Compare the2026 Volkswagen TiguanVS 2026 Lexus RX

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 RX doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

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 - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Lexus RX has not been tested.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Tiguan 4Motion’s standard Hill Descent Assist allows you to creep down safely. The RX doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

Both the Tiguan and the RX 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, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volkswagen Tiguan is safer than the Lexus RX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Tiguan’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the RX’s (7 vs. 6 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tiguan for 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the RX (2/20,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are almost 3 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Tiguan’s warranty.

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

As tested in Motor Trend the Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the RX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the Tiguan gets better mileage than the RX running its gasoline engine:

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the Tiguan’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Lexus only offers a regenerative brake system on the RX 350h/500h/450h+.

Both the Tiguan and the RX 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 RX 350h/500h 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 RX 350 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Tiguan stops much shorter than the RX:

For better traction, the Tiguan’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RX (255/40R20 vs. 235/60R19).

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 RX’s optional 50 series tires.

The Tiguan has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The RX base model’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks. The RX 350h suspension doesn’t offer rear gas-charged shocks.

The Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo handles at .85 G’s, while the RX 350 AWD pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the RX 350h (27 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

The Volkswagen Tiguan may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 800 pounds less than the Lexus RX.

The Tiguan is 8.1 inches shorter than the RX, making the Tiguan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Volkswagen Tiguan amounts to more than styling. The Tiguan has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .3 Cd. That is significantly lower than the RX (.35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Tiguan get better fuel mileage.

The Tiguan has 1.1 inches more rear headroom and 2.8 inches more rear legroom than the RX.

The Tiguan has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the RX with its rear seat up (33.8 vs. 29.6 cubic feet). The Tiguan has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the RX with its rear seat folded (69.8 vs. 46.2 cubic feet).

The Tiguan’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the RX’s (1500 vs. 0 pounds).

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 RX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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 RX.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Lexus RX, based on reliability, safety and performance.