We’ve written about Volkswagen’s vs Kia’s, such as VW Atlas vs Kia Telluride, but we haven’t done a Volkswagen vs Honda. Therefore, in this article, we will be going over the VW Tiguan vs Honda CRV. We will be covering the many differences and few similarities, such as size, price, performance, common problems, and more. Both the Tiguan and CR-V are classified as compact CUVs. So, as many can imagine, since these are competitive brands and models, these will be similar in many aspects.
VW Tiguan vs Honda CRV – The Basics
The Volkswagen Tiguan was first introduced in 2007 and is still in production today. The Tiguan is positioned between the Atlas Cross Sport and the new Taos. Since its inception, there have been two generations: the 5N and AD. The 5N Tiguan was built on the Volkswagen Group’s PQ46 platform, while the AD/BW Tiguan is built on the MQB platform. The VW Tiguan quickly became the best-selling Volkswagen worldwide and happens to be the best-selling SUV in Europe.
The Honda CR-V was first introduced in 1995 and is still in production today. Honda says “CR-V” stands for “Comfortable Runabout Vehicle”. The Honda CR-V is currently positioned between the HR-V and the Pilot. Since its inception, there have been 5 generations. The CR-V has had one year with sales under six figures and it was its first year in production, 1996. Ever since then, the Honda CR-V has increased in sales YOY. Needless to say, the CR-V is one of Honda’s best-selling vehicles of all time.
Volkswagen Tiguan Generation
Honda CR-V Generations
- First Generation CR-V (1995 – 2000)
- Second Generation CR-V (2001 – 2006)
- Third Generation CR-V (2007 – 2011)
- Fourth Generation CR-V (2011 – 2016)
- Fifth Generation CR-V (2017 – Present)
VW Tiguan vs Honda CRV Price
In this portion, we will be going over brand new 2022, as of this writing, model prices and used prices for the VW Tiguan and the Honda CR-V.
New Volkswagen Tiguan Price
In this section, we will be covering the new 2022 Tiguan, as of this writing, model year prices. The Volkswagen Tiguan has 4 different trims: S, SE, SE R-Line, and SEL R-Line. The base Tiguan, or S trim, starts at $27,685, with a 4motion upgrade starting at $29,185. A Tiguan SE starts at $31,315 with an option to upgrade to 4motion for $32,815. A Tiguan SE R-Line starts at $34,145 with the option to upgrade to 4motion for $35,645. Lastly, the Tiguan SEL R-Line comes standard with 4motion and starts at $38,515.
New Honda CR-V Price
In this section, we will be covering the new 2022 Honda CR-V prices. The Honda CR-V has 5 different trims: LX, Special Edition, EX, EX-L, and Touring. The base CR-V, or the LX trim, starts at $26,800 with an AWD upgrade option for $28,300. A Honda CR-V Special Edition starts at $28,000 again with an AWD upgrade option starting at $29,500. A Honda CR-V EX starts at $29,310 with the AWD upgrade option starting at $30,810. The Honda CR-V EX-L starts at $31,900 with an AWD upgrade option starting at $33,400. Lastly, the Honda CR-V Touring, the highest trim, starts at $36,600 and comes standard with AWD.
Used Volkswagen Tiguan & Honda CRV Prices
When it comes to used VW Tiguans vs Honda CRVs, since the CR-V is much older than Tiguan, we will be going on similar generations. Since, these are very competitive vehicles, new and used prices will be pretty similar. A used Tiguans price ranges from $3,800 – $49,988* with an average price overall of $26,894, depending on model year and mileage. A used third – fifth generation CR-Vs price ranges from $3,000 – $44,995* with an average price overall of $24,000, depending on model year and mileage. The Tiguan is slightly more expensive on the new and used side. Therefore, is the Volkswagen Tiguan worth the extra cost?
*At the time of writing this article, we believe we are in a market where used vehicles are inflated, so consider that when seeing the used prices above.
General Tiguan & Honda CRV Topics
VW Tiguan vs Honda CRV Size
Below are some basic details about the size and weight differences seen between the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan and the 2022 Honda CR-V.
VW Tiguan vs Honda CR-V
When it comes to the size of the two vehicles, there are a few things that stand out to us: length, cargo space, and seating capacity. The Tiguan is slightly longer than the CR-V, which allows it to seat 7. The Honda CR-V only is capable of seating 5 passengers, regardless of trim. Therefore, since the Honda CR-V can only seat 5, that means it only has two rows of seats. This leads to more cargo space without folding any seats down, 39.2ft³. However, with the second and third rows of seats down in the Tiguan, it gets 65.3ft³. This is still less than the CR-V with all the seats down, 75.8ft³. So, it’s crucial to figure out what is most important when it comes to choosing a vehicle. Are you someone that needs three rows of seats or could you get by with two and have more cargo space?
VW Tiguan vs Honda CRV Performance
For consistencies sake, we will be using the 2022 VW Tiguan and 2022 Honda CR-V factory performance specs.
Engines, Drivetrain, & Fuel Economy
VW Tiguan Performance
The Tiguan only has one engine option: a 2.0T TSI. The 2.0T TSI puts out 184hp and 221 lb-ft of torque and offers an upgraded option for VW’s AWD 4motion technology. It features an 8-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission. When it comes to fuel economy, it differs based on the drivetrain. The 2.0T TSI engine with FWD gets 23mpg in the city and 30mpg on the highway for a combined 26mpg with a 15.3gal fuel tank. While the 2.0T TSI engine with 4motion gets 22mpg in the city and 29mpg on the highway for a combined 25mpg with a 15.3gal fuel tank.
Honda CRV Performance
The Honda CR-V only has one engine option for all trims: a 1.5L turbocharged engine. This engine puts out 190hp and 179 lb-ft of torque and offers an upgraded option for Honda’s AWD technology. This engine features a CVT, or Continuously Variable Transmission. When it comes to fuel economy, like the Tiguan, it differs based on the drivetrain. A 2WD 1.5L gets 28mpg in the city and 34mpg on the highway for a combined 30mpg with a 14.0gal fuel tank. Finally, the AWD 1.5L gets 27mpg in the city and 32mpg on the highway for a combined 29mpg with a 14.0gal fuel tank.
VW Tiguan & Honda CRV Reliability and Common Problems
Volkswagen Tiguan
Is the Volkswagen Tiguan reliable? Honestly, not really. According to RepairPal, they rated it 3 out of 5 for reliability. This happens to be below the average 4 out of 5 for CUVs, which puts the Tiguan dead last (26 out of 26) for all CUVs in reliability. The average annual maintenance cost for a VW Tiguan is $730, which is higher than the average $521 seen in all other CUVs. Even though the Tiguans reliability is questionable, customer satisfaction is high considering Volkswagen has sold 6,000,000 units worldwide.
Common problems that are seen in Tiguans are: ignition coil and spark plug failure, water pump failure, premature timing chain tensioner failure, plastic intake manifold issues, VW subframe clunk, and clock spring failure. We highly advise avoiding 2009-2012 Tiguans as they are viewed as the least reliable. If you plan on buying a 2022 model year, make sure to get the best warranty package offered. If maintained properly, Tiguans can last well over 150,000 miles. Click below for a more in-depth guide on the VW Tiguans reliability and common problems.
The 7 Most Common Volkswagen Tiguan Problems
Honda CRV
Is the Honda CR-V reliable? To nobody’s surprise, the Honda CR-V’s reliability is above average. Honda’s have been known to be the most reliable vehicles on the market and the CRV is no exception. RepairPal rated it a 4.5 out of 5, which is above the 4 out of 5 average for all compact CUVs. This places the CRV 2nd out of 26 in this category. Annual maintenance costs for CRV’s are $407, which is below the average annual maintenance cost of $521 for other compact SUVs. Used CRV model years we advise avoiding are 1997-1998, 2002-2003, 2007, 2013, 2015, and 2017-2018.
Since there are many CR-V generations, we compiled common problems seen across all of them: AC issues, sticky locks, differential fluid issues, transmission issues, premature wear with the front brake rotors, and fuel cap issues. If maintained properly, CR-Vs can easily last up to 200,000 miles.
VW Tiguan vs Honda CRV – Which is Better?
The question everyone is wanting to know, which is better: The VW Tiguan vs Honda CRV? We feel this question is rather subjective, but we will provide our opinion and then provide facts for both. We personally like the Tiguan more because of its ability to seat 7 at a slightly higher cost and we think the exterior looks better. However, the Honda CR-V is cheaper, gets better gas mileage, and has more standard cargo space. The CR-V engine gets more hp, while the Tiguan engine gets more torque. Both have similar safety and tech options out of the box and have 5-star safety ratings.
We always advise getting first-hand experience when it comes to buying a vehicle. With that said, make sure to schedule a test drive at your local VW and Honda dealership to get behind the wheel and see them in person. If you are serious about purchasing a Tiguan or CR-V, this will further solidify your decision.
VW Tiguan vs Honda CRV Conclusion
To wrap this article up, we know that purchasing any vehicle can be a daunting task. Therefore, we hope the information provided above assists anyone in their purchasing decision. In short, if you are needing a CUV that can seat 7, the Tiguan is the way to go. If you don’t need three rows of seats and want better gas mileage at a slightly cheaper cost, go with the CR-V. If you are a reader that has had first-hand experience with either model, let us know your experience in the comments below. This will help us with our research and help future readers with their decisions. If you would like to read up on more Tiguan comparisons, click below.
I own both a 2020 crv ex-l and vw Tiguan. 2019 SE. Vw hands down is a far superior vehicle. I don’t have the 3rd row seating, so the interior cargo area is much larger than the Honda . Pluses for the vw: quality, quality, quality, simplicity of operation, 31 mpg overall on a 1600 mile mixed condition trip, much smoother ride, did I mention quality, quietness, handling, changing oil without removing a metal shield, and then having oil shoot out missing the drain pan. Pluses forthe Honda: none that I can think of. Poor build quality, bouncing ride, poor materials, hollow sounding doors, no hood support other than the metal pole. Difficult technology. My first Honda and my LAST. !!!!!
We have a 2020 honda CRV LX With 29k miles. Gas mileage is great have got up to 37 miles per gallon on hwy and 32 in city I take off easy and don’t speed. I’ve towed up to 1500 lbs with no problems pulling a utility trailer. It’s been trouble free so far. Engine power is unremarkable could use more torque. But overall a great vehicle.