2019 Toyota RAV4 vs 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan

2019 Toyota RAV4
2019 Toyota RAV4
$25,650MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan
$24,945MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2019 Toyota RAV4
$25,650MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan
$24,945MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP

$25,650

MSRP

$24,945

Listings

1483

Listings

907

Ratings & Reviews

User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

8.0 out of 10

Expert reviews

7.7 out of 10

Pros

  • Standard advanced safety features

  • Stylish design

Cons

  • Fairly pedestrian performance

  • Poor handling

Pros

  • Spacious

  • Easy-to-use technology

Cons

  • Poor handling

2019 Toyota RAV4 Reviews Summary

There’s a reason small SUVs like the 2019 Toyota RAV4 are among the most popular vehicles on the new car market. Consider the RAV4 and its rivals, the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, and Ford Escape—what do they have in common? To put it simply, these vehicles are asked to do it all. Daily commuter car? Check. Family-hauler to school, practice, and the mall? Check, check, and check. Road-trip vehicle? Yeah, that too. On top of it all, these vehicles have to be affordable, efficient, and reliable. Sales of traditional sedans have been dwindling, but if sedans could do as much as crossovers can, they would still be popular vehicles.

The RAV4 is one of the oldest vehicles in the segment, and its story tells us how these small SUVs became so popular. The previous RAV4 was an extremely competent vehicle for Toyota, covering all the things we ask of compact SUVs. But the new 2020 RAV4 goes a few steps further. It has standout Tonka-truck styling, a surprisingly upscale interior, and something that it had lost since debuting more than two decades ago: a bit of off-road ability. We’ll see whether this makes it better than the RAV4 it replaces, and if it allows the 2020 RAV4 to stand out in a crowded small SUV market.

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan Reviews Summary

The Volkswagen Tiguan is one of only two compact crossover SUV’s that currently offer third-row seating. (And the other is the hopelessly outdated Mitsubishi Outlander.) To fit the extra pair of surprisingly spacious seats, VW made the Tiguan much larger than average for its competitive set—which suits a vehicle that fills big shoes in VW dealerships. With five trim levels and prices that stretch from just under $26,000 to a bit over $40,000, the Tiguan is the German brand’s best-selling vehicle in the U.S.
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine

2.5L 203 hp I4

Engine

2.0L 184 hp I4

Drive Train

FWD

Drive Train

FWD

Seating Capacity

5

Seating Capacity

7

Horsepower

203 hp @ 6000 rpm

Horsepower

184 hp @ 4400 rpm

MPG City

26

MPG City

22

MPG Highway

35

MPG Highway

29
2019 Toyota RAV4
2019 Toyota RAV4
$25,650MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan
$24,945MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2019 Toyota RAV4
$25,650MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Volkswagen Tiguan
$24,945MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP
$25,650
$24,945
Listings

Ratings & Reviews

User reviews

4.3

4.6

Expert reviews

8.0 out of 10

Read full review

7.7 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons

Pros

  • Standard advanced safety features

  • Stylish design

Cons

  • Fairly pedestrian performance

  • Poor handling

Pros

  • Spacious

  • Easy-to-use technology

Cons

  • Poor handling

Summary

There’s a reason small SUVs like the 2019 Toyota RAV4 are among the most popular vehicles on the new car market. Consider the RAV4 and its rivals, the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, and Ford Escape—what do they have in common? To put it simply, these vehicles are asked to do it all. Daily commuter car? Check. Family-hauler to school, practice, and the mall? Check, check, and check. Road-trip vehicle? Yeah, that too. On top of it all, these vehicles have to be affordable, efficient, and reliable. Sales of traditional sedans have been dwindling, but if sedans could do as much as crossovers can, they would still be popular vehicles.

The RAV4 is one of the oldest vehicles in the segment, and its story tells us how these small SUVs became so popular. The previous RAV4 was an extremely competent vehicle for Toyota, covering all the things we ask of compact SUVs. But the new 2020 RAV4 goes a few steps further. It has standout Tonka-truck styling, a surprisingly upscale interior, and something that it had lost since debuting more than two decades ago: a bit of off-road ability. We’ll see whether this makes it better than the RAV4 it replaces, and if it allows the 2020 RAV4 to stand out in a crowded small SUV market.

The Volkswagen Tiguan is one of only two compact crossover SUV’s that currently offer third-row seating. (And the other is the hopelessly outdated Mitsubishi Outlander.) To fit the extra pair of surprisingly spacious seats, VW made the Tiguan much larger than average for its competitive set—which suits a vehicle that fills big shoes in VW dealerships. With five trim levels and prices that stretch from just under $26,000 to a bit over $40,000, the Tiguan is the German brand’s best-selling vehicle in the U.S.
Video
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine
2.5L 203 hp I4
2.0L 184 hp I4
Drive Train
FWD
FWD
Seating Capacity
5
7
Horsepower
203 hp @ 6000 rpm
184 hp @ 4400 rpm
MPG City
26
22
MPG Highway
35
29
Look and feel

2019 Toyota RAV4

9/10

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan

8/10
CarGurus experts rate the 2019 Toyota RAV4 as 9 out of 10 and the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan as 8 out of 10. The 2019 Toyota RAV4 boasts a big, chunky design with sharp edges, inspired by the Toyota Tacoma pickup, conveying strength and a futuristic look. The cabin is simple and elegant, featuring a floating touch screen and a practical layout. The RAV4 offers various trims, each with distinct design elements and features. On the other hand, the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan features clean and simple lines with a horizontal grille and a conservative German design. The interior, while plain, offers a practical and spacious layout.
Picture of 2019 Toyota RAV4
Picture of 2019 Toyota RAV4
Picture of 2019 Toyota RAV4
Picture of 2019 Toyota RAV4
Picture of 2019 Toyota RAV4
Picture of 2019 Toyota RAV4
Picture of 2019 Toyota RAV4
Picture of 2019 Toyota RAV4
Picture of 2019 Toyota RAV4
Performance

2019 Toyota RAV4

6/10

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan

7/10
CarGurus experts rate the 2019 Toyota RAV4 6 out of 10 and the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan 7 out of 10. The 2019 Toyota RAV4 is equipped with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, delivering 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It offers both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options, with the latter featuring advanced torque-vectoring technology. The Tiguan is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. It offers a comfortable ride but may feel less nimble due to its larger size.
Form and function

2019 Toyota RAV4

8/10

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan

9/10
CarGurus experts rate the 2019 Toyota RAV4 8 out of 10 and the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan 9 out of 10. The RAV4's cabin offers a clean, upscale look with practical features, including ample cargo space and spacious seating. The Tiguan's second row of seats is adjustable, making the third row useful, and it offers a spacious and roomy feel, akin to midsize SUVs.
Technology

2019 Toyota RAV4

8/10

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan

9/10
CarGurus experts rate the 2019 Toyota RAV4 8 out of 10 and the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan 9 out of 10. The RAV4 features Toyota’s Entune 3 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, while the Tiguan offers the MIB II infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen and advanced connectivity features.
Safety

2019 Toyota RAV4

9/10

2020 Volkswagen Tiguan

6/10
CarGurus experts rate the 2019 Toyota RAV4 9 out of 10 and the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan 6 out of 10. The RAV4 comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety technologies. The Tiguan has improved its standard safety features for the 2020 model year, adding forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and blind spot monitoring to all models.

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for 2019 Toyota RAV4 is 8.0 out of 10, while the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan scores 7.7 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the 2019 Toyota RAV4 emerges as the more highly rated choice, offering a compelling combination of off-road capability, practicality, and safety features. Therefore, the 2019 Toyota RAV4 is the recommended choice for consumers seeking a well-rounded and capable compact SUV.

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for 2019 Toyota RAV4 is 8.0 out of 10, while the 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan scores 7.7 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the 2019 Toyota RAV4 emerges as the more highly rated choice, offering a compelling combination of off-road capability, practicality, and safety features. Therefore, the 2019 Toyota RAV4 is the recommended choice for consumers seeking a well-rounded and capable compact SUV.

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By: CarGurus + AI

At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.

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