Compare the2026 Volkswagen TiguanVS 2025 Subaru Outback

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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The Tiguan has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Outback doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Volkswagen Tiguan achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Subaru Outback has not been tested.

The Tiguan has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Outback doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Tiguan SEL has a standard Area View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Outback only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The Tiguan has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Outback’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Tiguan has standard Rear Traffic Alert and automatically engage the brakes. Subaru charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Outback and it’s not available on the Base and the Outback’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

Both the Tiguan and the Outback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4189-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Volkswagen Tiguan is safer than the Outback:

	Tiguan	Outback
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.39 in	.94 in
Shoulder Force	156 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.02 in	1.54 in
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	197	387
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.94 in	1.81 in
Shoulder Force	112 lbs.	469 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.26 in	1.42 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	535 lbs.	848 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

The Tiguan comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Outback’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The Tiguan’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Outback’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Tiguan for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Outback.

Reliability

The Volkswagen Tiguan’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the Outback’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

Engine

The Tiguan has more powerful engines than the Outback:

	Horsepower	Torque
Tiguan 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	201 HP	207 lbs.-ft.
Tiguan 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	201 HP	221 lbs.-ft.
Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	268 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
Outback 2.5i 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder	182 HP	176 lbs.-ft.
Outback XT/Wilderness 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	260 HP	277 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Volkswagen Tiguan turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Outback 2.5i 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder:

	Tiguan	Outback
Zero to 60 MPH	7.7 sec	8.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	16.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.6 MPH	86.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Tiguan gets better mileage than the Outback:

			MPG
Tiguan
	FWD	S 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	26 city/34 hwy
		SE/SEL 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/32 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/30 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	22 city/29 hwy
Outback
	AWD	XT 2.4 turbo flat-4	22 city/29 hwy
		Wilderness 2.4 turbo flat-4	21 city/26 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Tiguan’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Outback doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Tiguan uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Outback XT/Wilderness requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen Tiguan higher (6 out of 10) than the Subaru Outback (5 to 6). This means the Tiguan produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Outback every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Outback:

	Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo	Outback
Front Rotors	13.4 inches	12.4 inches
Rear Rotors	12.2 inches	11.8 inches

The Tiguan stops much shorter than the Outback:

	Tiguan	Outback
60 to 0 MPH	111 feet	132 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Tiguan’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Outback (255/40R20 vs. 225/65R17).

The Tiguan’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Outback Onyx/Limited/Touring’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Tiguan offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Outback’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The Tiguan has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Outback doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Tiguan’s wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the Outback (109.9 inches vs. 108.1 inches).

The Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo handles at .85 G’s, while the Outback Limited XT pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Outback Limited (27 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

Chassis

The Tiguan is 6.7 inches shorter than the Outback, making the Tiguan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Tiguan has .6 inches more rear headroom and .7 inches more rear legroom than the Outback.

Cargo Capacity

The Tiguan has a much larger cargo volume than the Outback with its rear seat up (33.8 vs. 32.6 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Tiguan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Outback doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

Standard trailer stability control on the Tiguan uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Outback doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The Tiguan uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Outback uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Outback Limited/Touring, the Tiguan SEL has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Tiguan SEL’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 Outback doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the Tiguan and the Outback have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Tiguan is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Outback prevents the driver from operating the rear windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Tiguan’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Outback’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Tiguan the driver can close all of them from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Outback can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Tiguan has standard KESSY Keyless Access that allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from pocket or purse. Keyless Access and Start costs extra on the Outback and isn’t available on the Outback Base.

The Tiguan’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Outback’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Tiguan to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Outback doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Tiguan’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Subaru only offers heated mirrors on the Outback Premium/Limited/Wilderness/Touring/Onyx.

The Tiguan SEL has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Outback.

The Tiguan has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Outback Premium/Limited/Wilderness/Touring/Onyx.

Both the Tiguan and the Outback offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Tiguan has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Outback doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen Tiguan has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Outback and isn’t available on the Outback Base.

The Tiguan SEL’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Outback doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The Tiguan is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Outback doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Subaru Outback, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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