2025 Jeep Wrangler vs 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S, with its black-on-black color scheme, was not the ideal choice for a tropical climate like Hawaii. Despite the initial disappointment, the vehicle's open-air design, with removable panels and windows down, made the color less of an issue. The Wrangler's design, rooted in its military heritage, emphasized function over form, with a focus on ruggedness and off-road capability. The interior, though lacking in luxury, featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and functional elements like gray fabric dashboard trim and metallic accents. Despite its nearly $50,000 price tag, the Wrangler remained a symbol of American freedom and adventure, appealing to those who value capability over sophistication.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan underwent a complete redesign, adopting a sleek, modern look inspired by VW's electric vehicles. The front featured narrower headlights and a larger visual grille, while the rear showcased a sportier tapering hatch and a single bar taillight. The interior saw significant improvements, with a minimalist dashboard, digital instrument panel, and a tablet-like infotainment display. The removal of capacitive-touch buttons in favor of traditional controls enhanced usability. The Tiguan offered ample storage space, with a reconfigured center console and large door pockets. Despite the lack of finalized cargo capacity figures, the Tiguan's interior was spacious and practical, catering to the needs of modern drivers.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered two engine options: a 3.6-liter V6 with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-liter 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 an EPA rating of 21 mpg in combined driving compared to the V6's 19-20 mpg. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and generous approach and departure angles made it well-suited for off-road adventures. However, its three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA was a concern. The ride was rough, with a steady stream of jiggles and jolts, and the steering felt disconnected at higher speeds.

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 front-wheel drive as the default and Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel drive available. The Tiguan's acceleration was expected to be similar to its predecessor, reaching 60 mph in approximately 8.5 seconds. 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. While not sporty, the Tiguan's performance was well-suited for its target audience, offering a balance of comfort and capability. A more powerful Turbo version was anticipated for 2026, promising increased performance for spirited drivers.

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 heated options available. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of plastic hooks on the front seatbacks. Storage space was limited, with small bins and flimsy door nets. Cargo access was cumbersome, requiring the opening of the tailgate and rear window. The Wrangler offered 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan, without a third row, offered increased second-row legroom by 1.5 inches. The interior featured traditional controls, improving usability over the previous model's capacitive-touch buttons. Visibility was comparable to other small SUVs, with narrow front roof pillars and a sufficiently large rear window. The center console provided ample storage, with cupholders, a smartphone slot, and a deep armrest bin. Cargo capacity was not finalized, but the new area appeared smaller than the previous generation's 37.6 cubic feet. The Tiguan featured remote seatback releases and a power liftgate, enhancing convenience.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. An eight-speaker stereo was standard, with a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system optional. Jeep Connect offered a Wi-Fi hotspot, Adventure Guides, and GPS Trail Logs. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display, passive entry, and remote engine starting. Rear parking sensors were available in the Active 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 available. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, paired with a wireless phone charger. The infotainment system featured capacitive-touch sliders, but a new volume knob improved usability. The Tiguan introduced Atmospheres, a system combining ambient lighting and audio settings to enhance mood. The standard audio system had seven speakers, with a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system available. VW's Car-Net system included remote monitoring and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler added side curtain airbags for front and rear seats. Advanced driver assistance systems were optional, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available on most trims. Forward collision warning with automatic braking was standard on the Sahara trim. Adaptive cruise control and automatic high-beam headlights were available. The NHTSA gave the Wrangler a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS rated the Wrangler Good for side-impact protection and moderate overlap frontal-impact, but Marginal for small overlap frontal-impact.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan's crash test results were not yet available. Standard safety features included frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and more. The Emergency Assist system slowed the vehicle to a stop if the driver was incapacitated. The SE R-Line added a head-up display, while the SEL R-Line included a surround-view camera system and semi-automated parking. The safety features functioned well, with no false alarms or oversensitivity issues.