the added power, allowing it to compete with the likes of the Mazda CX-50 Turbo. It finds a good balance when it comes to ride quality as well, with the VW able to absorb most bumps in the road without any complaints.

Fuel economy

Fuel efficiency on the Tiguan is pretty comparable to other compact SUVs, delivering between 25 and 29 miles per gallon combined, depending on the model that you opt for. Going with the SE and SE R-Line Black does come with a penalty of an extra mile per gallon in most scenarios due to larger wheels. Adding the 4MOTION system takes a further toll. What is fairly impressive, though, is that the 268 horsepower model is not much less efficient than the standard models with all-wheel drive.

Volkswagen has delivered a practical cabin that is more premium than you’d expect

Volkswagen has always been good at practicality, with a bunch of cars in their lineup striking deliver great interior space for the segment. They’ve also always been good at delivering understated styling. These are two things that we think the Tiguan does fantastically well, with a spacious interior that is loaded with features and designed to feel like an entry-level luxury model rather than something mainstream.

Interior dimensions and comfort

The Tiguan is a relatively spacious SUV, with tons of space up front and in the back. Even the tallest of passengers won’t have any issues being relegated to the back seats. Cargo capacity is great, sitting at the top end of the segment. You can fold the rear seats down and gain access to 59 cubic feet of space, which is great for larger loads. The only downside is that a third row is no longer on offer.

Inside, VW’s compact SUV is super practical. For example, they have shuffled things around to increase the space available in the center console’s storage bin. The German brand uses some pretty nice materials for this price point, with top trims even coming equipped with things like perforated varenna leather upholstery. Power-operated massaging front seats with heating and ventilation are on the list of options, as is three-zone climate control and a panoramic sunroof.

Infotainment and technology

The updated Tiguan comes equipped with a pair of screens. The first is the standard 12.9-inch infotainment screen, with higher trims getting a 15-inch unit instead. Both screens run Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit Pro system software. All models come equipped with a 10.25-inch fully-digital gauge display as well.

Volkswagen has done a good job of keeping plenty of physical controls around, including a volume knob and a physical drive mode selector. There are also a number of USB-C ports throughout the cabin, as well as a standard wireless smartphone charging pad. Things like a heads-up display and a 12-speaker premium Harman/kardon sound system are optional.