New crossover comparison: VW Tiguan vs Nissan Qashqai and rivals

The new Volkswagen Tiguan is due to hit showrooms in the summer, and first impressions suggest that the second generation car will be a move upmarket from the Mk1 Tiguan that was released back in 2007.

The car, which was revealed at September's Frankfurt Motor Show and will form the basis of a new family of SUVs from VW, has a look that's influenced by the Passat and has more space and greener engines.

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However, the Tiguan will now compete with an even wider range of rivals – spanning everything from the big-selling Nissan Qashqai to the plush and premium BMW X1. What we want to know is; how does it compare to the opposition?

VW Tiguan vs Nissan Qashqai vs Mazda CX-5 vs BMW X1

While we’ll have to wait until next summer to see how it actually drives, it’s off to a good start on paper. The headline-grabbing figure is boot space. It has a huge 615-litre load area, trouncing all of its closest rivals. With the rear seats folded flat, volume is the best in class as well, at 1,655 litres – pipping the Mazda CX-5 by 35 litres.

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Interior space is hard to compare until we’ve got all four side-by-side, but as VW claims an additional 10mm of headroom and 29mm extra knee room over the outgoing model, the new Tiguan should be more comfortable for rear passengers.

Elsewhere, estimated 65mpg economy is on a par with the Qashqai and CX-5, but falls slightly short of the frugal front-wheel-drive X1. It’s the same story on CO2 emissions – the VW is expected to be £10 more expensive to tax annually.

In terms of list price, it’s harder to compare the cars like-for-like. The Qashqai is the cheapest – even in well equipped n-tec spec – while an entry-level CX-5 SE-L Nav only costs £15 more. You’re not likely to find big differences in company car tax, either, as all four models are within two bands.

VW quotes a 0-62mph time of around 9.5 seconds, which is only quicker than the 1.6-litre Qashqai here. Still, it hopes to beat the CX-5 and X1 when it comes to driver involvement.

It's still hard to tell if the Tiguan will have the edge over its rivals, but we've rounded up all the spec sheets below.

Volkswagen Tiguan 

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The Mk2 VW Tiguan is bigger, better and smarter than its predecessor. When it goes on sale in the summer it will boast a class-leading interior, featuring VW's Active Info Display - lifted directly from the new Audi TT and A4 - and the potential for wireless phone charging.

Nissan Qashqai

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The Qashqai serves up a high quality driving experience with low noise levels and ride comfort emerging as clear strengths. The handling isn’t the sharpest in the class, but most owners won’t be too put out by that.

Mazda CX-5

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A decent blend of sharp handling, top-notch quality and low running costs give the Mazda a place near the top of the SUV tree. A light 2015 facelift gave top-spec models new headlights and a revised grille, making it more than a match for its rivals.

BMW X1

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The latest BMW X1 was released last year and was a leap forward in style and handling. It's fairly expensive when compared to its rivals, but it's well equipped and has better economy figures than most on the market.

Do you think the new VW Tiguan will have the edge over its rivals? Let us know in the comments section below...