Toyota Highlander (2013) vs. Volkswagen Tiguan (2015) Specs

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2013 Toyota Highlander and 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan Specifications

Model Year	2013	2015
Model	Toyota Highlander	Volkswagen Tiguan
Engine	3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 270 hp@6200 248 lb-ft@4700	turbocharged 2.0L I4 DOHC-4v 200 hp@5100 207 lb-ft@1700
Transmission	5-speed shiftable automatic	6-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain	AWD	AWD
Body	4dr SUV	4dr SUV
			Difference
Wheelbase	109.8 in	102.5 in	7.3 in
Length	188.4 in	174.5 in	13.9 in
Width	75.2 in	71.2 in	4 in
Height	68.1 in	65.6 in	2.5 in
Curb Weight	4266 lb.	3591 lb.	675 lb.
Fuel Capacity	19.2 gal.	16.8 gal.	2.4 gal.
Headroom, Row 1	40.6 in	39.1 in	1.5 in
Shoulder Room, Row 1	59.7 in	56.2 in	3.5 in
Hip Room, Row 1	56.7 in	0.0 in	56.7 in
Legroom, Row 1	43.2 in	40.1 in	3.1 in
Headroom, Row 2	40.1 in	39.0 in	1.1 in
Shoulder Room, Row 2	59.5 in	55.0 in	4.5 in
Hip Room, Row 2	56.5 in	0.0 in	56.5 in
Legroom, Row 2	38.3 in	35.8 in	2.5 in
Headroom, Row 3	36.3 in	0.0 in	36.3 in
Shoulder Room, Row 3	55.0 in	0.0 in	55 in
Hip Room, Row 3	42.3 in	0.0 in	42.3 in
Legroom, Row 3	29.2 in	0.0 in	29.2 in
Total Legroom	110.7 in (over 3 rows)	75.9 in (over 2 rows)	34.8 in
Cargo Volume, Minimum	10.3 ft³	23.8 ft³	-13.5 ft³
Cargo Volume, Behind R2	42.3 ft³	23.8	18.5 ft³
Cargo Volume, Maximum	95.4 ft³	56.1 ft³	39.3 ft³

2013 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Comment
	Toyota replaced the 2013 Highlander's rear struts with control arms to enable a three-inch-wider third-row seat, and then used the extra space to cram in a third seating position. So if you need seats for eight people, only the Highlander will do in this threesome. A top-of-the-line Santa Fe only seats six. Other eight-pass options include the Honda Pilot and GM's large crossovers. But those three people best be small, as the Highlander doesn't have nearly as much rear legroom as the Pathfinder or the Santa Fe. To fit children of even middling size in the third row it's necessary to slide the second row well forward. The second row seat cushion is mounted too low for adult comfort. The Nissan's second row suffers from a similar shortcoming, but the Hyundai's does not. see full Toyota Highlander review

2013 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2013	4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	Perfect for two car seats. Really neat trick - the middle seat for the 2nd row rolls up into the center console. I did not remove it nor attempt to sit in it but that does make the 3rd row more likely to be used for those with car seats. I did not attempt to sit in the 3rd row (looked at it before folding into the floor for cargo space for the entire trip) so cannot opine on it. Use at your own risk. see full Toyota Highlander review
2012	4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	I am 6 foot tall, and there is plenty of head and leg room in the driving position. Easy access as well. see full Toyota Highlander review

2013 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons
Year	Body/Powertrain	Comment
2012	4dr SUV 270-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD	3rd row seats are useless to me. Too little room for adults. Should have been an option for families with small children. With 3rd row seating, you lose storage space. see full Toyota Highlander review

2015 Volkswagen Tiguan Seat Room and Comfort: Pros
Year	Comment
2014	Based on the specs, the Tiguan suffers from insufficient dimensions. It's 3.6 inches less lengthy than the Escape, and as a result has an inch less legroom. And the Ford falls near the bottom of the segment in this spec. In the real world, though, the Tiguan's rear seat feels roomier and more comfortable than the Escape's and in the ballpark with the class leaders. A relatively large seat bottom is high enough off the floor to provide adults with thigh support. The rear seat back is more comfortably shaped than the compact crossover norm, and reclines. One nit: hard plastic isn't the most comfortable surface for a rear armrest. see full Volkswagen Tiguan review

None of our members have yet commented on the seat room and comfort of the 2015 Volkswagen Tiguan.

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