Differences Between 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan vs Volkswagen Touareg

2017 Volkswagen Tiguan vs Touareg

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Both the Tiguan and Touareg are excellent choices for buyers in the market for a new SUV. Both vehicles have desirable SUV features - a higher ride position, powerful engine, optimum handling in adverse weather conditions, and more cargo space than a typical car. The vehicle that the customer prefers will depend on what is important to them - a compact SUV with tight handling that rides like a car because it’s built on the Volkswagen Golf platform, or a larger vehicle that might use a bit more gas but is more spacious and powerful than the alternative.

Performance

In comparing the base models of the two vehicles, the smaller Tiguan is equipped with an inline 4-cylinder 2.0 L engine which produces 200 hp and 207 lb.-ft. of low-end torque. The engine is mated to a 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission. No matter what trim the customer chooses, this is the only engine that the Tiguan has available. All-wheel drive is also available as an optional drivetrain.

The Touareg, on the other hand, is equipped with a larger V6 engine and comes standard on all three trim levels of the vehicle. It produces 280 hp and 266 lb.-ft. of torque. Being a V6, it has a larger displacement, at 3.6L, and is mated to an 8-speed shiftable automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is the standard drivetrain for the Touareg as well. Both vehicles, for their size and engine type, produce excellent power ratings, but it will depend on what the customer prefers for engine type and fuel efficiency.

Size Difference

The first thing the customer will notice about the appearance of both vehicles is the size. The Tiguan is much smaller in exterior dimensions. Its wheelbase is 102.5 in, which is about 8 ½ ft., compared to the Touareg wheelbase at 113.9 in, which is about 9 ½ ft. The Touareg is also about a foot longer, at 188.8 in long (15.7 feet), while the Tiguan is 174.5 in long, or about 14 ½ ft. The Touareg also has more cargo space - 32 cubic feet versus the Tiguan 23.8 cubic feet.

Safety

Only the Tiguan has been rated by the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration); the 2017 Touareg has not been rated. The 2017 Tiguan received an overall four-star rating, out of a possible five stars. According to ratings from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), who has only tested the 2016 models, the Tiguan received the highest rating possible for four out of five crashworthiness factors, and earned a “marginal” rating for the small overlap front area. The 2016 Touareg fared a bit better, earning the highest possible rating for all five crashworthiness factors.