The Ford EcoSport has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Tiguan doesn't offer knee airbags.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the EcoSport. But it costs extra on the Tiguan.

Both the EcoSport and the Tiguan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford EcoSport is safer than the Volkswagen Tiguan:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Ford's powertrain warranty covers the EcoSport 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Volkswagen covers the Tiguan. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Tiguan ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The EcoSport's corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Tiguan's (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are almost 5 times as many Ford dealers as there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the EcoSport's warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it's being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the EcoSport's reliability 12 points higher than the Tiguan.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 14th in initial quality. With 51 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 30th.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 22nd in reliability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 28th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports' January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 2 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

On the EPA test cycle the EcoSport gets better mileage than the Tiguan:

The EcoSport has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it's removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Tiguan doesn't offer a cap-less fueling system.

The EcoSport stops shorter than the Tiguan:

The EcoSport's standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Tiguan S' standard 65 series tires.

The EcoSport has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Tiguan's suspension doesn't offer gas-charged shocks.

For better maneuverability, the EcoSport's turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Tiguan's (35.1 feet vs. 37.7 feet).

The Ford EcoSport may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 550 pounds less than the Volkswagen Tiguan.

The EcoSport is 2 feet shorter than the Tiguan, making the EcoSport easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the EcoSport uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Tiguan doesn't offer active grille shutters.

The EcoSport has 2.7 inches more front legroom and .1 inches more rear legroom than the Tiguan.

The EcoSport has a much larger cargo volume than the Tiguan with its rear seat up (20.9 vs. 12 cubic feet).

The EcoSport's standard towing capacity is much higher than the Tiguan's (2000 vs. 1500 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the EcoSport uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Tiguan doesn't offer electronic trailer sway control.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don't have them with you, you can let yourself in using the EcoSport's available exterior PIN entry system. The Tiguan doesn't offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost Car-Net can't unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn't have cell phone reception or the driver can't contact the service.

The EcoSport's standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn't have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Tiguan's standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the EcoSport has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Tiguan only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn't as good.

The EcoSport (except S) offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Tiguan doesn't offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Insurance will cost less for the EcoSport owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the EcoSport with a number “8” insurance rate while the Tiguan is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the EcoSport is less expensive to operate than the Tiguan because it costs $300 less to do the manufacturer's suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the EcoSport than the Tiguan, including $498 less for a water pump, $265 less for a muffler, $364 less for a starter, $207 less for fuel injection, $106 less for a fuel pump and $143 less for front struts.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford EcoSport will be $2267 to $6243 less than for the Volkswagen Tiguan.