2024 Land Rover Defender vs 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2024 Land Rover Defender presented a unique blend of classic and modern design elements. Its boxy profile was reminiscent of older models, yet it incorporated contemporary features like angular headlights that aligned it with the current Land Rover lineup. Inside, the Defender diverged from its siblings, offering a more rugged and adventure-ready feel, akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but with superior soft-touch materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each with various trims. Our test drive of the Defender 110 S, equipped with the County visual package, highlighted its retro appeal with white wheels and vintage graphics, while still offering modern styling options for those who preferred a contemporary look.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan underwent a complete redesign, marking the beginning of its third generation. It shed much of its conventional compact SUV styling in favor of a sleek, modern aesthetic inspired by VW's electric vehicles. This transformation was most evident in the front, where narrower headlights and a plastic trim element drew inspiration from the ID.4 EV. The grille appeared larger, with smaller actual openings, and the rear featured a sportier tapering hatch. The interior was modernized with a minimalist dashboard, a digital instrument panel, and a tablet-like infotainment display. The gear selector was moved to the steering column, creating more storage space. While materials quality was average for its class, the Tiguan's interior improvements, such as the elimination of capacitive-touch buttons, enhanced its overall appeal.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine options, the P500 and P525, provided 493 hp and 450 lb-ft, and 518 hp and 461 lb-ft, respectively. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender's towing capacity varied, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder powertrains capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds, while the four-cylinder version could tow up to 5,500 pounds. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system, making it a formidable off-road vehicle.

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 on all models. The Tiguan's acceleration was expected to be similar to its predecessor, reaching 60 mph in approximately 8.5 seconds. The drivetrain delivered power smoothly and linearly, with improved braking and a suspension tuned for comfort. The Tiguan's cabin was quiet, and it handled corners with minimal body roll. While not sporty, the Tiguan was well-suited for its target audience, with a more powerful Turbo version and a hybrid powertrain on the horizon.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender struck a balance between luxury and functionality, featuring soft-touch materials, grip handles, rubberized floors, and ample cargo compartments. Seating capacity varied from five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration. The Defender 110 offered an optional third row, while the Defender 130 provided three seats in the third row, though space was limited. Cargo capacity varied by model, with the Defender 130 offering up to 76.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110 provided 78.8 cubic feet in the two-row version, while the two-door Defender 90 offered up to 58.3 cubic feet. The cargo area featured practical hard plastic surfaces, making it easy to clean.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan returned without a third row, resulting in increased second-row legroom by 1.5 inches. The interior improvements included the removal of capacitive-touch buttons, replaced by traditional controls on the steering wheel. The center console offered more storage, with cupholders, a smartphone slot, and a deep armrest bin. Cargo capacity was not finalized, but the new Tiguan's cargo area appeared smaller than its predecessor. The angled liftgate hatch limited loading of bulkier items, but remote seatback releases and a power liftgate added convenience.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen. While smaller than some competitors, the touchscreen was simple and aligned with the Defender's utilitarian persona. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup provided a blend of refinement and utility, with home buttons for easy navigation.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard with a digital instrument panel and a 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen, with an optional 15-inch display on the top trim. Standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a wireless phone charger, enhanced connectivity. Capacitive-touch sliders adorned the infotainment screen frame, but a new volume knob improved usability. The Tiguan introduced the Atmospheres feature, 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 on the top trim.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender included a comprehensive list of standard driver assistance features, such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Other safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist features were noted to be overly sensitive, but they could be deactivated.

The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan's standard safety features included frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, safe passenger exit warnings, parking proximity sensors, automatic high beams, and a driver condition monitor. The Emergency Assist system and post-collision braking added further safety measures. Higher trims offered additional features like a head-up display, surround-view camera system, traffic sign reader, and semi-automated parking system. The safety and driver assist features functioned effectively, with no false alarms or over sensitivity issues.