The Volkswagen Tiguan is like a cup of tea – pleasant, easygoing and appealing to lots of people.
For all you coffee drinkers out there, however, here are 10 great family SUV alternatives to consider instead. Whether you want something sportier, something a bit posher, or something a little more affordable, we've got a choice for you.
All of these cars are available as nearly new and used cars from Motorpoint.
SEAT Ateca
Better than a Tiguan for: handling
The SEAT Ateca is an obvious rival for the Tiguan because it's more-or-less the same car underneath, but with a little more Spanish flair. It trades away some of the Tiguan's material quality, but you're rewarded with lower prices, so your budget buys a newer or lower mileage example. The shared structure means the interior is similarly spacious for passengers and the boot can hold a similarly large amount of cargo. In fact, other than the exterior styling, you'll struggle to spot differences between the Ateca and its Tiguan cousin – possibly the most obvious in a back-to-back test being the SEAT's slightly firmer suspension setup.
Shop used SEAT Ateca cars or read our SEAT Ateca review
Nissan Qashqai
Better than a Tiguan for: comfort
While there's little to criticise about the Tiguan's ride quality, it's not quite as softly sprung as the Nissan Qashqai. This British-built family SUV was developed on our roads and it shows, with the Qashqai cushioning thumps from potholes and speedbumps better than many pricier cars. It doesn't quite have the handling poise of the Tiguan but, considering neither car has much driver appeal to begin with, the Nissan's comfier setup might suit you better. Smooth petrol and clever range-extending hybrid engines are offered on more recent models, or you can shop previous-generation models if you're after diesel power.
Browse used Nissan Qashqai cars or read our Nissan Qashqai review
Peugeot 3008
Better than a Tiguan for: style
You couldn't call the Tiguan unattractive, but there's little about its design to get your pulse going. That's where the Peugeot 3008 stands out from rival SUVs – its bodywork has swoopy dramatic angles and intricate details to help it look unlike any of its competitors. The impression continues inside with plush upholstery and elegant metal-effect detailing giving it a contemporary and stylish ambiance. You'll find a choice of turbo petrol and diesel engines under the bonnet or, higher up the range, a pair of plug-in-hybrid engines that can seriously cut your running costs. A new Peugeot 3008 has just landed that doubles down on the dramatic styling.
Search used Peugeot 3008 cars or read our Peugeot 3008 review
Skoda Karoq
Better than a Tiguan for: value
Like the Ateca above, the Skoda Karoq is nearly identical to the Tiguan mechanically and offers most of the same engines under the bonnet. However, the Czech car doesn't pursue a sportier image like the SEAT – it simply leans into the value, practicality and comfort of the shared platform. Karoqs are more affordable than their VW cousins but ride just as well, if not better, while offering identical performance across the wide selection of petrol and diesel engines. The Skoda also includes the sliding rear seats from the Tiguan, which means you can choose between loads of rear seat space and a modest boot, or vice versa.
Check out used Skoda Karoq cars or read our Skoda Karoq review
BMW X1
Better than a Tiguan for: premium features
The badge on the BMW X1's bonnet means prices are automatically a bit higher than the Tiguan. That means you'll be looking at a slightly older or higher-mileage X1, although the benefits might outweigh that downside. For one, the X1 is better to drive than the Tiguan, with responsive, accurate controls that make it easy to cruise around town, plus fantastic body control and punchy engines for when you're driving faster. It also feels like a more upmarket place to sit, with a noticeable jump in material quality and design, and a fully featured equipment list. Practicality is strong, too, despite being BMW's smallest car, with excellent passenger and cargo space.
View used BMW X1 cars or read our BMW X1 review
Kia Sportage
Better than a Tiguan for: warranty cover
The Kia Sportage is the Korean company's answer to the Tiguan. Like many cars from Kia's lineup, the Sportage's styling is more dramatic than the Tiguan's, although the looks don't come at the expense of practicality, with similarly impressive passenger and luggage-carrying ability. There's also a little more choice under the bonnet, with the Sportage offering petrol, diesel, hybrid and plug-in-hybrid engine options, so there's something for every buyer. The stand-out feature, however, is the Kia's seven-year factory warranty, which is one of the most generous in the industry and means you'll have years of coverage, even if you buy a recent used example.
Take a look at used Kia Sportage cars or read our Kia Sportage review
Ford Kuga
Better than a Tiguan for: petrol power
In many ways, the Ford Kuga goes toe-to-toe with the Tiguan. It's similarly sized, similarly priced and markets itself to the same kind of buyer. The Kuga is so closely matched to the Tiguan that most measurable differences between them are very tight, so picking your favourite comes more down to personal preference. However, one area we reckon the Kuga completely outclasses the Tiguan in is for buyers looking at entry-level 150hp petrol models, which can be found in both the Kuga and Tiguan lineups. Despite both using turbocharged 1.5-litre engines, the Ford's is much livelier and more responsive, making the VW's feel a little anaemic by comparison.
Find used Ford Kuga cars or read our Ford Kuga review
Cupra Formentor
Better than a Tiguan for: dramatic styling
As we've covered, the Tiguan is a sensible-looking car with understated, inoffensive styling. There's nothing wrong with that but you might want something that'll stir your senses a little more. Step in the Cupra Formentor. This offshoot from SEAT arrives with bold, dramatic styling that finds a handsome middle ground between SUV and coupe, featuring a squat stance and angular detailing. The smartest trick in the Cupra's book, however, is the fact that you lose very little passenger and cargo space compared with boxier models, so this is a car that's easy to use every day – aided by the planted handling and zippy petrol and plug-in-hybrid engines.
Browse used Cupra Formentor cars or read our Cupra Formentor review
Hyundai Tucson
Better than a Tiguan for: hybrid driving
The Hyundai Tucson is the sister car to the Kia Sportage above, with similar dimensions and mostly the same selection of engines under the bonnet. Like the Kia, that means the Hyundai has a choice of full-hybrid or plug-in-hybrid engines – not something you'll find if you're shopping Tiguan models. We like the Tucson for reasons beyond its powertrain, too, with futuristic styling and an attractive cabin that's one of the poshest yet fitted to a Hyundai model.
Search used Hyundai Tucson cars or read our Hyundai Tucson review
Audi Q3
Better than a Tiguan for: technology
You'll find many oily parts shared between the Audi Q3 and the Tiguan but the four-ringed car's done more than SEAT and Skoda models to distance itself from its Volkswagen sibling. The styling both outside and inside are far removed from the Tiguan, with the Q3 echoing the brutish look of the larger Audi Q7 while featuring far more upmarket materials in the cabin. We also prefer the Audi's sharper screen setup, which has clearer, more premium-looking graphics than the Tiguan, plus neater integration into the rest of the dashboard design. You'll lose a millimetre or two here or there for overall practicality, but the Q3 is still large enough for most families.
Shop used Audi Q3 cars or read our Audi Q3 review
Search great-value used SUVs
Find a huge selection of used SUVs for sale at Motorpoint all with warranty cover. For more choices, check out our picks for the best family SUVs you can buy.
