2019 Honda CR-V vs. 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan Limited

The CR-V EX/EX-L/Touring has standard Collision Mitigation Braking System, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Tiguan Limited doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

To prevent power induced skids and loss of control on slick surfaces, the Honda CR-V has standard full range traction control. The Tiguan Limited’s traction control is for low speeds only. Low traction conditions at higher speeds are more dangerous, making the need for full range traction control important.

The CR-V EX/EX-L/Touring’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Tiguan Limited doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The CR-V EX/EX-L/Touring’s blind spot warning system uses digital cameras monitored by computer to alert the driver to moving objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The Tiguan Limited doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

To help make backing safer, the CR-V EX/EX-L/Touring’s cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Tiguan Limited doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The CR-V EX/EX-L/Touring’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 Limited doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CR-V and the Tiguan Limited have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda CR-V is safer than the Volkswagen Tiguan Limited:

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

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Honda CR-V is safer than the Tiguan Limited:

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 Honda CR-V is safer than the Volkswagen Tiguan Limited:

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

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, with its optional front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CR-V the rating of “Top Pick” for 2018, a rating granted to only 85 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Tiguan Limited was not even a standard “Top Pick” for 2018.

The CR-V comes with free roadside assistance for 3 years 36,000 miles. Honda will send help if you run out of gas, need a jump-start, lock your keys in or need any assistance on the road. Volkswagen doesn’t give free roadside assistance for the Tiguan Limited.

There are over 60 percent more Honda dealers than there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CR-V’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the CR-V third among compact suvs in their 2018 Initial Quality Study. The Tiguan Limited isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 23rd in initial quality. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 24th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2018 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 12th in reliability, above the industry average. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 19th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ December 2018 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 1 place higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda CR-V is faster than the Volkswagen Tiguan Limited:

On the EPA test cycle the CR-V gets better fuel mileage than the Tiguan Limited:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda CR-V uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Tiguan Limited requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The CR-V has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Tiguan Limited doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The CR-V has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Tiguan Limited doesn’t offer a CVT.

The CR-V stops much shorter than the Tiguan Limited:

For better traction, the CR-V has larger tires than the Tiguan Limited (235/65R17 vs. 215/65R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CR-V LX has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Tiguan Limited S.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CR-V’s wheelbase is 2.2 inches longer than on the Tiguan Limited (104.7 inches vs. 102.5 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CR-V is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Tiguan Limited.

The CR-V Touring AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the Tiguan Limited Sport pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CR-V LX executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Tiguan Limited SEL 4Motion® (27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CR-V’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Tiguan Limited’s (37.4 feet vs. 39 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CR-V has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Tiguan Limited (8.2 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the CR-V to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the CR-V uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Tiguan Limited doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The CR-V uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Tiguan Limited doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the CR-V Touring AWD is quieter than the Tiguan Limited Sport:

The CR-V has 10.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Tiguan Limited (105.9 vs. 95.4).

The CR-V has 1 inch more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front legroom, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 4.6 inches more rear legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tiguan Limited.

The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Tiguan Limited with its rear seat up (39.2 vs. 23.8 cubic feet). The CR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Tiguan Limited with its rear seat folded (75.8 vs. 56.1 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CR-V easier. The CR-V’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26 inches, while the Tiguan Limited’s liftover is 31 inches.

The CR-V’s cargo area is larger than the Tiguan Limited’s in every dimension:

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the CR-V’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Tiguan Limited doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the CR-V EX-L/Touring has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the CR-V Touring, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Tiguan Limited doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

A Maintenance Minder is standard on the CR-V to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes based on actual driving conditions. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Volkswagen doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Tiguan Limited.

The CR-V EX/EX-L/Touring has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Tiguan Limited doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The CR-V EX-L/Touring’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Tiguan Limited doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

If the windows are left open on the CR-V the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Tiguan Limited can’t use the remote to operate the windows.

The Smart Entry standard on the CR-V EX/EX-L/Touring allows you to unlock the driver’s door, cargo door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Volkswagen Tiguan Limited’s Keyless Access doesn’t unlock the cargo door.

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

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the CR-V EX/EX-L/Touring detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Tiguan Limited doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the CR-V has standard extendable sun visors. The Tiguan Limited doesn’t offer extendable visors.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the CR-V EX/EX-L/Touring has a standard Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Tiguan Limited doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The CR-V’s standard steering wheel mounted cruise control is close at hand. The Tiguan Limited’s standard cruise control is on an over-crowded turn signal stalk.

The CR-V Touring’s standard GPS navigation system has a real-time traffic update feature that plots alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Tiguan Limited’s navigation system doesn’t offer real-time traffic updates.

With available voice command, the CR-V offers the driver hands free control of the radio, climate controls and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Tiguan Limited doesn’t offer a voice control system.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the CR-V is less expensive to operate than the Tiguan Limited because it costs $549 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the CR-V than the Tiguan Limited, including $421 less for a water pump, $332 less for a muffler, $19 less for front brake pads, $70 less for a starter, $65 less for fuel injection, $58 less for a fuel pump, $186 less for front struts and $193 less for a timing belt/chain.

The Honda CR-V has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

J.D. Power and Associates rated the CR-V first among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Tiguan Limited isn’t in the top three in its category.

The CR-V was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 17 years. The Tiguan Limited has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

Motor Trend selected the CR-V as their 2018 Sport Utility of the Year. The Tiguan Limited has never been chosen.

The Honda CR-V outsold the Volkswagen Tiguan Limited by almost four to one during the 2018 model year.