Volkswagen Tiguan vs Tesla Model Y

What's the difference?

VS
Volkswagen Tiguan
Volkswagen Tiguan

$36,990 - $80,990

2025 price

Tesla Model Y
Tesla Model Y

$58,900 - $89,400

2026 price

Summary

2025 Volkswagen Tiguan
2026 Tesla Model Y
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 1.4L

Not Applicable, 0.0L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded Petrol

Electric
Fuel Efficiency
7.7L/100km (combined)

0.0L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

6
Dislikes
  • Hybrid? Look elsewhere
  • One too many touch controls
  • Ride harsher than expected

  • Ride might be too firm for some
  • Compromised vision from driver's seat
  • Lack of Apple CarPlay a turn-off
2025 Volkswagen Tiguan Summary

The third-generation Volkswagen Tiguan is likely to be the most important new vehicle Volkswagen launches in 2025.

The popular mid-sizer has proven to have impressive staying power for the brand, with the outgoing version still impressing buyers despite being nearly a decade old. 

What does this ground-up new version change? Does it have what it takes to maintain the nameplate’s reputation in one of Australia’s most hotly contested market segments? And what are some surprises this time around?

We went to its local launch to find out.

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2026 Tesla Model Y Summary

This is the new Tesla Model Y L, of course, but before we even start I need to ask you a very important question.

How often, honestly, do you use all seven seats in your seven-seater? Or if you only have five seats, how often is there a human in every single one?

Rarely, if ever?

Yep, me too. So stick around, because this is, by far, the best family SUV seating layout. And one where there’ll finally be no fighting over who gets stuck with the dodgy seat.

And as a result, the six-seat Tesla Model Y L might just be among the best all-electric SUV offerings around.

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Deep dive comparison

2025 Volkswagen Tiguan 2026 Tesla Model Y

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