Ford Kuga vs Volkswagen Tiguan
Figures updated
The Ford Kuga and Volkswagen Tiguan are two of the UK's most popular family SUVs. We compare the Mk3 (2019–) Kuga and the Mk3 (2024–) Tiguan on price, size, boot space, performance, safety and running costs, plus how reliable each has been across 514,784 real MOT tests.
The short answer
Pick the Ford Kuga for the lower price and lower fuel costs, or the Volkswagen Tiguan for the bigger boot and the better MOT record.
- The Ford Kuga is the cheapest to buy new: from £33,335, £6,045 less than the Volkswagen Tiguan.
- The Volkswagen Tiguan has the biggest boot: 652 litres, 240 more than the Ford Kuga.
- The Volkswagen Tiguan has the better MOT record. Like for like on age and mileage, the Ford Kuga fails its MOT about 13% more often.
- The Ford Kuga is the cheapest to fuel: comparing petrol versions, about £227 a year less than the Volkswagen Tiguan at 7,500 miles a year.
| Figure | Ford KugaMk3 (2019–), 5-door SUV | Volkswagen TiguanMk3 (2024–), 5-door SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £33,335 to £44,330September 2026 price list (best) | £39,380 to £49,885October 2026 price list |
| Body | 5-door SUV | 5-door SUV |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 412 litres / 1,534 | 652 litres / 1,650 (best) |
| Length | 4,604mm | 4,539mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,882mm | 1,842mm |
| Height | 1,679mm | 1,658mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 150–243 PS | 130–272 PS (best) |
| 0–62mph | 7.3–9.5 sec | up to 10.2 sec |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2019) | ★★★★★ (2024) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 37.2–60.1 mpg | 32.8–52.3 mpg |
| CO2 | 21–198 g/km | 9–195 g/km |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.7p a litre, today's UK average | £1,119 (52.3 mpg) (best) | £1,346 (43.5 mpg) |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | £1,364 (49.6 mpg) | £1,293 (52.3 mpg) (best) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,119 (petrol) | £1,293 (diesel) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 116Well above average | 131Well above average (best) |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 20.8% | 18.2% (best) |
| Failed at 3 years old | 9.6% (best) | 11.0% |
| Failed at 5 years old | 15.3% | 12.6% (best) |
| Failed at 10 years old | 27.2% | 26.6% |
| Most common MOT fault | Brake pads (2.9% of tests) | Tread depth (2.6% of tests) |
| Fails more than average on | Nothing stands out | Nothing stands out |
| MOT tests analysed | 282,268 | 232,516 |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Family SUV | Family SUV |
| Owners' average miles a year | 8,600 | 9,200 |
| On sale | 2019 on | 2024 on |
Green marks the better figure where the difference is more than 3%. Reliability figures cover every version of each model tested in the year. Running costs use the typical official economy of recent versions (WLTP where available); real-world economy is usually a little worse for every car.
More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
›Is the Ford Kuga or the Volkswagen Tiguan more reliable?
The Volkswagen Tiguan. Like for like on age and mileage, the Ford Kuga fails its MOT about 13% more often (reliability scores 131 and 116, where 100 is average). 18.2% of Volkswagen Tiguans and 20.8% of Ford Kugas failed first time in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Ford Kuga or the Volkswagen Tiguan?
The Ford Kuga is 65mm longer (4,604mm against 4,539mm). The Volkswagen Tiguan has the bigger boot: 652 litres against 412.
›Which is cheaper to buy, the Ford Kuga or the Volkswagen Tiguan?
The Ford Kuga: new prices start at £33,335, £6,045 less than the Volkswagen Tiguan (from £39,380). These are manufacturer list prices; dealers and brokers often sell for less.
›Which is cheaper to run, the Ford Kuga or the Volkswagen Tiguan?
Comparing petrol versions, the Ford Kuga costs about £227 a year less to fuel at 7,500 miles (£1,119 against £1,346), using typical official economy and current UK average fuel prices.
›Which is safer, the Ford Kuga or the Volkswagen Tiguan?
Euro NCAP gave the Ford Kuga 5 stars (2019) and the Volkswagen Tiguan 5 stars (2024). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Ford Kuga or the Volkswagen Tiguan?
Pick the Ford Kuga for the lower price and lower fuel costs, or the Volkswagen Tiguan for the bigger boot and the better MOT record. The comparison above sets out price, space, performance, safety, running costs and reliability side by side.
Sources: manufacturers' UK specifications and price lists and Euro NCAP (listed on each model's page); DVSA anonymised MOT tests 2024 (Open Government Licence v3.0); Vehicle Certification Agency car fuel data, © Crown copyright, VCA cannot accept liability for its accuracy; fuel prices from the GOV.UK Fuel Finder scheme. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each picture.