Buying ice cream—much like shopping for a car—is a matter of taste. Sure, there are objective qualities to measure (something we focus on quite extensively), but after mulling over your fourth free sample, you choose the flavor you think will bring you the most joy. None of the options is bad; ice cream is a delicious treat no matter the flavor, but in the end, you follow your gut. Literally.
New-car shopping is quite similar. When choosing between compact SUVs like the 2024 Mazda CX-50 and the 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan—two vehicles with more positive qualities than negative—the final choice often comes down to a simple matter of taste. We rounded up a pair of crossovers dressed to the nines with options, loaded up a weekend’s worth of luggage, and headed for the hills to see which SUV our taste buds preferred.
What We Tested
The Mazda’s trim lineup offers more flavors than the Volkswagen’s, with an entry model starting at $31,675 and eight total trim levels compared to the VW’s four. Our top-trim CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus fetched $44,675, while our Tiguan SEL R-Line was equally loaded and stickered at a more modest $40,700, with the only addition being the Kings Red Metallic paint for $395. All-wheel drive is standard across the entire CX-50 lineup and on the SEL R-Line, but on lower Tiguan trims, all-wheel drive is a $1500 option.
The Mazda’s zippy turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder is good for 256 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque (there’s also a less powerful naturally aspirated version). No matter the trim, all Tiguans feature a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder putting out 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque.
2024 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line
HIGHS: Costco-ready interior, compliant ride and handling.
LOWS: Unenthusiastic powertrain, frustrating mix of new and old infotainment controls.
VERDICT: Practicality without any flashiness.
Interior Comparison
The CX-50’s interior is all class from the moment you open the door. Dark leather is draped throughout the cabin, helping the CX-50 feel certifiably premium, especially with contrast piping and stitching on the seats. Forward visibility from the driver’s seat is good, but the low roofline hinders rearward visibility a bit. Headroom in the Mazda also could be better, and one evaluator complained about too-thick A-pillars.
2024 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL
The vibe from the German is a bit more utilitarian, to the surprise of nobody. The Tiguan’s materials are nice but not too flashy or stylish against the Mazda’s moody feel. The driver sits more upright in the Volkswagen, minimizing blind spots. And whereas the Mazda’s rear seat feels cramped, the Volkswagen’s earned praise for its airiness.
Neither car manages to earn top marks in the ergonomics department. The Mazda’s finicky rotary-dial infotainment control is far from our favorite, while the Volkswagen frustrated our testers with its array of imprecise touch-sliders and haptic climate controls. The Mazda at least offers a workaround of sorts, with the inclusion of a touchscreen that you have to lean uncomfortably far forward to use.
Fuel Economy and Livability
The Tiguan makes a case for itself in the fuel-economy department, beating out the Mazda during our evaluation. We covered roughly 600 miles during our testing, and the Tiguan sipped considerably less fuel throughout, returning 26 mpg compared to 23 in the Mazda. Things were tighter in our real-world 75-mph highway fuel-economy testing, where the Tiguan earned 30 mpg to the Mazda’s 29. That’s pretty close, considering the 72-hp, 99-pound-foot delta between their respective engines.
The Tiguan’s extra length and taller roofline help prove the SUV’s worth as a grocery getter. The Tiguan crushes the CX-50 in practical storage and has room for 25 carry-on-sized boxes with the rear seats folded, compared to 20 in the Mazda. The Tiguan wins with the rear seats up as well, though the results are closer at 11 and nine boxes.
2024 Mazda CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus
HIGHS: Handsome interior finishes, robust turbo four.
LOWS: Cramped rear seat, middling fuel economy.
VERDICT: A seamless blend of luxury and sportiness.
How They Drive and Perform
What it lacks in fuel efficiency, the CX-50 makes up in on-road enjoyment. Nudge the throttle and the CX-50 rolls off the line with smooth acceleration and linear power delivery. Turn the radio down low, stomp the accelerator a bit harder, and the Mazda’s turbo 2.5-liter offers a gearhead-placating level of turbocharger sound that earned more than one smile from our evaluators with the wastegate’s hushed woot doot doot.
For the Tiguan’s part, throttle response is sharp, but acceleration quickly runs out of steam. It marches to 60 mph in a humdrum 8.2 seconds, a far cry from the Mazda’s impressive 6.4-second hustle. We found the Tiguan’s eight-speed automatic transmission to be a step behind the engine, as well, often settling on a gear higher than desired in spirited driving sessions.
2024 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL
Compared to more vanilla crossovers in the segment, like the Nissan Rogue and the Kia Sportage, both the CX-50 and the Tiguan have impressive body control and handling. The steering is precise in both models. The Mazda overcomes its clearly artificially weighted steering, offering a sliver more precision and confidence than the Tiguan’s somewhat overboosted helm. Neither car is destined for the racetrack, but the Mazda does a good job of making you forget you’re driving a compact crossover.
Which is Better?
Although the Volkswagen offers better fuel economy and slightly more space, we continuously found ourselves wanting to spend our time living with and driving the Mazda. The nicer cabin, sportier driving demeanor, and handsome styling were just to our taste. If you’re willing to indulge the upcharge, the 2024 Mazda CX-50 proves quite the rewarding complement to daily life. You are buying dessert, after all, so why not pile on a few more sprinkles and add a waffle cone?
2024 Mazda CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus
Specifications
Specifications
2024 Mazda CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $44,675/$44,675
Options: none
ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 152 in3, 2488 cm3
Power: 256 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque: 320 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm
TRANSMISSION
6-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/torsion beam
Brakes, F/R: 12.8-in vented disc/12.8-in disc
Tires: Goodyear Eagle Touring
245/45R-20 99V M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 110.8 in
Length: 185.8 in
Width: 75.6 in
Height: 63.9 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 52/46 ft3
Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 56/31 ft3
Curb Weight: 3864 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.4 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.9 sec @ 92 mph
100 mph: 17.8 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 7.2 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.5 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 4.8 sec
Top Speed (mfr claim): 142 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 167 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.84 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 23 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 29 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 460 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 25/23/29 mpg
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2024 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line AWD
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $40,305/$40,700
Options: Kings Red Metallic paint, $395
ENGINE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve inline-4, iron block and aluminum head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 121 in3, 1984 cm3
Power: 184 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 221 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 13.4-in vented disc/11.8-in disc
Tires: Pirelli Scorpion Zero All-Season
255/40R-20 101H M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 109.9 in
Length: 186.1 in
Width: 72.4 in
Height: 66.5 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 51/47 ft3
Cargo Volume, Behind F/R: 73/38 ft3
Curb Weight: 4003 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 8.2 sec
1/4-Mile: 16.3 sec @ 85 mph
100 mph: 23.7 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 8.8 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.4 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 5.6 sec
Top Speed (C/D est): 124 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 181 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.84 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 26 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 30 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 470 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 24/22/29 mpg
C/D TESTING EXPLAINED
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.