Toyota Grand Highlander vs Volkswagen Tiguan: Specs Compared
Also searched as Volkswagen Tiguan vs Toyota Grand Highlander specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Toyota Grand Highlander is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 36 mpg combined versus 29 mpg for the Volkswagen Tiguan, a 7 mpg advantage and costs about $400 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Toyota Grand Highlander leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2024–2026
Toyota Grand Highlander
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 22 configurations
2015–2027
Volkswagen Tiguan
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 35 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Toyota Grand Highlander | Volkswagen Tiguan |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 36 mpg ✓ | 29 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 37 mpg ✓ | 26 mpg |
| Best highway MPG | 34 mpg | 34 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $1,700 ✓ | $2,100 |
| Lowest CO2 output | 246 g/mi ✓ | 307 g/mi |
| Engines offered | SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; Hybrid | SIDI |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S8), Automatic (S6), Automatic (AV-S6) | Automatic (S8), Automatic (S6) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular | Regular, Premium |
| EPA class | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2024–2026 | 2015–2027 |
| Configurations on record | 22 | 35 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Toyota Grand Highlander vs Volkswagen Tiguan dimensions and size
The Toyota Grand Highlander is 16.9 inches longer than the Volkswagen Tiguan on a wheelbase 6.3 inches longer, and 654.8 lbs heavier. At over 200 inches, the larger of the two is past the comfortable limit of a standard 192-inch single garage bay once you allow walking room.
| Dimension | Toyota Grand Highlander (2026) | Volkswagen Tiguan (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 201.2 in | 184.3 in | 16.9 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 78.3 in | 72.8 in | 5.5 in |
| Height | 70.1 in | 66.5 in | 3.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 116.1 in | 109.8 in | 6.3 in |
| Curb weight | 4,464 lbs | 3,810 lbs | 655 lbs |
Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.
Toyota Grand Highlander vs Volkswagen Tiguan: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Toyota Grand Highlander burns about $1,700 of fuel annually against $2,100 for the Volkswagen Tiguan. That $400 yearly gap compounds to roughly $2,000 over five years and $3,200 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City versus highway split: the Toyota Grand Highlander is the stronger commuter at 37 mpg city, while the Volkswagen Tiguan pulls ahead on the interstate at 34 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.
Powertrain choice: the Toyota Grand Highlander is recorded with 2 distinct engine configurations (SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; Hybrid), the Volkswagen Tiguan with 1 (SIDI). Across 22 recorded Toyota Grand Highlander configurations and 35 for the Volkswagen Tiguan, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.
Drivetrain and class: the Toyota Grand Highlander is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, the Volkswagen Tiguan with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Toyota Grand Highlander emits 246 g/mile of CO2 versus 307 g/mile for the Volkswagen Tiguan. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
Grand Highlander vs Tiguan: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Toyota Grand Highlander or the Volkswagen Tiguan?
The Toyota Grand Highlander is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 36 mpg combined versus 29 mpg for the Volkswagen Tiguan, a 7 mpg advantage and costs about $400 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Toyota Grand Highlander runs about $1,700 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $2,100 for the Volkswagen Tiguan — a difference of roughly $400 per year.
What engines do the Grand Highlander and Tiguan offer?
Toyota Grand Highlander: SIDI & PFI, SIDI & PFI; Hybrid. Volkswagen Tiguan: SIDI.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Toyota Grand Highlander as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and the Volkswagen Tiguan as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More Grand Highlander comparisons
More Tiguan comparisons
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