2025 Toyota Highlander vs 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan

$40,320 · Crossover

$30,805 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The most significant numerical disparity between the 2025 Toyota Highlander and the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan is the $9,515 MSRP gap, with the Tiguan starting at $30,805 compared to the Highlander's $40,320. Power output also heavily favors the Highlander, which delivers 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque versus the Tiguan's 201 hp and 207 lb-ft. Conversely, fuel economy metrics clearly favor the smaller German offering; the Tiguan achieves a combined 29 MPG (26/34 City/Highway) compared to the Highlander's 25 MPG combined (22/29 City/Highway). Dimensional differences are also substantial: the Highlander measures 194.9 inches in length and offers 16 cu ft of cargo space, while the Tiguan, despite being smaller overall, boasts a class-leading 33.8 cu ft of cargo capacity. This comparison pits established power against superior efficiency and utility volume at a lower cost.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2026 Tiguan wins due to its superior combined fuel economy rating of 29 MPG, offering substantial daily savings over the Highlander's 25 MPG.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Volkswagen Tiguan

The Tiguan provides 33.8 cu ft of cargo capacity, significantly outperforming the Highlander's 16 cu ft, which is crucial for family utility.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Toyota Highlander

The 2025 Highlander appeals more to performance-minded drivers by producing 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.

💰 Best Value

2026 Volkswagen Tiguan

The Tiguan secures the value victory by offering substantial feature compatibility at a $9,515 lower starting MSRP.

Choose the Toyota Highlander if...

You require the superior power output, evidenced by 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.
Your driving pattern prioritizes higher highway efficiency (29 MPG) over city driving efficiency.
You prefer the stability and presence of the larger vehicle dimensions (194.9 inches in length).

Choose the Volkswagen Tiguan if...

Budget is a primary concern, given the $30,805 base MSRP versus the Highlander's $40,320.
Maximum interior storage is necessary, as the Tiguan offers 33.8 cu ft of cargo volume.
You seek the highest efficiency, with a 29 MPG combined rating versus the Highlander's 25 MPG.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Toyota Highlander	Volkswagen Tiguan
Length	194.9"	184.4"
Width	76.0"	73.0"
Height	68.1"	66.1"
Wheelbase	112.2"	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 Solid Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Fog Lights	✓	—
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	✓	✓
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	—	✓
Adaptive Headlights	—	✓
Cornering Lights	—	✓

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 shiftable 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)	22/29 MPG	26/34 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	25 MPG	29 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	393.8/519.1 mi.	377.0/493.0 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	17.9 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	✓	—
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	—
Three Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control	✓	—
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	✓
Front Parking Sensors	—	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	—	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	—	✓
Leatherette Steering Wheel	—	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Toyota	Volkswagen
Infotainment Display	8.0 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	41.2 in.	39.5 in.
Front Leg Room	42.0 in.	40.2 in.
Front Shoulder Room	59.0 in.	57.0 in.
Front Hip Room	57.2 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	39.4 in.	39.7 in.
Rear Leg Room	38.7 in.	40.2 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	58.7 in.	55.7 in.
Rear Hip Room	57.0 in.	53.3 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	—
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	—

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Toyota	Volkswagen
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Diameter	18 in	—
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	P235/65R V	215/65R H
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Underbody Mounted	Inside Mounted
Wheel Size	—	17 x 7.0 in

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 Highlander and 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan.

What is the exact difference in starting price between the 2025 Highlander and 2026 Tiguan?

The 2025 Toyota Highlander has an MSRP of $40,320, creating a $9,515 price difference when compared to the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan's starting price of $30,805.

Which crossover offers better fuel efficiency for long-distance commuting?

The 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan is the more efficient choice, achieving 34 MPG on the highway compared to the Highlander's 29 MPG highway rating.

How much more cargo space does the Tiguan provide compared to the Highlander?

The 2026 Tiguan offers substantially more cargo volume at 33.8 cu ft, which is more than double the 16 cu ft available in the 2025 Toyota Highlander.

Is the performance gap significant between the two models?

Yes, the Highlander produces 64 more horsepower (265 hp vs. 201 hp) and 103 more lb-ft of torque (310 vs. 207), making it the significantly more potent vehicle.

Are both vehicles equipped with similar transmissions?

Both models utilize an 8-speed automatic transmission; however, the Highlander specifies an 8-speed shiftable automatic, while the Tiguan uses an 8-speed automatic.