2025 Jeep Wrangler vs 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S, with its black-on-black-on-black colour scheme, was not the ideal choice for a tropical climate, but it still managed to charm with its rugged appeal. Despite the uninspired wheel design and all-season tires, the Wrangler's design, rooted in its World War II military vehicle heritage, remained fundamentally appealing. The interior, though not luxurious, was functional, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a focus on durability. The Wrangler's capability to traverse almost any terrain at any time contributed to its enduring popularity, even if it lacked the sophistication of more modern vehicles.

In contrast, the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan underwent a complete redesign, embracing a sleek modernity inspired by VW's electric vehicles. The front featured narrower headlights and a larger grille, while the rear showcased a sportier tapering hatch. The interior modernization included a minimalist dashboard with a digital instrument panel and a tablet-like infotainment display. The Tiguan's materials were average for its class, with soft-touch sections where needed, and the elimination of capacitive-touch buttons improved usability. The Tiguan's exterior and interior updates represented an evolution of previous themes, with a nod to newer VW vehicles.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-litre V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder engine produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, slightly less horsepower but more torque than the V6. The turbocharged engine was more fuel-efficient, with a rating of 11.0 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and generous approach and departure angles made it capable off-road, though its ride was rough, and handling was sloppy. The Wrangler's three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA was a concern.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 201 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. The eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4Motion all-wheel drive provided smooth and linear power delivery. The Tiguan's acceleration was expected to reach 100 km/h in about 8.5 seconds, average for its class. The suspension favoured comfort, smoothing over road imperfections while maintaining composure in corners. The Tiguan's quiet cabin added to the comfortable driving experience. A more powerful Turbo version was anticipated for 2026, offering 268 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging. The front seats were comfortable, with cloth upholstery and optional heated features. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of plastic hooks. Storage space was limited, with small bins and flimsy nets. Cargo access was cumbersome, requiring the tailgate and rear window to be opened separately. The four-door model offered 897 litres of cargo space, expandable to 2,050 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan, without a third row, offered increased second-row legroom by nearly 4 centimetres. The interior featured traditional buttons, improving usability. The centre console provided ample storage, with cupholders, a smartphone slot, and a deep armrest bin. The Tiguan's cargo capacity behind the first-row seatbacks was 1,668 litres, though the space behind the second row was not finalized. The angled liftgate hatch limited loading of bulkier items, but remote seatback releases and a power liftgate enhanced convenience.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an optional nine-speaker Alpine sound system. Jeep Connect offered adventure guides and GPS trail logs for off-road navigation. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display and passive entry. Rear parking sensors were part of the optional Safety Group package.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard with a digital instrument panel and a 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen, with a 15-inch display on the top trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, paired with a wireless phone charger. A volume knob replaced capacitive-touch sliders, improving usability. The standard audio system had seven speakers, with a 12-speaker Harman Kardon system available on the top trim. VW's Car-Net system included remote monitoring and control.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler included side curtain airbags as standard, a significant safety upgrade. Optional advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Forward collision warning with automatic braking was available on the Sahara trim. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS rated the Wrangler Good for side-impact protection but Marginal for small overlap frontal-impact.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan's crash test results were not yet available. Standard safety features included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and more. The Highline R-Line added a head-up display and surround-view camera system. The Tiguan's safety and driver assist features functioned as expected, with no false alarms or oversensitivity issues.