Decisions, decisions
Crossover SUVs are a hot commodity among some of the biggest automakers, including Japanese juggernauts Toyota and Honda. However, Volkswagen’s bestseller, the Tiguan crossover, has been reimagined for 2025 and is ready to take a bite out of the pie shared with bestsellers like the RAV4 and CR-V.
Volkswagen
For 2025, the Volkswagen Tiguan gets some fresh sheet metal, more premium tech and interior features, and more horsepower; however, there are some massive caveats to consider against its rivals, as well as some considerable pluses, when deciding on your next crossover purchase.
Volkswagen
Love it: Audi-like luxury amenities for VW prices
Volkswagen interiors have always looked slightly more upmarket than those of competitors like Toyota, Honda, and Chevrolet. However, some of the stuff that Das Auto is packing in might make some lower-end Audi buyers reconsider.
At its top-trim level, the $39,755 SEL R-Line, VW feeds crossover buyers luxury car features as if it were prime rib at a Las Vegas buffet. We’re talking three-zone climate control, two-tone quilted leather seating, real, open-pore American Walnut trim on the dashboard, heads-up display, Harman Kardon audio, and massaging front seats.
Even on the base-trim level, the $29,495 S, the Tiguan offers many standard features that are either options or are only available on higher trim levels of rivals like the CR-V and RAV4, including a big 12.9-inch infotainment screen, wireless phone charging, heated front seats, and in-car Wi-Fi connectivity.
James Ochoa
Love it: Room for the whole family (and their stuff)
The redesigned VW Tiguan may be missing a third row of seats, but its omission has given it much more space for busy families. Volkswagen says that the 2025 Tiguan boasts a total of 103.8 cu-ft of passenger volume, which can accommodate a family of five in absolute comfort on extended journeys and road trips.
The lack of a third row also means that the cargo room is vastly improved over the outgoing model. It boasts enough space for large grocery and Target runs, as well as a day’s Costco shopping. At the same time, folding down the second row 60/40 bench seats can reveal additional space for some IKEA furniture boxes.
Volkswagen
Love it: Snappy, fun handling
According to Volkswagen, the 2025 Tiguan weighs 170 pounds less than the 2024 model, thanks to new aluminium suspension components, high-strength hot-formed steel in the body structure, and the ditching of the third row. While this may not translate to Lotus-like nimbleness, it dramatically improves how the Tiguan handles itself around corners. In addition, the Tiguan’s new 2-liter, 201-horsepower turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine boasts dramatically more power than the outgoing model’s 184-horsepower.
Volkswagen
Caveat: Fuel Economy and Hybrid availability
Unlike rivals like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, the Volkswagen Tiguan currently does not come in a hybrid variant. Even compared to the pure-gas-engined versions of the CR-V, RAV4, and other competitors, EPA estimated fuel economy figures show that the Tig isn’t quite the fuel sipper.
EPA fuel economy data shows that the front-wheel-drive Tiguan S models get an estimated 26 miles per gallon in the city, 34 on the highway, and 29 combined, while FWD SE and SE R-Line models get a respective 25, 32, and 28 mpg, and all-wheel-drive models get 22, 30, and 25 mpg, respectively.
Caveat: Lower average resale value compared to rivals
Unfortunately, if you plan on hanging onto the Tiguan, owners should be warned that they might not get as much for their cars as owners of comparable rivals. According to May 20, 2025, data from the CarGurus used car price index, the price of the average used Volkswagen lags far behind that of Honda and Toyota. Their data shows that the average used VW lists for $19,809, lower than the average Honda at $21,187 and a far cry from Toyota at $26,252.
Final thoughts
The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan may be a compelling purchase for those who value standard features above everything else, as it packs a lot of luxury and tech at a tempting price tag. However, buyers who are also considering rivals like the Honda CR-V, the Toyota RAV4, and even the Mazda CX-50 should do a lot of cross-shopping before committing to something occupying their driveway.
