2024 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan presented itself as a visually appealing compact crossover, exuding a sense of premium design that set it apart from its non-European competitors. Its exterior featured standard LED headlights and taillights, with an illuminated grille light line on the Highline R-Line trim, which also boasted silver roof rails. The rear end showcased the model name in a stylish all-caps format, complemented by the classic Volkswagen badge. The Trendline trim offered only grayscale colours, while higher trims introduced more vibrant options and diverse interior colourways. Inside, the base Trendline provided heated front seats with cloth upholstery, while the Comfortline added power adjustability and leatherette. The R-Line trims included a panoramic sunroof, and the Highline R-Line further enhanced comfort with real leather, front-seat ventilation, and additional power adjustments.

In contrast, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S hardtop, with its black-on-black colour scheme, was less visually appealing in a tropical climate. However, once behind the wheel with the windows down and roof panels removed, the colour became less significant. The Wrangler was available in various trims, including Sport, Sport S, Willys, Sahara, Rubicon, and Rubicon X, with the Rubicon 392 discontinued in Canada. The Sport S model featured a few options, such as a black hardtop and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Despite its high price, the Wrangler's interior focused on functionality, with grey fabric dashboard trim, metallic accents, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Its design, rooted in a World War II military vehicle, and its off-road capabilities made it a popular choice despite its lack of sophistication.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan came 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 featured standard 4Motion all-wheel drive, with fuel economy ratings of 10.6 L/100 km in the city, 8.0 on the highway, and 9.4 combined for non R-Line trims, and slightly higher for R-Line trims. During testing, the Tiguan Highline R-Line exhibited inconsistent power delivery, with noticeable turbo and transmission lag. The gas pedal was touchy, even in Eco mode, 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 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a standard 3.6-litre V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and an optional turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The latter produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, offering better fuel efficiency at higher elevations. The four-cylinder engine achieved a combined fuel economy rating of 11.0 L/100 km, or 11.3 L/100 km for the four-door model, compared to 12.2 or 12.6 for the V6. During testing, the Wrangler averaged 12.3 L/100 km with four passengers and air conditioning. Its standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and narrow width provided off-road advantages, though the three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA was concerning. The ride was rough, with disconnected steering feel, and the Wrangler's off-road capabilities were not fully tested during the evaluation.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a two-row configuration 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 remained largely unaffected, with ample headroom and legroom in the first two rows. The third row, however, was significantly tighter, though still more spacious than the Mitsubishi Outlander's third row. The Tiguan's compact crossover status made it one of the few in its class to offer a third row.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler posed challenges for entry and exit due to its high ground clearance and narrow door openings. Step rails were available but could complicate access. Inside, the front seats were comfortable, with cloth upholstery and optional heated features. The Wrangler accommodated five passengers, though four were more comfortable. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of plastic hooks on the front seatbacks. Storage space was limited, with small items often ending up in cupholders. Cargo access required opening the tailgate and lifting the rear window, with the four-door model offering 897 litres of cargo space, expandable to 2,050 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan featured haptic touch slider buttons for climate control, which were responsive and easy to use. However, the physical volume knob's integrated on/off button was sensitive and could be frustrating. The infotainment system relied on monochromatic graphics, accessed through an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims offered wireless charging and a nine-speaker Fender Premium Audio System. The Digital Cockpit System was standard, with the R-Line trims featuring a fully configurable 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro screen.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system was a highlight, featuring a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. An eight-speaker stereo was standard, with a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system optional. The Wrangler offered navigation and Jeep Connect services, including adventure guides and GPS trail logs. The touchscreen remained bright and easy to use, even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display, passive entry, remote engine start, and rear parking sensors.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan earned a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, though it had not received the same 2024 distinction. Standard safety features included forward collision avoidance, emergency calling, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control, lane assist, and Emergency Assist were available on higher trims, providing semi-autonomous highway driving and parking assistance. Park Distance Control became standard at the Comfortline R-Line Black trim level.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler introduced standard side curtain airbags for front and rear seats, a significant safety upgrade. Advanced driver assistance systems were optional, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available on most trims. Forward collision warning with automatic braking was limited to the Sahara trim. Adaptive cruise control and automatic high-beam headlights were also available. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS rated it Good for side-impact protection and moderate overlap frontal-impact tests, but Marginal for the small overlap frontal-impact test.