Subaru Forester vs Volkswagen Tiguan
Side-by-side comparison from manufacturer specifications, NHTSA safety data, and live dealer listings.
Vehicles
Vehicles
2026 Volkswagen Tiguan
Overview
| Spec | Subaru ForesterForester SUV | Volkswagen TiguanS |
|---|---|---|
| Selected trim | Forester SUV | S |
| Body style | SUV | SUV |
| Drivetrain | all wheel drive | front wheel drive |
| Fuel type | regular unleaded | regular unleaded |
| Transmission | continuously variable-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Engine type | gas | gas |
| Model year | 2026 | 2026 |
Pricing & market
| Spec | Subaru ForesterForester SUV | Volkswagen TiguanS |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $29,995 (best) | $30,805 |
| Lowest listing price | $13,997 | $7,595 (best) |
| Median listing price | $27,995 (best) | $32,540 |
| Highest listing price | $42,263 (best) | $47,398 |
| For sale now | 89 | 167 (best) |
Fuel economy & range
| Spec | Subaru ForesterForester SUV | Volkswagen TiguanS |
|---|---|---|
| Combined MPG | 29 MPG | 29 MPG |
| City MPG | 26 MPG | 26 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 33 MPG | 34 MPG (best) |
| Fuel tank | 16.6 gal (best) | 14.5 gal |
Performance
| Spec | Subaru ForesterForester SUV | Volkswagen TiguanS |
|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 180 hp | 201 hp (best) |
| Torque | 178 lb-ft | 207 lb-ft (best) |
| Engine size | 2.5 L (best) | 2 L |
| Cylinders | flat 4 | I4 |
Size & capability
| Spec | Subaru ForesterForester SUV | Volkswagen TiguanS |
|---|---|---|
| Seating | 5 seats | 5 seats |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Cargo volume | 74.4 cu ft (best) | 69.8 cu ft |
| Towing capacity | — | 1,500 lbs (best) |
| Payload | — | 959 lbs (best) |
| Curb weight | 3,510 lbs (best) | 3,563 lbs |
| Ground clearance | 8.7 in (best) | 6.6 in |
| Wheelbase | 105.1 in | 109.9 in (best) |
| Length | 183.3 in | 184.4 in (best) |
| Width | 72 in | 73 in (best) |
| Height | 68.1 in (best) | 66.1 in |
Safety & recalls
| Spec | Subaru ForesterForester SUV | Volkswagen TiguanS |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA overall | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Frontal crash (driver) | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Frontal crash (passenger) | 5 / 5 ★ (best) | 4 / 5 ★ |
| Side crash (driver) | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Side crash (passenger) | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Side pole | 5 / 5 ★ | 5 / 5 ★ |
| Rollover | 4 / 5 ★ | 4 / 5 ★ |
| Open recalls (YMM scope) | 3 | None reported (best) |
Highlighted values indicate the better figure for that spec when a clear winner exists. Specs reflect the selected trim for each vehicle. Drag a vehicle header to reorder columns. MSRP and specifications are manufacturer data; listing prices and inventory come from live dealer listings. Safety ratings are from NHTSA.
Trim overview
All available trims with MSRP. The trim selected above is highlighted; comparison specs use that selection.
| Trim | Subaru Forester | Volkswagen Tiguan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forester SUV $29,995 MSRP(Currently comparing) | S $30,805 MSRP(Currently comparing) |
| 2 | Premium $33,385 MSRP | S $32,305 MSRP |
| 3 | Premium Hybrid $34,730 MSRP | SE $33,605 MSRP |
| 4 | Sport $36,105 MSRP | SE $35,105 MSRP |
| 5 | Limited $37,695 MSRP | SE R-Line Black $37,245 MSRP |
| 6 | Sport Hybrid $37,930 MSRP | SE R-Line Black $38,745 MSRP |
| 7 | Wilderness $38,385 MSRP | SEL R-Line Turbo $43,085 MSRP |
| 8 | Limited Hybrid $38,995 MSRP | — |
| 9 | Touring Hybrid $41,545 MSRP | — |
| 10 | Touring $41,595 MSRP | — |
Live inventory
Subaru Forester89 for sale
See all
Used2020 Subaru Forester
Premium
Crystal White Pearl•Black95,634 mi$17,995Wholesale Direct Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Used2019 Subaru Forester
Limited
Silver•black42,576 mi$21,000Kia of Clermont
Clermont, FL
Certified2026 Subaru Forester
Wilderness
Magnetite Gray Metallic•Gray2,648 mi$34,674Dulles Kia Leesburg
Leesburg, VA
Used2023 Subaru Forester
Wilderness
White•Gray16,392 mi$29,551Kia on Atlantic
Jacksonville, FL
Used2022 Subaru Forester
Limited
Blue•lighting37,321 mi$25,263Kia of Wesley Chapel
Wesley Chapel, FL
Used2024 Subaru Forester
Wilderness
Magnetite Gray Metallic•gray40,325 mi$30,265Classic Nissan Newport News
Newport News, VA
Volkswagen Tiguan167 for sale
See all
Used2024 Volkswagen Tiguan
2.0T SE
Deep Black Pearl23,756 mi$24,697Peachtree Mitsubishi
Atlanta, GA
Used2022 Volkswagen Tiguan
2.0T SE
Blue•Cinnamon41,949 mi$19,800Jim Coleman Nissan Bethesda
Bethesda, MD
Used2020 Volkswagen Tiguan
Automatic
Silver Metallic•Gray102,274 mi$16,694Velocity Autohaus
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
Used2021 Volkswagen Tiguan
2.0T SE
Deep Black Pearl•Titan Black79,847 mi$16,231Fred Anderson Toyota of Charleston
Charleston, SC
- Used
2024 Volkswagen Tiguan
2.0T S
65,119 mi$18,118Matt Bowers Chevrolet Slidell
Slidell, LA
Used2023 Volkswagen Tiguan
SE R-Line Black
black15,793 mi$23,367Kendall Hyundai
Miami, FL
Subaru Forester vs Volkswagen Tiguan FAQ
- Which is better: 2026 Subaru Forester or 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan?
- It depends on priorities. OpenDealer compares 2026 Subaru Forester vs 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan on MSRP, fuel economy, horsepower, seating, towing, NHTSA safety ratings, and live market prices so you can weigh the tradeoffs.
- Which costs less: 2026 Subaru Forester or 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan?
- Based on starting MSRP, the 2026 Subaru Forester starts lower at $29,995. Live Subaru Forester listings start at $13,997. Live Volkswagen Tiguan listings start at $7,595.
- Which has better startingMsrp: 2026 Subaru Forester or 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan?
- The 2026 Subaru Forester leads on startingMsrp in this comparison (29,995).
- Which has better combinedMpg: 2026 Subaru Forester or 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan?
- The 2026 Subaru Forester leads on combinedMpg in this comparison (35).
- Which has better horsepower: 2026 Subaru Forester or 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan?
- The 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan leads on horsepower in this comparison (268).
- Which has better maxTowingLbs: 2026 Subaru Forester or 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan?
- The 2026 Subaru Forester leads on maxTowingLbs in this comparison (3,000).
- How do the NHTSA safety ratings compare for 2026 Subaru Forester vs 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan?
- NHTSA overall crash-test ratings in this comparison: Subaru Forester (5/5 NHTSA overall); Volkswagen Tiguan (5/5 NHTSA overall).