2025 Dodge Durango vs 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2025 Dodge Durango offered a range of models from the base GT with a V6 engine and rear-wheel drive starting at approximately $43,000, to the high-performance SRT Hellcat with a supercharged V8 engine and all-wheel drive, priced near $100,000. The SRT Hellcat Premium model, enhanced with the Silver Bullet special edition package, featured Triple Nickel paint and additional visual upgrades like a satin black hood and dark badges, bringing its MSRP to $115,315. Inside, the SRT Hellcat maintained a subdued yet premium feel with dark red Nappa leather seats and a suede headliner, though some plastic surfaces detracted from its luxury appeal.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan underwent a complete redesign, embracing a modern aesthetic inspired by VW's electric vehicles. The front featured narrower headlights and a larger visual grille, while the rear showcased a single bar taillight design. The Tiguan's silhouette appeared sportier with a tapering hatch and shorter overhangs. Inside, the Tiguan adopted a minimalist approach with a tablet-like infotainment display and digital instrument panel. The gear selector moved to the steering column, freeing up center console space. While materials quality was average, the elimination of capacitive-touch buttons improved usability, and the interior offered ample storage solutions.

The 2025 Dodge Durango streamlined its powertrain options, with the GT model featuring a 295-horsepower 3.6-liter V6, the R/T with a 360-hp 5.7-liter V8, and the SRT Hellcat boasting a 710-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8. All models used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with AWD standard on the R/T and SRT Hellcat. The SRT Hellcat delivered 645 pound-feet of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, with a top speed of 180 mph and a towing capacity of 8,700 pounds. Despite its power, the Durango's fuel economy was poor, rated at 12/17/13 mpg city/highway/combined. The SRT Hellcat featured a full-time AWD system, adaptive damping suspension, and Brembo brakes, offering a track-ready performance.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 201 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission was standard, with FWD and optional 4Motion AWD. The Tiguan's acceleration was expected to reach 60 mph in about 8.5 seconds, providing adequate performance for most drivers. The suspension favored comfort, smoothing over road imperfections while maintaining composure in corners. The Tiguan's cabin was quiet, with minimal tire and wind noise. A more powerful Turbo engine was anticipated for 2026, offering 268 hp and 258 lb-ft, along with a teased hybrid powertrain.

The 2025 Dodge Durango excelled in form and function, offering a spacious and comfortable interior. The SRT Hellcat Premium featured heated and ventilated front seats with Nappa leather, though they lacked secure support during spirited driving. The second-row captain’s chairs provided good leg support and rear climate controls, while the third row offered ample room for adults. The Durango's cargo space included 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 43.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 85.1 cubic feet. A power liftgate and thoughtful storage solutions added to its practicality.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan returned without a third row, increasing second-row legroom by 1.5 inches. The interior improvements included the removal of capacitive-touch buttons, enhancing usability. The center console offered more storage with the gear shifter relocated to the steering column. Cargo capacity was not finalized, but the new design suggested a smaller area than the previous model's 37.6 cubic feet. The Tiguan featured remote seatback releases and a power liftgate, with hands-free operation on higher trims, providing convenience for loading and unloading.

The 2025 Dodge Durango came equipped with a Uconnect 5 infotainment system featuring a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a native navigation system. Additional features included SiriusXM 360L, Dodge Connect, a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The SRT Hellcat included SRT Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics. The voice recognition system worked well but required specificity, and the infotainment system supported dual-phone Bluetooth pairing and wireless smartphone charging.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan featured a standard digital instrument panel and a 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen, with an optional 15-inch display on higher trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with a wireless phone charger. The infotainment system included capacitive-touch sliders, but a new volume knob improved usability. The Tiguan introduced Atmospheres, a feature combining ambient lighting and audio settings to enhance mood. The standard audio system had seven speakers, with a 12-speaker Harman Kardon system available on top trims. VW's Car-Net system offered remote monitoring and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The 2025 Dodge Durango's safety features were limited, with standard forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. Optional upgrades included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and front parking sensors. The Durango received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a three-star rollover resistance rating for AWD models. The IIHS had not assessed the Durango in newer evaluations, and its performance in the small overlap frontal-impact test was concerning.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan's crash test results were not yet available. Standard safety features included frontal collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and more. The Emergency Assist system could slow the vehicle to a stop if the driver was incapacitated. Higher trims added a head-up display, surround-view camera, traffic sign reader, and semi-automated parking. The safety features functioned well, with no false alarms or oversensitivity issues, and the lane-keep assist provided a sensible amount of steering input.