Compare the2024 Volkswagen TiguanVS 2023 Lexus RX

Both the Tiguan and the RX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Tiguan its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The RX has not been fully tested, yet.

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 engine uses 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.

On the EPA test cycle the Tiguan gets better mileage than the RX:

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 Tiguans 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 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Tiguan stops much shorter than the RX:

For better traction, the Tiguan SE R-Line Black’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RX (255/45R19 vs. 235/60R19).

The Tiguan SEL R-Line’s 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 SEL R-Line 4Motion® handles at .83 G’s, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Volkswagen Tiguan may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 800 pounds less than the Lexus RX.

The Tiguan is 6.4 inches shorter than the RX, making the Tiguan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Tiguan offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the RX can only carry 5.

The Tiguan has .1 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more rear headroom and 1.3 inches more rear legroom than the RX.

The Tiguan’s cargo area provides more volume than the RX.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Tiguan easier. The Tiguan’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.4 inches, while the RX’s liftover is 31 inches.

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

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Tiguan SE/SEL 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.

Consumer Reports rated the Tiguan’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the RX’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”