2027 Volkswagen Tiguan vs Honda CR-V: 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 3–3 across 8 categories, winning on more available power (268 hp vs 204 hp) and more towing capacity (1,800 lb vs 1,500 lb). Choose the CR-V if you'll sell in about five years (66.3% vs 44.3% of value retained).

Scorecard: Tiguan 3 pts · CR-V 3 pts across 8 scored categories.

The scorecard

Tiguan vs CR-V scorecard: each category, both values and the category winner
Category (weight)2027 Tiguan2027 CR-VWinner
Starting MSRP (2)$31,205$31,520Tie
NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2)—0.50No data
5-year value retained (1.5)44.3%66.3%CR-V
Best EPA combined (1.5)29 mpg40 mpgCR-V
Most horsepower available (1)268 hp204 hpTiguan
Max towing (1)1,800 lb1,500 lbTiguan
Cargo behind rear seats (1)—39.3 cu ftNo data
Standard seats (1)55Tie
Median discount verified buyers got (1)7.1% off MSRP5.7% off MSRPTiguan
Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5)54Tie
Weighted points33Tiguan

Which one we'd buy, and for whom

  • Commuter. Commuters: the CR-V — 40 mpg vs 29 mpg (best EPA combined).
  • Family. Families: it's a wash — Tiguan 5 vs CR-V 5 (standard seats).
  • Budget. Tight budgets: it's a wash — Tiguan $31,205 vs CR-V $31,520 (starting MSRP). Used, the median asking price is $23,211 for the Tiguan vs $24,633 for the CR-V.
  • Resale. Resale-minded buyers: the CR-V — 66.3% 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 Tiguan starts at $31,205 and tops out at $43,085; the CR-V runs $31,520 to $42,950 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified Tiguan buyers paid a median 7.1% off MSRP across 52 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 9.3% off. Verified CR-V buyers paid a median 5.7% off MSRP across 49 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 6.7% off. Used, the median asking price is $23,211 for the Tiguan and $24,633 for the CR-V (all model years, US dealer listings).

Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls

  • Tiguan: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
  • CR-V: 0.50 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 63th percentile among the SUVs we track).
  • Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: Tiguan 5, CR-V 4.

Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: CR-V 2016 (solid).

Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.

Specs side by side

Tiguan vs CR-V specifications
2027 Tiguan2027 CR-V
Starting MSRP (base trim)$31,205$31,520
Top-trim MSRP$43,085$42,950
Horsepower201–268 hp190–204 hp
Max torque258 lb-ft179 lb-ft
EPA combined25–29 mpg29–40 mpg (hybrid avail.)
Max towing1,800 lb1,500 lb
Max payload1,003 lb—
Seats (standard / max)5 / 55 / 5
Cargo behind rear seats—39.3 cu ft

Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.

Resale: 5-year value retained

A 5-year-old (2021) Tiguan lists for a median $17,495 — 44.3% of today's median new price of $39,534. A 5-year-old (2021) CR-V lists for a median $24,626 — 66.3% of today's median new price of $37,127.

Shop both

Negotiating either one?

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Related head-to-heads

FAQ

Is the Tiguan better than the CR-V?

On our data, yes. Our pick: the Tiguan — it leads our weighted scorecard 3–3 across 8 categories, winning on more available power (268 hp vs 204 hp) and more towing capacity (1,800 lb vs 1,500 lb). Choose the CR-V if you'll sell in about five years (66.3% vs 44.3% of value retained).

Which is more reliable, the Tiguan or the CR-V?

We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 Tiguan and 4 for the CR-V.

Which holds its value better, the Tiguan or the CR-V?

The CR-V: a 5-year-old example lists for 66.3% 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 Tiguan or the CR-V?

They start within 3% of each other: $31,205 vs $31,520. Verified buyers paid a median 7.1% off MSRP on the Tiguan (52 deals) and 5.7% on the CR-V (49 deals).

Which has better gas mileage, the Tiguan or the CR-V?

The CR-V: up to 40 mpg combined vs 29 mpg for the Tiguan (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 Volkswagen Tiguan vs Honda CR-V: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/volkswagen-tiguan-vs-honda-cr-v, updated November 8, 2026.