Volkswagen Tiguan vs Audi Q3

Redesigned for the 2025 model year, the current third-generation Volkswagen Tiguan gives shoppers an attractive compact crossover with modern styling and a comfortable interior. While it made Volkswagen competitive, there was little about the new Tiguan that helped it stand out in an incredibly crowded market. That changes for 2026 with the introduction of a more powerful SEL R-Line Turbo trim level. The new turbo Tiguan delivers outstanding performance, and its top-shelf interior will help shoppers feel like they’re driving something truly special.

Verdict: With regards to performance, tech, and interior luxury, the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan’s SEL R-Line Turbo trim level is outstanding. Lower-tier trim levels lose the luster, though, and that puts the 2026 Tiguan in a curious position. Shoppers ready to spend $45,000 on a compact crossover will love the Tiguan; those shopping at the less expensive trim levels may prefer the competition, particularly if fuel-economy is a priority.

The 2021 Audi Q3 is a subcompact luxury SUV. Small crossovers and SUVs are seemingly taking over the automotive world, and even among this extremely crowded field, the Q3 is a standout. Despite having “SUV” in the name, the expectation with these vehicles is that they drive as comfortably and are as efficiently as a sedan. The Q3 delivers on this with a refined ride and standard driver assistance features, as well as helpful-in car tech.

The Q3 first entered the North American market for the 2013 model year. The redesigned second-generation model arrived for 2019 and is still on sale today. For the 2021 model year, the Q3 gains additional high tech safety features and loses its top-tier Prestige trim. You can now get the features from this trim as options packages.