2024 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan presented itself as a visually appealing compact SUV, exuding a premium aura that set it apart from its non-European competitors. Its design elements, such as standard LED headlights and taillights, along with an illuminated grille light line on the SEL R-Line trim, contributed to its sophisticated appearance. The exterior was further enhanced by silver roof rails on the SEL R-Line, while the rear end showcased the model name in a stylish all-caps format alongside the classic Volkswagen badge. However, the color options were somewhat limited, with the base Tiguan S only available in grayscale, and specific color combinations restricted by trim levels.

Inside, the Tiguan offered a range of features across its trims, starting with heated front seats and cloth upholstery in the base model. As one moved up the trim ladder, additional amenities such as leatherette upholstery, dual-zone climate control, and a power tailgate became available. The SEL R-Line trim boasted real leather, front-seat ventilation, a heated steering wheel, and three-position driver’s seat memory, providing a more luxurious experience. Despite these offerings, the configurator on Volkswagen’s website could become complex when trying to match specific interior and exterior color combinations.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender, on the other hand, showcased a rugged yet customizable design, with the Defender 110 four-door model striking a balance between the stubby Defender 90 and the visually heavy Defender 130. The Defender lineup offered a wide range of customization options, allowing buyers to tailor their vehicles to their preferences. The base prices varied significantly, starting at $58,525 for a Defender 90 and reaching $120,525 for a Defender 130 V8, with the new Defender OCTA priced at $153,625.

Our test vehicle, a Defender 130 in X trim, featured the Extended Black Exterior Pack, upgraded interior materials, and comprehensive off-roading technology. The vehicle's appearance was characterized by Gondwana Stone paint, though the color choice clashed with the orange brake calipers and delicate-looking twin-spoke wheels. Inside, the Defender X offered premium Windsor hides with Kvadrat fabric, illuminated door-sill treadplates, and metal pedal covers. The interior maintained an industrial theme, emphasizing quality materials and a purposeful design rather than traditional luxury.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, offering a more traditional driving experience compared to the prevalent continuously variable transmissions (CVTs). Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, while Volkswagen's 4Motion all-wheel drive (AWD) was available for an additional $1,500 on lower trims and standard on the top trim. Opting for AWD also increased the fuel tank capacity slightly to accommodate the system's impact on fuel economy. The AWD Tiguan's fuel efficiency was rated at 25 mpg combined for the base model, with R-Line AWD trims achieving 24 mpg combined.

During our test drive of the Tiguan SEL R-Line, we experienced mixed performance results. Power delivery was inconsistent, with noticeable turbo and transmission lag during acceleration. The gas pedal felt overly sensitive, even in Eco mode, while the brake pedal had excessive travel, leading to a mismatch with the accelerator. Steering was light and somewhat rubbery, though visibility and handling were commendable, making the vehicle feel more maneuverable than expected. Road noise was minimal, and the ride was comfortable, though the seating surfaces drew some complaints from passengers.

In contrast, the 2025 Land Rover Defender offered a robust performance with its turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a mild-hybrid system and an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing smooth acceleration and a maximum tow rating of 8,200 pounds. The Defender 130 X accelerated to 60 mph in a claimed 6.3 seconds. The vehicle featured an adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes, enhancing its off-road capabilities.

During our test drive, the Defender 130 demonstrated impressive off-road prowess, effortlessly tackling rutted trails. However, on pavement, the vehicle's 20-inch wheels and substantial curb weight affected its handling, making it less suited for spirited driving on twisty roads. The adaptive air suspension provided a comfortable ride, absorbing bumps and imperfections with ease. Despite its boxy shape, the Defender 130 cruised smoothly on the highway, though wind noise was noticeable. Fuel economy was lower than expected, with an observed 16.2 mpg compared to the estimated 19 mpg.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a versatile interior layout, with seating configurations varying based on drivetrain. FWD models could accommodate seven passengers, while AWD models, including the top-trim SEL R-Line, were limited to five seats. The two-row Tiguan provided ample cargo space, with 37.6 cubic feet available with all seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. In the three-row configuration, cargo space was reduced to 12 cubic feet behind the third row, 33 cubic feet with it folded, and 65.3 cubic feet with only the front seats in use.

Passenger space remained relatively unaffected by the third-row option, with the driver and front passenger enjoying up to 39.6 inches of headroom and 40.2 inches of legroom. The second row offered 38.7 inches of legroom, which decreased to 36.6 inches in the three-row model. The third row, however, was notably tighter, with 33.8 inches of headroom and 27.9 inches of legroom, making it less suitable for adults. Despite these limitations, the Tiguan remained one of the few compact crossovers in its class to offer a third-row option.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 provided a spacious and comfortable interior, with three rows of seating on elevated thrones. The front seats offered 12-way power adjustability, heating, and ventilation, ensuring a comfortable driving experience. The Defender's tall seating position provided excellent forward visibility, though the square side mirrors seemed undersized. The rearview visibility was limited, but the high-resolution reversing camera and parking sensors compensated for this drawback.

The Defender 130 featured a panoramic sunroof over the first two rows and a fixed glass panel over the third row, creating an open and airy atmosphere. Storage space was plentiful in the front, with a useful shelf running the width of the dashboard. However, the vehicle was less accommodating for passengers' belongings in the rear. The second-row captain's chairs, new for 2025, offered heating, ventilation, and adjustable armrests for added comfort. The third-row seat was heated, roomy, and supportive, providing a comfortable experience for adults.

At the rear, the Defender 130 featured a side-hinged cargo door, which could be cumbersome in certain situations. The load floor was high, but a button in the cargo area allowed for lowering the air suspension to facilitate loading. Cargo space behind the third row was limited to 15.3 cubic feet, but folding the third row expanded it to 43.7 cubic feet. With all rear seats folded, the maximum cargo volume reached 89 cubic feet.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan featured a range of technology options, starting with the much-discussed haptic touch slider buttons for climate control. While these controls were responsive and easy to use, the physical volume knob integrated with the on/off button proved to be a source of frustration. The infotainment system relied on nearly monochromatic graphics, accessed through an 8-inch center touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base Tiguan S had a smaller 6.5-inch touchscreen and fewer USB-C ports, while higher trims offered wireless charging and additional ports.

Volkswagen's Digital Cockpit System was standard across all trims, providing a digital instrument display. The SEL R-Line trim featured the fully configurable 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro screen, offering up to four views. The nine-speaker Fender Premium Audio System, available on the top trim, received positive feedback from our audiophile passenger.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was equipped with the Pivi Pro infotainment system, accessible via an 11.4-inch touchscreen. The system offered wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and connected services. In previous experiences, Pivi Pro had been criticized for its slow response and convoluted interface, but this time it performed admirably.

Voice command accuracy was impressive, though response times could be improved. The system successfully identified nearby hospitals without including unrelated facilities. The user experience was more intuitive, with fewer dead ends, and programming favorite radio stations was straightforward. The Defender's Meridian premium sound system also impressed.

Additional features included a head-up display, a ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system with a 3D view setting. These technologies enhanced the driving experience, compensating for the vehicle's limited rearward visibility. The optional Towing Pack added a hands-free trailer reverse-steering system, further enhancing the Defender's capabilities.

The 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan earned a 2022 Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), reflecting its strong safety credentials. For 2024, Volkswagen's IQ.DRIVE suite of driver-assistance features became standard, including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capabilities, active blind-spot monitoring with steering intervention, Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. These features provided semi-autonomous highway driving, unresponsive driver detection, and automated parking assistance.

Additional safety features included rain-sensing wipers, rear cross-traffic alert, an automatic post-collision braking system, and forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking. Park Distance Control became standard at the SE R-Line Black trim level, though its Maneuver Braking feature was found to be intrusive.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver aids, including automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. A lane-centering assist feature was available when using adaptive cruise control.

The Defender's driver assistance systems operated smoothly, though the lane-keep assist occasionally attempted to steer the vehicle into a turnout area. The adaptive cruise control responded quickly to changes in traffic, though it struggled slightly in heavy traffic situations. Crash-test ratings for the Defender were unavailable at the time of writing, as low-volume models like this one are typically not tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the IIHS.