Three Big Reasons We Prefer the VW Tiguan to the RAV4

The RAV4 is one of Toyota’s most popular and best-selling vehicles and is one of the top-selling models worldwide. Honestly, we can understand why so many people like it; the RAV4 is a savvy compact crossover—and yet, it’s certainly not perfect, nor is it the right vehicle for everyone. While it does some things very well, there are other realms in which it’s quite lacking. Looking at the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2023 Toyota RAV4, there are some places where the RAV4 holds its own, but there are key ways in which Volkswagen brings more to the road.

Sometimes when you compare models in the same class, like the Tiguan and the RAV4, the differences between them can be rather minuscule. Automakers will brag about having the best fuel economy or the highest horsepower—but then you look at the numbers, and there’s barely any real difference. When we take a look at the Tiguan and the RAV4, however, there are some noteworthy distinctions between them—real differences—that can have a big impact on how you enjoy your vehicle. So let’s dig deeper into some ways the Tiguan is a better choice for many drivers than the RAV4 and why we ultimately prefer it.

Reason #1 – Better Options for Interior Layout

One of the things we love in a vehicle—which is pretty rare to find—is flexibility in how the interior can be configured. Case in point is the RAV4, which lacks in configuration, just as the vast majority of vehicles do; they have one option for how they’re put together, and if you want something else, you’ll need to look at a different model. Such a commitment to inflexible design is why you have some brands with huge lineups of vehicles; the only way they can think to offer something for everyone is to literally make a different vehicle for every need. The Volkswagen Tiguan, however, endeavors for all-purpose versatility, and it has two different configurations available so you can get the perfect setup to meet your needs.

Toyota’s RAV4 is the perfect example of typical design: it looks good, there’s no doubt about that, but you don’t really have any major options. As a compact crossover model, the RAV4 is available with two rows of seating, offering space inside for five passengers. This is quite common for vehicles in this class, so it’s not something unique about the RAV4, and for people who only need that much seating, it’s fine. And that’s all—it’s fine but not particularly exceptional or remarkable.

The Volkswagen Tiguan, on the other hand, is available in two different configurations. You can get a Tiguan with two rows of seats for up to five passengers, just like the RAV4 and most other compact crossover models, or you can choose a Tiguan with a third row of seating designed to fit seven passengers. Admittedly, these rear seats will be pretty cramped if you’re forcing two tall adults into the back, but this row is perfect for kids, which makes the Tiguan a fantastic option for families. Whether you have a growing family and you’re concerned about needing more seats in the future, or you simply want to bring along more friends and family, the Tiguan gives you more space inside to enjoy and better ways to use it.

Reason #2 – More Space Inside to Utilize

Speaking of having more space inside, not only does Volkswagen offer more configuration options for how you can have the people in your life all pile inside, but it also gives you more room inside overall. This is particularly important if you tend to have a lot of stuff that you need to bring with you, whether you’re interested in a two-row or three-row model. The Tiguan is still a compact model, just like the RAV4, but the Volkswagen engineering team has designed it to take better advantage of the size it brings. In other words, you get more room inside to load up with the things you need to pack in and take with you, making the Tiguan a fantastic option if you like camping or long road trips.

Looking at the RAV4, Toyota’s crossover has 37.6 cu.ft. of rear cargo space that’s accessible through the liftgate in the back. Drivers who don’t have a bunch of passengers with them can fold down the rear seats to get more space for their stuff, which is typical for crossovers like this. With the seats down, the RAV4 has a total of 69.8 cu.ft. of cargo volume inside, which is good for a compact crossover. To keep things simple, we’ll only look at the Volkswagen Tiguan with two rows of seating since it’s the easiest way to directly compare the space in these two SUVs.

The Tiguan has 37.6 cu.ft. of rear cargo volume available in two-row models, which you can see is identical to what’s offered in the back of the RAV4. If you don’t have passengers with you, however, then you can take full advantage of the Tiguan’s interior and get 73.5 cu.ft. of total cargo space. You can see that this is a significant difference—nearly 4.0 cu.ft. is a lot of space, particularly if you’re really loading up your vehicle and you need every bit of room. That makes the Volkswagen model a superior option for packing full and hitting the road with your favorite copilot.

Reason #3 – Superior Interior Features and Options

When we talk about superior features inside, we’re not saying the RAV4 is awful or that it has a barebones interior, because there are plenty of fine options for it offered by Toyota. The reality, however, is that it just can’t compare with some of the features and options that Volkswagen brings to the road with the Tiguan. For example, the RAV4 comes with a 7.0-inch Multi-Information Display as the standard option for the driver. The starting trim for the RAV4 features cloth seating; drivers who spring for a higher trim get SofTex-trimmed seating, which is synthetic leather rather than genuine leather for the seats.

By comparison, the Tiguan starts with a Volkswagen Digital Cockpit system with an 8.0-inch digital instrument display for its driver. If you upgrade to the available Volkswagen Digital Cockpit Pro system, you get a stunning 10.25-inch fully-configurable display that provides you with a fantastic overall drive management experience. Much like the RAV4, cloth seating is standard in the Tiguan, but higher trims provide you with heated and ventilated front seats with leather seating surfaces—and that’s genuine leather, too. We know there are fans of synthetic leather out there, but for us, it’s just a little too close to plastic, and we far prefer the luxury of authentic leather for our seating.

Is the VW Tiguan Right for You?

These are only a few of the reasons we love the Volkswagen Tiguan and ultimately prefer it over other options, including the RAV4. We could get into plenty more reasons, but we think we’ve made our point—and you can see some of the impressive features and innovations the Tiguan offers that nothing else does. There’s simply no denying that VW knows how to make a fantastic vehicle that meets a wide range of needs while giving you gorgeous and sophisticated features inside.

If you’re ready to learn more about the Tiguan—or any other Volkswagen model—we’re here and more than happy to talk about the full VW lineup and everything they have to offer. Come visit us at Bud Clary Auburn Volkswagen to find out more, and we’ll show you everything we love about the Tiguan.