Compare the2024 Volkswagen TiguanVS 2024 Volvo XC40

Both the Tiguan and the XC40 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volkswagen Tiguan is safer than the Volvo XC40:

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

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 XC40 has not been fully tested, yet.

There are over 2 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Volvo 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 XC40’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 1 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Volvo With 39 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Volvo.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Tiguan uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XC40 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Tiguan FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC40 (15.3 vs. 14.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Tiguan AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC40 (15.9 vs. 14.2 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Tiguan higher (7 out of 10) than the Volvo XC40 (5). This means the Tiguan produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the XC40 every 15,000 miles.

The Tiguan stops much shorter than the XC40:

For better traction, the Tiguan SE R-Line Black’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XC40 (255/45R19 vs. 245/45R20).

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 XC40’s optional 45 series tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tiguan’s wheelbase is 3.5 inches longer than on the XC40 (109.9 inches vs. 106.4 inches).

The Tiguan’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (55.9% to 44.1%) than the XC40’s (57.9% to 42.1%). This gives the Tiguan more stable handling and braking.

The Tiguan 4Motion® handles at .82 G’s, while the XC40 B5 Plus pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Tiguan offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the XC40 can only carry 5.

The Tiguan has 25.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the XC40 (123.9 vs. 98).

The Tiguan has .6 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room and 2.6 inches more rear legroom than the XC40.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Tiguan’s middle row seats recline. The XC40’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Tiguan’s cargo area provides more volume than the XC40.

The Tiguan’s cargo area is larger than the XC40’s in every dimension:

The Tiguan has a higher standard payload capacity than the XC40 (1014 vs. 925 lbs.).

The Tiguan has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the XC40 (1301 vs. 925 lbs.).

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 XC40 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To shield the driver’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side window, the Tiguan has a standard extendable sun visor. The XC40 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Tiguan SEL R-Line keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The XC40 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Tiguan is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The XC40 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Volkswagen Tiguan outsold the Volvo XC40 by almost five to one during 2022.