Volkswagen Tiguan vs Tesla Model Y
Figures updated
The Tesla Model Y is a new rival to the Volkswagen Tiguan, one of the UK's most popular family SUVs. We compare the Mk3 (2024–) Tiguan and the Juniper (2025–) Model Y on price, size, boot space, performance, safety, official economy and running costs.
The short answer
The Tesla Model Y comes out ahead, with the bigger boot; the Volkswagen Tiguan is close on everything else.
- The Tesla Model Y has the biggest boot: 822 litres, 170 more than the Volkswagen Tiguan.
- No MOT reliability comparison yet: the Tesla Model Y is too new for MOT records (cars first take an MOT at three years old).
| Figure | Volkswagen TiguanMk3 (2024–), 5-door SUV | Tesla Model YJuniper (2025–), 5-door SUV |
|---|---|---|
| Price and practicality | ||
| Price newUK list prices, across the range | £39,380 to £49,885October 2026 price list | – |
| Body | 5-door SUV | 5-door SUV |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| BootSeats up / folded | 652 litres / 1,650 | 822 litres / 2,022 (best) |
| Length | 4,539mm | 4,797mm |
| WidthWithout mirrors | 1,842mm | 1,920mm |
| Height | 1,658mm | 1,624mm |
| Performance | ||
| Power | 130–272 PS | – |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP ratingTests get tougher each year | ★★★★★ (2024) | ★★★★★ (2025) |
| Economy and emissions | ||
| Fuel types | Diesel, Hybrid, Petrol, Plug-in hybrid | Electric |
| Official economyVersions of this generation | 32.8–52.3 mpg | – |
| CO2 | 9–195 g/km | – |
| Electric range | – | 311–411 miles |
| Running costs at 7,500 miles a year | ||
| Petrol or hybrid171.5p a litre, today's UK average | £1,344 (43.5 mpg) | – |
| Diesel198.4p a litre | £1,293 (52.3 mpg) | – |
| Electric, charged at home26.3p per kWh standard tariff | – | £548 (4 mi/kWh) |
| Cheapest version to fuelWhichever fuel costs least | £1,293 (diesel) | £548 (electric) |
| Car tax a yearCars registered from April 2017 | £200£640 in years 2–6 for versions listed over £40,000 | £200 |
| Reliability from real MOT tests | ||
| Reliability score | 131Well above average | Too new for MOT data |
| Failed MOT first time (ages 3–20) | 18.2% | – |
| Failed at 3 years old | 11.0% | – |
| Failed at 5 years old | 12.6% | – |
| Failed at 10 years old | 26.6% | – |
| Most common MOT fault | Tread depth (2.6% of tests) | – |
| Fails more than average on | Nothing stands out | – |
| MOT tests analysed | 232,516 | – |
| About the cars | ||
| Type | Family SUV | Family SUV |
| Owners' average miles a year | 9,200 | – |
| On sale | 2024 on | 2025 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 Volkswagen Tiguan or the Tesla Model Y more reliable?
It's too early to say from MOT records: the Tesla Model Y is too new, as cars take their first MOT at three years old. The Volkswagen Tiguan has a reliability score of 131 (100 is average) from 232,516 MOT tests in 2024.
›Which is bigger, the Volkswagen Tiguan or the Tesla Model Y?
The Tesla Model Y is 258mm longer (4,797mm against 4,539mm). The Tesla Model Y has the bigger boot: 822 litres against 652.
›Which is safer, the Volkswagen Tiguan or the Tesla Model Y?
Euro NCAP gave the Volkswagen Tiguan 5 stars (2024) and the Tesla Model Y 5 stars (2025). Euro NCAP makes its tests tougher every few years, so ratings from different years aren't directly comparable.
›Should I buy the Volkswagen Tiguan or the Tesla Model Y?
The Tesla Model Y comes out ahead, with the bigger boot; the Volkswagen Tiguan is close on everything else. 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.