2025 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan presented itself as a stylish and premium-looking crossover, often perceived as more upscale than its non-European competitors. Its design was marked by standard LED headlights and taillights, with an illuminated grille light line on the Highline R-Line trim. This top-tier model also featured silver roof rails, while lower trims had black ones. The rear design centred the model name in a bold, all-caps style, complemented by the classic Volkswagen badge. Colour options were limited on the base Trendline trim, but higher trims offered more vibrant choices and varied interior colourways. The interior of the Tiguan ranged from cloth seating surfaces on the base model to real leather with front-seat ventilation and memory settings on the Highline R-Line.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, available in XRT, Luxury, and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, maintained its fifth-generation design with a chunky, boxy appearance. Its long wheelbase, flat hood, and snub nose were complemented by pixelated H-shaped LED headlamps, aligning with Hyundai's design aesthetic. The rear design, however, suffered from mismatched proportions, with taillights positioned lower than ideal. Each trim had distinct wheel sizes, and the off-road-focused XRT trim added chrome and black exterior accents. Inside, the Santa Fe offered seating for seven, except for the Ultimate Calligraphy trim, which featured captain's chairs. Upholstery options varied from leatherette to Nappa leather, and while the interior fit and finish were generally good, some squeaks and rattles were noted during testing.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, the Tiguan came standard with 4Motion all-wheel drive. Fuel economy ratings were 10.6 L/100 km in the city, 8.0 on the highway, and 9.4 combined for non R-Line trims, while R-Line trims had slightly higher consumption. Driving the Tiguan Highline R-Line revealed inconsistent power delivery, with noticeable turbo and transmission lag. The gas pedal was touchy, and the brake pedal had excessive travel. Steering was light but somewhat rubbery, though visibility and handling were commendable. Road noise was minimal, and the ride was comfortable, though seating surfaces drew some complaints.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a standard 2.5-litre turbocharged engine with 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was standard across the lineup. The Santa Fe Hybrid, a separate model, combined a 1.6-litre engine with an electric motor for 231 hp and 271 lb-ft of torque. The Santa Fe felt stable in corners, with firm brakes and responsive steering, though turbo lag and delayed downshifts were noted. The gear selector, located on a stalk, required some getting used to. The XRT trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities with 30-inch all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance, though it wasn't suited for rugged terrain.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a two-row configuration as standard, with an optional third row for an additional cost. The two-row model provided 1,064 litres of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 2,078 litres with the rear seats folded. The three-row version reduced cargo space to 340 litres behind the third row, 934 litres with it folded, and 1,849 litres with only the front seats in position. Passenger space was minimally affected by the third row, with the second row offering 983 mm of legroom, dropping to 924 mm with the third row. The third row was notably tighter, with 858 mm of headroom and 708 mm of legroom.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in interior space, offering the most third-row legroom in its class. The second-row seats had adjustable cushion angles, and both the second and third rows could be folded via a button in the rear cargo area. Folding the third row provided 1,148 litres of space, while folding the second row expanded it to 2,267 litres. With all seats occupied, 413 litres of space remained. The rear opening was widened to 127.5 cm, with a height of 81 cm, facilitating the loading of large items. Most trims could tow 1,587 kilograms, with the XRT trim capable of towing 2,040 kilograms.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan featured haptic touch slider buttons for climate control, which were responsive and easy to use. However, the physical volume knob was less user-friendly due to its integrated on/off button. The infotainment system, accessed via an 8-inch touchscreen, had monochromatic graphics and included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. USB-C ports were standard on the base Trendline, with wireless charging available on higher trims. The Digital Cockpit System was standard, with the R-Line trims offering a fully configurable 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro screen. The nine-speaker Fender Premium Audio System was a highlight on the top trim.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen for infotainment and a digital gauge cluster of the same size, except for the base Preferred trim. The system was user-friendly, with clear graphics and quick response times. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with navigation available on higher trims. Multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad were included, with the Ultimate Calligraphy trim accommodating two phones. A digital key feature allowed unlocking and starting the car via a phone or Apple watch. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim offered a digital rearview mirror and a head-up display. Bluelink app connectivity was standard, providing remote access to various vehicle functions.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan earned a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, though it hadn't received the same 2024 distinction. Standard safety features in Canada included forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, emergency calling, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control, lane assist, and Emergency Assist were available from the Comfortline trim, offering semi-autonomous highway driving and parking assistance. Park Distance Control was standard from the Comfortline R-Line Black trim, though its Maneuver Braking feature was found to be intrusive.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, forward collision avoidance assist, lane keeping and following assist, a driver attention monitor, and safe exit assist. Additional features like rear parking collision avoidance assist and Highway Drive Assist were available on higher trims. The Highway Drive Assist feature was generally smooth, though it occasionally braked abruptly in traffic. The top trim included a blind spot avoidance feature and a Blind View Monitor. The NHTSA gave the Santa Fe a four-star overall safety rating, while the IIHS rated it "Good" in most categories.