2025 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2026 Toyota Highlander

$30,245 · Crossover

$45,270 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Choosing between the practical 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan and the robust 2026 Toyota Highlander often comes down to budget versus sheer size and power. A major sticking point is the $15,025 difference in starting MSRP, with the Tiguan kicking off at $30,245 versus the Highlander's $45,270. If fuel economy is top of mind, the Tiguan pulls ahead significantly, boasting a combined 29 MPG compared to the Highlander's 24 MPG. However, if acceleration matters more, the Highlander brings a hefty 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque to the table, substantially outpacing the Tiguan's 201 hp. Despite being smaller at 184.4 inches long, the Tiguan offers better outright cargo space with 26.5 cu ft versus the Highlander's 16 cu ft. Your decision hinges on whether you prioritize efficiency and affordability or need the extra dimensions and muscle of the larger SUV.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2025 Tiguan wins for commuters due to its superior fuel economy, achieving 29 combined MPG, which saves money on daily driving.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Toyota Highlander

The 2026 Highlander is better suited for larger families needing more passenger and general cabin space, evidenced by its larger overall dimensions.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Toyota Highlander

Enthusiasts will favor the Highlander, which delivers 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque compared to the Tiguan's 201 hp.

💰 Best Value

2025 Volkswagen Tiguan

The Tiguan provides superior value by costing $15,025 less and offering better cargo capacity (26.5 cu ft vs. 16 cu ft).

Choose the Volkswagen Tiguan if...

You are highly budget-conscious, saving $15,025 with its $30,245 MSRP.
You prioritize fuel savings, as the Tiguan achieves 34 MPG highway versus the Highlander's 28 MPG highway.
You need more accessible storage, benefiting from the Tiguan's 26.5 cu ft of cargo space.

Choose the Toyota Highlander if...

You require more power, utilizing the Highlander's 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque.
You need standard All-Wheel Drive capability for adverse weather conditions.
Your passengers demand more room, as the Highlander is notably larger in every dimension.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Volkswagen Tiguan	Toyota Highlander
Length	184.4"	194.9"
Width	73.0"	76.0"
Height	66.1"	68.1"
Wheelbase	109.9"	112.2"

Features Comparison

Safety

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

Engine

Feature	Volkswagen	Toyota
Base Engine Displacement	2.0 L	2.4 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	201 hp @ 5250 rpm	265 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque	207 lb-ft @ 1500 rpm	310 lb-ft @ 1700 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	Volkswagen	Toyota
Transmission Type	8-speed automatic	8-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
Center Differential Type	—	Limited Slip
Hill Descent Control	—	✓

Fuel

Feature	Volkswagen	Toyota
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	26/34 MPG	21/28 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	29 MPG	24 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	377.0/493.0 mi.	375.9/501.2 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	14.5 gal.	17.9 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

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

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Volkswagen	Toyota
Infotainment Display	12.9 in	8.0 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	7	6
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	Volkswagen	Toyota
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
One-Touch Power Windows	—	4
Moonroof Type	—	1st Row Power Glass

Frontseats

Feature	Volkswagen	Toyota
Front Head Room	39.5 in.	39.6 in.
Front Leg Room	40.2 in.	42.0 in.
Front Shoulder Room	57.0 in.	59.0 in.
Front Hip Room	54.4 in.	57.2 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	—
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	—
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Seat Material: Leatherette	—	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	—	8-way
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	—	Power
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	—	8-way

Rearseats

Feature	Volkswagen	Toyota
Rear Head Room	39.7 in.	39.4 in.
Rear Leg Room	40.2 in.	38.7 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	55.7 in.	58.4 in.
Rear Hip Room	53.3 in.	57.0 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	—
Folding Center Armrest	✓	—
Folding Rear Seatback	—	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	—	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

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

Suspension

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

Warranty

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Is the 2026 Toyota Highlander significantly larger than the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan?

Yes, the Highlander is built on a larger platform; it measures 194.9 inches long and 76.0 inches wide, whereas the Tiguan is shorter at 184.4 inches and narrower at 73.0 inches.

How much more power does the 2026 Highlander offer over the 2025 Tiguan?

The Highlander boasts 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, which is a substantial 64 hp increase over the Tiguan's 201 hp and 207 lb-ft of torque.

Which vehicle is cheaper to run daily based on fuel efficiency?

The 2025 Tiguan is much more economical for daily driving, offering 29 combined MPG versus the Highlander’s 24 combined MPG.

Why is the MSRP difference between the two vehicles so large?

There is a $15,025 gap in the starting price, with the Highlander listed at $45,270 and the Tiguan at $30,245, likely reflecting the Highlander's larger size and higher standard power output.

Does the smaller Tiguan have more usable cargo space than the larger Highlander?

Surprisingly, the 2025 Tiguan offers 26.5 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the rear seats, while the 2026 Highlander only provides 16 cubic feet in the same configuration.

Are there significant differences in the drivetrain or fuel requirements?

The Tiguan is primarily FWD (with an 8-speed automatic), while the Highlander comes standard with AWD and an 8-speed shiftable automatic; however, both vehicles utilize regular unleaded fuel.