Compare the Tesla Model Y vs Volkswagen Tiguan

Not all that posh, but still huge on space
2026
Outstanding EV Award
Highly Commended
Carwow’s own expert rating out of 10 - how our reviewers rate this car overall for value, comfort, kit and driving experience
wowscore
9/10
Supremely practical, and effortlessly posh
Carwow’s own expert rating out of 10 - how our reviewers rate this car overall for value, comfort, kit and driving experience
wowscore
8/10

AI generated from our expert reviews

The Tesla Model Y is longer and more powerful than the Volkswagen Tiguan. Both cars make fitting child seats easy thanks to wide-opening rear doors. When the surface deteriorates, the Tiguan cossets you on bad roads, whereas in the entry-level Model Y, stiff suspension means you get bounced around a lot on a bumpy road. Point either SUV down a twisty road and neither car's steering wheel provides much feedback to let you judge how much grip the front tyres have.

AI results may contain inaccuracies. Please check the details before making any financial decisions.

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

Compare the specs

Showing

Standard Textile Plus Vegan Leather RWD Auto Electric Automatic

Change version

Showing

Life 1.5 eTSI DSG Petrol Automatic

Change version

Standard kit

  • Climate control
    Automatically keeps the cabin at a set temperature, rather than a manual heater dial.
  • Cruise control
    Holds a steady speed on the motorway without keeping your foot on the accelerator.
  • Heated seats
    Warms the seat itself on cold mornings.
  • Leather seats
    Leather (or leather-look) seat upholstery instead of cloth.
  • Navigation
    Built-in sat nav on the car's own screen, no phone needed.
  • Parking Camera
    A rear (sometimes 360°) camera that shows what's behind you while parking.
  • Touchscreen infotainment
    A touch-operated screen for media, settings and (often) navigation.
  • Android Auto
    Mirrors your Android phone's apps, like maps, music and messages, onto the car's touchscreen.
  • Apple CarPlay
    Mirrors your iPhone's apps, like maps, music and messages, onto the car's touchscreen.
  • Climate control
    Automatically keeps the cabin at a set temperature, rather than a manual heater dial.
  • Cruise control
    Holds a steady speed on the motorway without keeping your foot on the accelerator.
  • Navigation
    Built-in sat nav on the car's own screen, no phone needed.
  • Parking Camera
    A rear (sometimes 360°) camera that shows what's behind you while parking.
  • Parking Sensors
    Beeps that get faster as you get closer to something while parking.

Key information

Body type SUVs, Hatchbacks Body type SUVs
Available fuel types Electric Available fuel types Petrol
Number of seats 5 Number of seats 5
Boot space, seats up — Boot space, seats up 652 litres (5+ suitcases)
Boot space, seats down 2,118 litres Boot space, seats down —
External dimensions (L x W x H) 4,797 mm x 1,982 mm x 1,624 mm External dimensions (L x W x H) 4,539 mm x 1,859 mm x 1,660 mm
Towing capacity 1,600 kg Towing capacity 1,600 kg
First year tax rate £10 Best First year tax rate £560
Efficiency
Efficiency refers to how far an electric car travels on a given amount of energy, based on official tests. It is measured in miles per kilowatt-hour (mi/kWh).
4.4 miles / kWh
Efficiency
Efficiency refers to how far an electric car travels on a given amount of energy, based on official tests. It is measured in miles per kilowatt-hour (mi/kWh).
—
Fuel economy
This measures how much fuel a car uses, according to official tests. It's measured in miles per gallon (MPG) and a higher number means the car is more fuel efficient.
—
Fuel economy
This measures how much fuel a car uses, according to official tests. It's measured in miles per gallon (MPG) and a higher number means the car is more fuel efficient.
47.9 mpg
Battery range
This refers to how many miles an electric car can complete on a fully charged battery, according to official tests.
309 miles
Battery range
This refers to how many miles an electric car can complete on a fully charged battery, according to official tests.
—
Battery size 63 kWh Battery size —
Drive type Rear wheel drive Drive type Front wheel drive
Insurance
The insurance group the car sits in, from 1 to 50. The lower the group, the cheaper it usually is to insure.
Group 34 · high
Insurance
The insurance group the car sits in, from 1 to 50. The lower the group, the cheaper it usually is to insure.
Group 18 · good Best
View full specs Hide full specs

Drivetrain & power

Engine name RWD Auto Engine name 1.5 eTSI DSG
Engine size Electric • 299 BHP Engine size 1.5 L Petrol • 130 BHP
Body type SUVs, Hatchbacks Body type SUVs
Fuel type Electric Fuel type Petrol
Transmission Automatic Transmission Automatic
Drive type Rear wheel drive Drive type Front wheel drive
Forward gears 1 Forward gears 7
Acceleration 7.2 s (0-60 mph) Best Acceleration 10.2 s (0-60 mph)
Battery size 63 kWh Battery size —
Battery range
This refers to how many miles an electric car can complete on a fully charged battery, according to official tests.
309 miles
Battery range
This refers to how many miles an electric car can complete on a fully charged battery, according to official tests.
—

Dimensions & space

Number of seats 5 Number of seats 5
Number of doors 5 Number of doors 5
Boot (seats up) — Boot (seats up) 652 litres
Boot (seats down) 2,118 litres Boot (seats down) —
Length 4,797 mm Length 4,539 mm
Width 1,982 mm Width 1,859 mm
Height 1,624 mm Height 1,660 mm
Wheelbase 2.89 m Wheelbase 2.68 m
Turning circle 12.13 m Turning circle 11.7 m

Full features list

  • Metallic paint
  • Solid paint
  • Special metallic paint
  • Textile/vegan leather - Black/Black interior
  • 3 point front seatbelts with pre-tensioners
  • 3x3 point rear seatbelts
  • Anti lock brake system + traction control
  • Automatic emergency braking system
  • Driver/Front Passenger airbags
  • Electronic Brakeforce Distribution + Brake Assist
  • Electronic parking brake
  • Electronic stability control
  • Rear door child safety locks
  • Side curtain airbags
  • Tyre pressure monitoring system
  • Anti theft alarm
  • Dashcam and sentry mode
  • Keyless driving and keyless entry
  • 12 way power adjustable front seats with driver lumbar support
  • 2 fixed rear headrests
  • 3 seat bench in 2nd row
  • Aluminum detailing and premium textiles
  • Automatic dual-zone climate control system
  • Driver and front passenger sunvisors with illuminated vanity mirrors
  • First row: power recline and heated seats
  • Footwell and door pocket ambient lighting
  • Front head restraints
  • Glovebox, lockable with illumination
  • Heated steering wheel
  • Interior ambient lighting
  • Manual adjust steering wheel
  • Manual fold flat seat release 40/20/40
  • Map and reading lights
  • Open center console
  • Particulate and odour filter
  • Rear centre armrest with 2 cup holders
  • Second row: manual folding seats
  • Single front passenger seat
  • Textile/vegan leather upholstery
  • Type 2 cable
  • Ultraviolet and infrared protection on all glass
  • 8 exterior cameras
  • Acoustic seat-belt warning
  • Automatic easy-entry and exit
  • Autopilot
  • Blind spot Collision Warning (BCW)
  • Blind spot monitoring
  • Bluetooth hands free phone with voice control system
  • Custom driver profiles
  • Dual wireless phone charger
  • Electric assisted front and rear doors
  • Emergency call service
  • Forward collision warning
  • Lane departure avoidance
  • Mobile App interface
  • Navigation system
  • New front-facing camera
  • Power assist steering
  • Power lift tailgate
  • Reversing camera
  • Software updates over WiFi
  • Speed limit recognition
  • Traffic-aware cruise control
  • Auto headlights
  • Auto high beam
  • Automatic headlights and wipers
  • Daytime running lights
  • Electric windows with one touch open
  • Fixed closed glass roof with interior headlining
  • Hands-free power trunk opening on approach.
  • Heated windshield
  • LED 3rd brake light
  • LED Headlights
  • LED fog lights
  • LED tail lights
  • Multi coat paint
  • Power folding side view mirrors
  • Rain sensitive windscreen wipers
  • Rear side wing doors
  • Rear view mirror auto dimming
  • Rear window defroster
  • Tinted rear glass windows and rear windshield
  • 16" first row QHD Touchscreen
  • 5 USB C ports up to 65W
  • 7 speakers with immersive sound
  • DAB Digital radio
  • Mobile App remote control
  • Music and media via bluetooth
  • Tesla entertainment
  • 11 kW AC onboard charger
  • Auto charge planning
  • CCS charging connector (175Kw Max)
  • Passive shock absorbers
  • Second-generation hardware
  • Single motor RWD
  • Type 2 connector
  • 19" Crossflow alloy wheels
  • Power actuated first row air vents and second row manual adjust air vents
  • Textile decor door trims
  • 19" Catania alloy wheels with black diamond turned surface and anti theft wheel bolts
  • Cloth - Grey melange soul
  • Metallic paint
  • Net partition and luggage net
  • Premium paint
  • Space and weight saver spare wheel
  • Special solid paint
  • Tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof with rear panoramic sunroof
  • Tool kit and car jack
  • Towbar with electric release including trailer assist
  • Ambient lighting with logo projection
  • Auto dimming interior rear view mirror
  • Automatic headlight control system
  • Black roof rails
  • Body coloured bumpers and air intake with chrome trim
  • Body coloured door handles
  • Body-coloured exterior mirror housings
  • Coming/leaving home lighting function
  • Exterior mirrors convex on the left and aspherical on the right
  • Headlight range control
  • Heat insulating glass in side and rear windows
  • Heat insulating windshield
  • High Beam Assist, automatic sensing for switching between dipped and main beam
  • High level 3rd brake light
  • Illuminated door handle recesses
  • LED headlamps
  • LED rear combination lamps
  • LED separate daytime running light
  • Laminated safety glass windshield
  • Rain sensor windscreen wipers
  • Rear fog light on one side, reversing light on both sides
  • Rear side wing doors
  • Rear wiper
  • Remote electrically foldable door mirrors, puddle lights and reverse activated passenger's door mirror
  • Solid paint
  • 10 colour interior ambient lighting
  • 12V outlet in center console rear and in luggage compartment
  • 12V socket in centre console
  • 2 USB-C ports in the front, 2 USB-C charging sockets on the centre console in rear, charging capacity up to 45 W
  • 3 bench rear seats in 2nd row
  • Air care climatronic 3 zone air conditioning system with rear air conditioning control panel
  • Black overhead panel
  • Carpet mats, front and rear
  • Ceramique headlining
  • Cloth upholstery
  • Front centre armrest
  • Front comfort seats
  • Front seats with manual height adjustment
  • ISOFIX anchors for child seats on outer rear seats and front passenger seat compatible with i-Size
  • Leather wrapped multifunction steering wheel with paddle shift
  • Mechanical rear seat release
  • Power adjustable lumbar support in front
  • Rear bench seat, split folding, longitudinally movable and folding with load-through hatch and centre armrest
  • Safety optimised front head restraints
  • Single front passenger seat
  • Sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors, airbag label on sun visor
  • Three rear head restraints
  • Variable luggage compartment floor
  • Adaptive cruise control (ACC)
  • Advanced driver attention and drowsiness monitor
  • Bluetooth mobile phone interface
  • Digital Cockpit Pro - 10.25" high resolution dash display screen with customisable menus and information
  • Driving profile selection
  • Dynamic road sign display
  • E-Sim card for online connectivity
  • Extended safety system (proactive passenger protection system)
  • IDA voice assistance with ChatGPT
  • Inductive smartphone charging without external antenna connection
  • Lane change system, Side assist, Rear traffic alert and Exit warning system
  • Lane keeping system Lane Assist
  • Multifunction front facing camera
  • Navigation system
  • Oncoming vehicle braking when turning including swerve support
  • Park Assist Plus with Park Distance Control
  • Power assisted steering with speed sensitive
  • Rear view camera
  • Tailgate/trunk lid unlocking from outside
  • Wireless App-Connect for apple Carplay and android Auto
  • eCall emergency call service
  • 3 Point seat belts in front with pretensioners
  • 3 point seat belt for centre rear seats
  • 3 point seatbelts in outer rear with ECE label
  • Driver and front passenger airbag with front passenger airbag deactivation
  • Electronic parking brake with auto hold
  • First aid kit with warning triangle and safety vest
  • Front and rear curtain airbags
  • Front centre airbag
  • Front disc brakes 1ZA
  • Hill start assist
  • Manual child proof rear door locks
  • Rear disc brakes
  • Rear side airbags
  • Two tone horn
  • Tyre pressure loss indicator
  • Warning signal and warning light for front and rear seatbelts not fastened
  • 12.9" infotainment display
  • 8 Speakers
  • Digital radio reception (DAB)
  • Diversity antenna for FM reception
  • Alarm with interior protection
  • Central locking system keyless entry
  • Front shock absorption
  • Front wheel drive
  • Start/stop system with regenerative braking
  • Soul instrument panel
  • 18" Napoli black diamond turned surface alloy wheels with anti theft wheel bolts
  • Tool kit for tyre mobility set
  • Tyre mobility kit including compressor and sealing foam

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

'From' prices stated are for the lowest priced version of the car. Price may vary based on the selected version.

*Please contact the dealer for a personalised quote, including terms and conditions. Quote is subject to dealer requirements, including status and availability. Illustrations are based on personal contract hire, 9 month upfront fee, 48 month term and 8000 miles annually, VAT included.