Compare the2026 Volkswagen TiguanVS 2026 Honda CR-V

The Tiguan has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The CR-V doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

With its standard Front Assist, the Volkswagen Tiguan is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Honda CR-V, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Tiguan	CR-V
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	-10 MPH
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-18 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	-11 MPH	No Slowing
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-17 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	No Slowing
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-33 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	2.5 sec	2.4 sec
37 MPH Low beams	-23 MPH	No Slowing
Warning Issued-Low beams	.9 sec	No Warning

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Volkswagen Tiguan achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, outperforming the Honda CR-V which scored only an “Acceptable” in these critical safety features.

The Tiguan has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The CR-V doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Tiguan SEL has a standard Area View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The CR-V only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Volkswagen Tiguan’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Honda CR-V does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Tiguan has standard Rear Traffic Alert and automatically engage the brakes. Only the CR-V EX/Hybrid offers Cross Traffic Monitor and the CR-V’s Cross Traffic Monitor does not include automatic braking.

Both the Tiguan and the CR-V have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

The Tiguan comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The CR-V’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Tiguan’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the CR-V’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tiguan for 1 year and 8000 miles longer than Honda pays for maintenance for the CR-V (2/20,000 vs. 1/12000).

The Volkswagen Tiguan’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the CR-V’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

The Tiguan has more powerful engines than the CR-V:

	Horsepower	Torque
Tiguan 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	201 HP	207 lbs.-ft.
Tiguan 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	201 HP	221 lbs.-ft.
Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	268 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
CR-V 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder	190 HP	179 lbs.-ft.
CR-V Hybrid 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	204 HP	247 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Volkswagen Tiguan turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Honda CR-V turbo 4 cyl.:

	Tiguan	CR-V
Zero to 60 MPH	7.7 sec	8.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	16.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.6 MPH	86.4 MPH

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the Tiguan’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Honda only offers a regenerative brake system on the CR-V Hybrid.

Both the Tiguan and the CR-V have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Tiguan’s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The CR-V Hybrid doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Tiguan uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CR-V with the 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Tiguan AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the CR-V (15.6 vs. 14 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Tiguan higher (6 out of 10) than the Honda CR-V (5 to 6). This means the Tiguan produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CR-V every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CR-V:

	Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo	CR-V 1.5T	CR-V Hybrid
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	12.3 inches	12.6 inches

The Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the CR-V are solid, not vented.

The Tiguan stops much shorter than the CR-V:

	Tiguan	CR-V
60 to 0 MPH	111 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	143 feet	147 feet	Consumer Reports

For better traction, the Tiguan’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CR-V (255/40R20 vs. 235/60R18).

The Tiguan’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tiguan offers optional 20-inch wheels. The CR-V’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The Tiguan has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CR-V’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Tiguan has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The CR-V doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tiguan’s wheelbase is 3.6 inches longer than on the CR-V (109.9 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

The Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo handles at .85 G’s, while the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.3 seconds quicker than the CR-V Sport Touring Hybrid (27 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

The Tiguan has 1.5 inches more rear headroom and .7 inches more rear hip room than the CR-V.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Tiguan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The CR-V doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Tiguan’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the CR-V’s (1500 vs. 1000 pounds).

Standard trailer stability control on the Tiguan uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The CR-V doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Tiguan has a higher standard payload capacity than the CR-V (959 vs. 850 lbs.).

The Tiguan has a higher maximum payload capacity than the CR-V (1014 vs. 850 lbs.).

Unlike the driver-only memory seat in the CR-V EX-L/Sport-L/Sport Touring, the Tiguan SEL has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Tiguan R-Line has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, infotainment and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The CR-V doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the Tiguan and the CR-V have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Tiguan is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CR-V prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Tiguan’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The CR-V’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Tiguan the driver can close all of them from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the CR-V can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Tiguan’s standard KESSY Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from pocket or purse. Pushbutton Start standard on the CR-V only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

The Tiguan’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The CR-V’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Tiguan to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The CR-V doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Tiguan SEL has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The CR-V doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Tiguan also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The Tiguan’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the CR-V EX/EX-L/Sport/TrailSport/Sport-L/Sport Touring.

When the Tiguan SEL is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The CR-V’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Volkswagen Tiguan and Honda CR-V offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The Tiguan offers available power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the CR-V’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The Tiguan has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the CR-V EX/Sport. The Tiguan SEL also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the CR-V.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Tiguan SEL keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The CR-V doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Tiguan SEL has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the CR-V.

The Tiguan has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the CR-V EX/EX-L/Sport/TrailSport/Sport-L/Sport Touring.

Compared to traditional radio, the Volkswagen Tiguan’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the CR-V EX-L/Sport-L/Sport Touring.

The Tiguan SEL’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The CR-V doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Honda CR-V, based on reliability, safety and performance.