Volkswagen Tiguan vs Subaru Forester

The Volkswagen Tiguan starts from $44,990 before on-road costs, while the Subaru Forester opens at $45,990. That makes the Volkswagen Tiguan the more affordable entry point by $1,000.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $49,489 and $50,589 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

Both the Volkswagen Tiguan and Subaru Forester hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 83% for the Volkswagen Tiguan and 83% for the Subaru Forester.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. We can confirm 8 of 10 key ADAS systems on the Volkswagen Tiguan, against 4 on the Subaru Forester.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 9 in the Volkswagen Tiguan and 9 in the Subaru Forester.

The Volkswagen Tiguan features a 12.9-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Subaru Forester gets a 11.6-inch display and 4.2-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Volkswagen Tiguan stands out with wireless charging and power tailgate — features our data doesn't list for the Subaru Forester. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The Volkswagen Tiguan uses a 1.4 litre TSI producing 110kW and 250Nm of torque, sent through a 7-speed dsg to a FWD layout.

The Subaru Forester responds with a Petrol making 136kW and 247Nm, paired to a cvt driving all four wheels.

The Subaru Forester has the clear power advantage at 136kW vs 110kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Volkswagen Tiguan measures 4,539mm long on a 2,681mm wheelbase, 116mm shorter than the Subaru Forester at 4,655mm (2,670mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Volkswagen Tiguan generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 652L in the Volkswagen Tiguan and 496L in the Subaru Forester, giving the Volkswagen Tiguan a 156L advantage. Fold the rears and you get 1650L vs 1174L.

For towing, the Subaru Forester leads with a 1,800kg braked capacity vs 1,800kg. That 0kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,166/year for the Volkswagen Tiguan and $2,252/year for the Subaru Forester. That is a $86 annual difference in favour of the Volkswagen Tiguan.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Volkswagen Tiguan) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Subaru Forester). Both match on warranty length.