2021 Volkswagen Tiguan vs Kia Sportage

Is the VW Tiguan or Kia Sportage Bigger?

Overall, the VW Tiguan is bigger than the Kia Sportage. So, if you need to pack up luggage for a weekend away with the family, you’ll probably fare better inside the Volkswagen, as you can see from the table below:

The Volkswagen Tiguan provides 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seats in 5-seat models. Compare that to just 30.7 cubic feet of trunk space in the Kia Sportage. This means that you and your friends may be able to fit an extra suitcase or two inside the VW Tiguan, while the Sportage may require you to leave some things behind.

However, when you’re loading up the cargo area with luggage for your next getaway, both SUVs make it convenient to do so with their available hands-free liftgate. Simply wave your foot under the rear bumper, and the hatch will open automatically.

If you’re picking up new pieces of furniture at the local auction, you can load those larger items into the VW Tiguan. This Volkswagen SUV has a total cargo volume of 73.5 cubic feet in 5-seat models and 65.7 cubic feet in 7-seat models. The Kia Sportage, on the other hand, has a maximum cargo volume of just 60.1 cubic feet.

2021 Volkswagen Tiguan vs Sportage: Which Has More Passenger Space?

If you’re looking for a 2-row, 5-seat SUV with a cozy cabin, then you’re in good hands with either vehicle here.

However, if you’re looking for something with extra passenger space, you’ll find that some VW Tiguan models are available with a higher seating capacity than the Kia Sportage:

You’ve probably noticed that the VW Tiguan and Kia Sportage have comparable headroom dimensions for the driver, so you’re sure to be comfortable no matter which vehicle you pilot. Still, there’s a key difference between the two when it comes to how many passengers you can bring along.

The Kia only seats five passengers, while the Volkswagen has an optional 7-passenger configuration. So, you’ll be able to carpool with more of the baseball team before the big game, or take more of your scout troop out to the campsite for the weekend in the VW Tiguan compared to the Kia Sportage.

Does the VW Tiguan or Sportage Have a More Powerful Engine?

When comparing horsepower side by side, it appears that both the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan and 2021 Kia Sportage have comparable standard engines.

However, the VW Tiguan produces considerably more torque, which may make it more effective during winter driving or off-road pursuits:

As you can see, both the VW Tiguan and Kia Sportage hit the ground running with a standard engine that produces more than 180 horsepower. However, as we mentioned, the Volkswagen generates 221 lb-ft of torque compared to only 175 lb-ft of torque from the standard engine in the Kia.

The extra torque output may allow the VW Tiguan to accelerate much more easily in low-traction situations. Plus, the turbocharger of the VW Tiguan gives you that extra adrenaline kick that’s missing from the standard engine in the Kia Sportage.

The Volkswagen also comes standard with an 8-speed automatic transmission, which can allow for more optimized shift patterns than the 6-speed automatic transmission in the Kia.

Will the VW Tiguan or Kia Sportage Drive Better in the Snow?

Thanks to their available all-wheel drive (AWD) systems, both the VW Tiguan and Kia Sportage can adeptly manage a snowy commute or off-road getaway. However, the VW Tiguan has a few features that give it an extra advantage.

Both SUVs are all-weather ready with their available smart AWD systems. These systems are able to actively monitor your roadway conditions and automatically adjust to the situation at hand to provide maximum traction control. This is true whether you’re traveling to the office through snow, parking in the grass at the state fair, or driving through the gravel parking lot at the little league field.

The Volkswagen Tiguan and Kia Sportage also allow you to manually customize your drive with selectable drive modes.

While the Kia only has three generalized modes—Normal, Eco, and Sport—the VW Tiguan lets you get a bit more specific with its Active Control system. This comes as part of 4MOTION® AWD and offers four drive modes:

• Snow
• On-Road
• Off-Road
• Off-Road Custom

Not only does the Volkswagen allow you to fully customize a drive mode, it also lets you optimize for snow, which isn’t something you can do with the Kia. So, when it comes to wintertime drives, you may be better equipped in the VW Tiguan than the Kia Sportage.