2025 Toyota Grand Highlander vs 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan

$40,860 · Crossover

$30,805 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander roars onto the scene as the powerhouse, boasting a robust 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, making it the clear choice for drivers who demand more muscle for merging onto the highway. In stark contrast, the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan captivates with efficiency, sipping fuel to achieve an impressive 29 MPG combined, perfectly complementing its notably lower $30,805 MSRP—a stunning $10,055 less than the Toyota. While the Grand Highlander offers substantial bulk at 201.4 inches long, the smaller Tiguan surprises with greater utility, offering 33.8 cu ft of cargo space compared to the Toyota's 20.6 cu ft, despite making 64 fewer horsepower. This comparison pits raw capability against supreme fiscal sense, forcing buyers to weigh the Toyota's larger footprint and acceleration against the Volkswagen's 34 highway MPG and budget-friendliness.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2026 VW Tiguan wins for daily commuting due to its superior 29 MPG combined efficiency.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander provides more room and presence with its 201.4-inch length and higher power output for hauling passengers.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Toyota Grand Highlander

The Grand Highlander offers significantly more performance headroom with 265 hp versus the Tiguan's 201 hp.

💰 Best Value

2026 Volkswagen Tiguan

The Tiguan delivers strong efficiency and utility for a $30,805 MSRP, beating the Grand Highlander's $40,860 starting price significantly.

Choose the Toyota Grand Highlander if...

You need maximum pulling power, as the Grand Highlander delivers 310 lb-ft of torque.
Your priority is highway merging capability, benefiting from the 265 hp engine.
You require a massive presence, indicated by the 201.4-inch length and 70.1-inch height.

Choose the Volkswagen Tiguan if...

Sticking strictly to a budget is key, given the $30,805 MSRP vs. Car 1's $40,860.
Maximum cargo flexibility is needed, as the Tiguan offers 33.8 cu ft versus 20.6 cu ft.
Optimizing fuel costs is paramount, leveraging the Tiguan's 34 highway MPG rating.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Toyota Grand Highlander	Volkswagen Tiguan
Length	201.4"	184.4"
Width	78.3"	73.0"
Height	70.1"	66.1"
Wheelbase	116.1"	109.9"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Toyota	Volkswagen
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Third Row Head Airbags	✓	—
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	—
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	—	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	—	✓
Brake Drying	—	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	—	✓
Automatic Headlights	—	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	—	✓
Adaptive Headlights	—	✓
Daytime Running Lights	—	✓
Cornering Lights	—	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Toyota	Volkswagen
Base Engine Displacement	2.4 L	2.0 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	265 hp @ 6000 rpm	201 hp @ 5250 rpm
Torque	310 lb-ft @ 1700 rpm	207 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Toyota	Volkswagen
Transmission Type	8-speed automatic	8-speed automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	front wheel drive

Fuel

Feature	Toyota	Volkswagen
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	21/28 MPG	26/34 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	24 MPG	29 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	373.8/498.4 mi.	377.0/493.0 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	17.8 gal.	14.5 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Toyota	Volkswagen
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	✓	—
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	—
Front Seatback Storage	✓	—
Three Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control	✓	—
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Front Parking Sensors	—	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	—	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	—	✓
Leatherette Steering Wheel	—	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	—	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Toyota	Volkswagen
Infotainment Display	12.3 in	12.9 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	7
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months

Power Feature

Feature	Toyota	Volkswagen
One-Touch Power Windows	4	—
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Toyota	Volkswagen
Front Head Room	41.5 in.	39.5 in.
Front Leg Room	41.7 in.	40.2 in.
Front Shoulder Room	60.2 in.	57.0 in.
Front Hip Room	56.5 in.	54.4 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	✓
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	6-way
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	—	✓
Driver Seat Heating	—	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	—	Multi-level

Rearseats

Feature	Toyota	Volkswagen
Rear Head Room	40.2 in.	39.7 in.
Rear Leg Room	39.5 in.	40.2 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	58.8 in.	55.7 in.
Rear Hip Room	57.0 in.	53.3 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	—

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Toyota	Volkswagen
Wheel Material	Alloy	—
Wheel Diameter	18 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	255/65R18	215/65R H
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Wheel Finish	—	Painted Alloy
Wheel Size	—	17 x 7.0 in
Spare Tire Location	—	Inside Mounted

Suspension

Feature	Toyota	Volkswagen
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Toyota	Volkswagen
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	7 yr./ 100000 mi.
Roadside Assistance	2 yr./ unlimited mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	2 yr./ 25000 mi.	2 yr./ 20000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander and 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan.

Which crossover offers better long-term running costs between the two models?

The 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan is the likely winner for lower running costs, achieving 29 MPG combined while running on regular unleaded fuel. The 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander is thirstier at only 24 MPG combined, which will increase yearly fuel expenses significantly over time.

Is the power difference between the 2025 Grand Highlander and 2026 Tiguan noticeable in real-world driving?

Yes, the 64 horsepower gap is significant; the Grand Highlander's 265 hp provides much more assertive acceleration compared to the Tiguan's 201 hp. For spirited driving or towing, the Toyota’s 310 lb-ft of torque will feel much stronger than the VW’s 207 lb-ft.

Despite its smaller size, why does the 2026 Tiguan boast more cargo capacity?

The Tiguan maximizes its smaller 184.4-inch frame by optimizing its rear structure, offering an impressive 33.8 cu ft of storage. The Grand Highlander, while much longer at 201.4 inches, allocates some of that length to its third row, resulting in a smaller stated 20.6 cu ft of cargo space behind the rearmost seats.

Which vehicle offers a more aggressive price point for entry-level buyers?

The 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan is substantially more accessible with an MSRP of $30,805. This represents a significant $10,055 savings compared to the starting price of the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander at $40,860.

Do both vehicles require premium fuel for their standard powertrains?

No, both the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander and the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan are engineered to run happily on regular unleaded fuel, keeping day-to-day fueling costs predictable for both platforms.

How does the size difference impact maneuverability for city driving?

The 2026 Tiguan is clearly superior for tight city navigation, measuring approximately 7 inches shorter in length and 5 inches narrower than the Grand Highlander. This smaller footprint makes parking and weaving through dense traffic easier for the Volkswagen.