2020 Subaru Forester vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

2020 Subaru Forester

2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

#12 in Mid-Size SUVs

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CVT

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Forester CVT	26	33	$23,099	$24,495
Forester Limited CVT	26	33	$29,062	$31,095
Forester Premium CVT	26	33	$25,753	$27,395
Forester Sport CVT	26	33	$27,224	$28,995
Forester Touring CVT	26	33	$32,266	$34,595

Select style

2.0T S 4MOTION

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Tiguan 2.0T S 4MOTION	21	27	$25,482	$26,545
Tiguan 2.0T S FWD	23	29	$24,235	$25,245
Tiguan 2.0T SE 4MOTION	21	27	$27,547	$28,695
Tiguan 2.0T SE FWD	23	29	$26,299	$27,395
Tiguan 2.0T SE R-Line Black 4MOTION	21	27	$30,619	$31,895
Tiguan 2.0T SE R-Line Black FWD	23	29	$29,371	$30,595
Tiguan 2.0T SEL 4MOTION	21	27	$32,492	$33,845
Tiguan 2.0T SEL FWD	23	29	$31,243	$32,545
Tiguan 2.0T SEL Premium R-Line 4MOTION	21	27	$37,531	$39,095

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$23,099

$25,482

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$24,495

$26,545

Monthly Payment Estimate

$408 / month

$442 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

6.8

Read Our Full Review

6.2

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The 2020 Subaru Forester is an incredible value among compact crossovers and a former Best Car To Buy winner.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan compact crossover is spacious and comfortable, and also the league-leader in modesty,

TCC Likes

Remarkable capability
Remarkable value
Remarkable space

Big interior
Smooth ride
Automatic emergency braking standard

TCC Dislikes

Looks haven’t changed much
Not especially powerful
It’s not free...

…and a little boring
Not very fuel-efficient
Small third row

Fuel Economy

City

26 mpg

21 mpg

Highway

33 mpg

27 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Small Sport Utility Vehicles 4WD

Interior Dimensions

Second Shoulder Room (in)

57.2

55.8

Front Leg Room (in)

43.3

40.2

Passenger Volume (ft³)

111.9

101.1

Front Hip Room (in)

54.1

Second Leg Room (in)

39.4

38.7

Front Head Room (in)

41.2

39.6

Passenger Capacity

Second Hip Room (in)

53.6

Front Shoulder Room (in)

58.2

Second Head Room (in)

39.6

38.9

Exterior Dimensions

Height, Overall (in)

67.5

66.3

Track Width, Rear (in)

61.8

Wheelbase (in)

105.1

109.8

Liftover Height (in)

28.4

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

71.5

72.4

Track Width, Front (in)

61.6

62.2

Min Ground Clearance (in)

8.7

7.9

Length, Overall (in)

182.1

185.1

Cargo Area Dimensions

Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 2 (in)

35.7

Cargo Volume to Seat 3 (ft³)

31.1

37.6

Cargo Box Width @ Wheelhousings (in)

43.3

Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 1 (in)

73.1

Cargo Volume to Seat 2 (ft³)

31.1

37.6

Cargo Area Width @ Beltline (in)

51.2

Cargo Box (Area) Height (in)

34.8

Cargo Volume to Seat 1 (ft³)

76.1

73.5

Brakes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

11.2

11.8

Brake Type

4-Wheel Disc

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

11.6

13.4

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

16.6

15.9

Steering

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

35.4

37.7

Steering Type

Rack-Pinion

Tires

Spare Tire Order Code

Rear Tire Size

P225/60HR17

P215/65HR17

Rear Tire Order Code

Front Tire Size

P225/60HR17

P215/65HR17

Spare Tire Size

Compact

Front Tire Order Code

Trailering

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

1500

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

1500

Maximum Trailering Capacity (lbs)

1500

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

150

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

150

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

3449

3847

Wheels

Rear Wheel Size (in)

17 X 7

Front Wheel Material

Steel

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Steel

Front Wheel Size (in)

17 X 7

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Compact

Rear Wheel Material

Steel

Aluminum

Engine

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

176 @ 4400

221 @ 1600

Engine Order Code

Displacement

2.5 L/152

2.0 L/121

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

182 @ 5800

184 @ 4400

Engine Type

Regular Unleaded H-4

Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4

Fuel System

Gasoline Direct Injection

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

Transmission

First Gear Ratio (:1)

3.60 - 0.75

5.59

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

3.70

3.33

Trans Type

Drivetrain

All Wheel

Trans Description Cont. Again

Reverse Ratio (:1)

3.69

3.99

Trans Order Code

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)

0.56

0.81

Trans Description Cont.

CVT w/OD

Automatic w/OD

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

3.14

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.43

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.00

Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.67

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.95

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.21

Summary

Vehicle Name

Subaru Forester

Volkswagen Tiguan

Body Style

Sport Utility

4MOTION

Suspension

Suspension Type - Rear

Double Wishbone

Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

Double Wishbone

Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Front

Strut

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

Strut

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

6.1

7.4

Electrical

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

360

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

2020 Subaru Forester

2020 Forester supplies holding up; 2021s coming soon
No factory rebate, but dealer discounting possible
Lease from $265 for 36 months
0% APR for 63 months continues

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2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

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