2027 Mazda CX-5 vs Volkswagen Tiguan: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Tiguan — it leads our weighted scorecard 4.5–4 across 8 categories, winning on better fuel economy (29 mpg vs 26 mpg best EPA combined) and more available power (268 hp vs 187 hp). Choose the CX-5 if the lower sticker matters most ($29,990 vs $31,205 to start).
Scorecard: CX-5 4 pts · Tiguan 4.5 pts across 8 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2027 CX-5 | 2027 Tiguan | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $29,990 | $31,205 | CX-5 |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | 0.25 | — | No data |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 60.2% | 44.3% | CX-5 |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 26 mpg | 29 mpg | Tiguan |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 187 hp | 268 hp | Tiguan |
| Max towing (1) | 1,500 lb | 1,800 lb | Tiguan |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | 33.7 cu ft | — | No data |
| Standard seats (1) | 5 | 5 | Tie |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | 5.5% off MSRP | 7.1% off MSRP | Tiguan |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 0 | 5 | CX-5 |
| Weighted points | 4 | 4.5 | Tiguan |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the Tiguan — 29 mpg vs 26 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: it's a wash — CX-5 5 vs Tiguan 5 (standard seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the CX-5 — $29,990 vs $31,205 (starting MSRP). Used, the median asking price is $24,518 for the CX-5 vs $23,211 for the Tiguan.
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: the CX-5 — 60.2% vs 44.3% (5-year value retained).
- Towing. Towing: the Tiguan — 1,800 lb vs 1,500 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The CX-5 starts at $29,990 and tops out at $39,440; the Tiguan runs $31,205 to $43,085 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified CX-5 buyers paid a median 5.5% off MSRP across 41 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 8.3% off. Verified Tiguan buyers paid a median 7.1% off MSRP across 52 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 9.3% off. Used, the median asking price is $24,518 for the CX-5 and $23,211 for the Tiguan (all model years, US dealer listings).
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- CX-5: 0.25 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 87th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Tiguan: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: CX-5 0, Tiguan 5.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: CX-5 2016 (avoid).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2027 CX-5 | 2027 Tiguan | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $29,990 | $31,205 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $39,440 | $43,085 |
| Horsepower | 187 hp | 201–268 hp |
| Max torque | 186 lb-ft | 258 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 26 mpg | 25–29 mpg |
| Max towing | 1,500 lb | 1,800 lb |
| Max payload | — | 1,003 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | 5 / 5 | 5 / 5 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 33.7 cu ft | — |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) CX-5 lists for a median $22,187 — 60.2% of today's median new price of $36,851. A 5-year-old (2021) Tiguan lists for a median $17,495 — 44.3% of today's median new price of $39,534.
Shop both
- See new 2027 Mazda CX-5s for sale →
- See 2,878 new 2027 Volkswagen Tiguans for sale →Median listed price $40,587 · updated Nov 7, 2026
Negotiating either one?
CarWhere PRO ($12.99/mo) shows the 75th-percentile target price for your exact trim and zip, comparable nearby deals, and an AI quote analyzer. See PRO → · Checking a specific used one? The $9.99 Full VIN Report covers the federal record + original window sticker.
More on the Mazda CX-5
More on the Volkswagen Tiguan
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the CX-5 better than the Tiguan?
On our data, no — the Tiguan comes out ahead. Our pick: the Tiguan — it leads our weighted scorecard 4.5–4 across 8 categories, winning on better fuel economy (29 mpg vs 26 mpg best EPA combined) and more available power (268 hp vs 187 hp). Choose the CX-5 if the lower sticker matters most ($29,990 vs $31,205 to start).
Which is more reliable, the CX-5 or the Tiguan?
We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 CX-5 and 5 for the Tiguan.
Which holds its value better, the CX-5 or the Tiguan?
The CX-5: a 5-year-old example lists for 60.2% of the new price, versus 44.3% for the Tiguan, based on median used asking prices against today's median new price.
Which is cheaper, the CX-5 or the Tiguan?
The CX-5 starts lower: $29,990 vs $31,205 starting MSRP (before destination). Verified buyers paid a median 5.5% off MSRP on the CX-5 (41 deals) and 7.1% on the Tiguan (52 deals).
Which has better gas mileage, the CX-5 or the Tiguan?
The Tiguan: up to 29 mpg combined vs 26 mpg for the CX-5 (best EPA rating across each lineup).
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2027 Mazda CX-5 vs Volkswagen Tiguan: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/mazda-cx-5-vs-volkswagen-tiguan, updated November 8, 2026.