Compare the2025 Mazda CX-5VS 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the CX-5 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The CX-5 has standard Whiplash-Reducing Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Mazda CX-5 achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Volkswagen Tiguan has not been tested.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-5. But it costs extra on the Tiguan.

The CX-5 Turbo Signature’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-5 and the Tiguan 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-5 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Tiguan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Tiguan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The CX-5’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Tiguan’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mazda higher than Volkswagen.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Volkswagen is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 12 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The CX-5’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 55 more horsepower (256 vs. 201) and 99 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 221) than the Tiguan’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the CX-5 with its standard engine gets better fuel mileage than the Tiguan 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder (26 city/30 hwy vs. 22 city/30 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-5 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CX-5 has a tether attaching its gas cap to prevent its loss. The Tiguan’s gas cap isn’t tethered, so it can be left at a gas station if the driver forgets to screw the cap back in.

For better traction, the CX-5 has larger tires than the Tiguan (225/65R17 vs. 215/65R17).

For better maneuverability, the CX-5’s turning circle is 2.1 feet tighter than the Tiguan’s (36 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-5 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Tiguan (7.6 vs. 7 inches), allowing the CX-5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-5 Carbon/Premium/Turbo’s minimum ground clearance is .9 inch higher than on the Tiguan (7.9 vs. 7 inches).

The CX-5 is 4.3 inches shorter than the Tiguan, making the CX-5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The CX-5 has .2 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more front shoulder room and 2 inches more rear hip room than the Tiguan.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the CX-5’s rear seats recline. The Tiguan’s rear seats don’t recline.

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Tiguan with its rear seat up (29.1 vs. 26.5 cubic feet). The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Tiguan with its rear seat folded (59.3 vs. 58.9 cubic feet).

The CX-5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Tiguan’s (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-5 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Tiguan only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Compared to the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Mazda CX-5 eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mazda CX-5, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Volkswagen Tiguan by 45% during 2024.