2025 Volkswagen Tiguan PHEV vs. Kia Sportage PHEV

The fiercely competitive compact SUV segment boasts a strong lineup of feature-packed vehicles vying for your attention. With so much on offer, it can be as hard for manufacturers to stand out as it is for customers to know which option is best.

In this article, we will compare two standout eco-conscious options — the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) versions of the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan and 2025 Kia Sportage — to see which reigns supreme. We’ll delve into their strengths, weaknesses, and everything you need to know when choosing your next vehicle.

Design and Exterior Features

The 2025 Tiguan has undergone a massive revamp while retaining its signature sophisticated lines, embodying Volkswagen’s quintessential Germanic engineering. If you prefer an understated look, you’ll appreciate the Tiguan’s timeless design with its crisp creases and bold grille. The Tiguan PHEV offers a variety of wheel options so you can customize your vehicle. The revised exterior also features three new exterior finishes: Avocado Green Pearl, Ascot Grey, and Monterey Blue Pearl.

Kia’s 2025 Sportage remains largely unchanged from previous iterations. Its design is a bit bolder than the Tiguan, with sleek, futuristic lines and head-turning boomerang-shaped LED daytime running lights. Choosing which of the two has the better design is a matter of personal preference. The Tiguan exudes a classic European charm, while the Sportage embraces a more adventurous, contemporary style.

Performance and Efficiency

Official details on the 2025 PHEV Tiguan are not yet available, but the non-PHEV version’s baseline performance figures can give us an idea of what to expect. The 2025 Tiguan’s design philosophy appears to be more power, less weight. The turbocharged 2.0-liter in the non-hybrid configuration delivers 201 horsepower, and the overall weight drops thanks to the increased use of aluminum in the suspension components and high-strength steel in the freshly crafted sheet metal. The 2024 standard Tiguan was reasonably efficient, delivering up to 24 mpg city and 31 mpg highway per EPA estimates.

The PHEV Sportage Hybrid (not PHEV), for reference, shares its gasoline engine with the regular hybrid and pairs that with a single electric motor and a bigger battery pack for a combined 268 horsepower. According to the EPA, the PHEV model has an electric-only range of 34 miles.

Interior Comfort, Technology, and Safety

The 2025 Tiguan is a little longer, and the additional cargo space makes for a more practical compact crossover. For 2025, Volkswagen sacrificed the third-row seats to provide extra cargo volume. The 2025 Tiguan also moves the gearshift lever to the column to make room for a larger console, which also increases storage. The 2025 Tiguan improves the overall material quality throughout the cabin, with available leather upholstery and genuine wood accents. Features such as power-adjustable massaging and ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, and three-zone climate control are also available.

The Sportage boasts an eye-catching interior design, with a huge digital dashboard display as the focal point. You can also choose between an available two-tone color scheme or opt for an all-black cabin if you prefer a classier look.

Infotainment

The 2025 Tiguan comes with a standard 12.9 infotainment touch screen, with a larger 15.0-inch screen also available. Both screen options include Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit Pro software. Classic design elements perfectly complement contemporary technology, featuring a rotary volume knob and physical control for the drive modes. Wireless device charging is standard, with Volkswagen’s impressive suite of optional features including a head-up display and a premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

The Sportage is similarly well-equipped. Features such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, as does a 12.3-inch infotainment display and a 12.3-inch digital gauge display. Available features include a head-up display, an upgraded audio unit, a wireless phone charger, and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hot spot.

Safety and Driver Assistance

Both SUVs offer an impressive suite of safety and driver-assistance features. All Volkswagen Tiguans come with standard features, such as:

• Automatic emergency braking with forward collision warning
• Lane departure warning with lane-keep assist
• Adaptive cruise control with lane centering

The 2025 Tiguan also benefits from four additional airbags — rear side, driver’s knee, and center — for 10 airbags total. The Sportage also features a range of standard and available safety and driver-assistance features, including:

• Standard forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking
• Standard lane departure warning and lane-keep assist
• Available adaptive cruise control with lane centering

Pricing, Value, and Verdict

Official pricing for the 2025 Tiguan PHEV is currently unannounced, but considering the non-PHEV Tiguan should start at around $31,000 for the base-level trim, we can expect a slightly higher price point for the PHEV variant.

The Kia Sportage Hybrid (not PHEV) starts at around $30,000, so the PHEV version is also likely to carry a premium. While the Sportage might end up having a slightly lower starting price tag, the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan PHEV should make the absolute most of Volkswagen’s legendary automotive engineering prowess to offer configuration and personalization options that ensure you get the most feature-packed SUV possible for your money.

Experience the 2025 Tiguan for Yourself at Capistrano Volkswagen

Ultimately, the best way to decide between these two standout compact SUVs is to try them for yourself. Stop by Capistrano Volkswagen in San Juan Capistrano or contact us today to arrange a test-drive. At Capistrano Volkswagen, our team of experts is on hand to answer all your questions and help get you behind the wheel of the perfect vehicle for your budget and driving needs.