2016 Toyota RAV4 vs 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan
Two compact SUVs, compared on what actually matters when you're buying used:
what breaks, when it breaks, and what it costs you.
2016 Toyota
RAV4
7/10
A sensible, high-mileage-capable crossover with a few nagging gremlins (peeling white paint, cloudy headlights, occasional stalling) but the 2AR-FE 2.5L and 6-speed auto are among the most durable powertrains Toyota ever built.
VS
2016 Volkswagen
Tiguan
5/10
The last of the 'old' Tiguans is fun to drive but comes with a side of German electrical roulette.
Milo scores the 2016 Toyota RAV4 higher — 7/10 against 5/10.
By the numbers
Green is the better number — higher on every score, lower on failures, complaints and recalls.
| Toyota RAV4 |
Volkswagen Tiguan |
| Known failure points | 8 | 6 |
| NHTSA complaints | 234 | 96 |
| Safety recalls | 3 | 2 |
| Service bulletins | 0 | 12 |
| Reliability | 86 | 48 |
| Cheap to own | 82 | 40 |
| Fun factor | 28 | 68 |
| Holds value | 78 | 45 |
| Enthusiast cred | 15 | 38 |
The most expensive thing that goes wrong
2016 Toyota RAV4
Factory white paint (Blizzard Pearl 070 / Super White 040) delaminating from hood and roof — primer adhesion defect
$800–$3,50030k–60k mi
2016 Volkswagen Tiguan
Excessive oil consumption from piston ring design (EA888 gen3 known issue)
$0–$3,50050k–90k mi
If you buy one, buy this one
✅ 2016 Toyota RAV4
2016 RAV4 XLE AWD in a non-white color (Barcelona Red, Magnetic Gray, or Silver Sky), with the Advanced Technology Package (blind spot + power liftgate), one or two owners, and dealer-stamped service records showing transmission and rear diff fluid changes. Bonus points for the SE trim if you can find one.
✅ 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan
A 2016 Tiguan SE 4Motion with the Driver Assistance package, ideally a one-owner car with full service records showing on-time oil changes every 5k-7.5k miles (not the stretched 10k interval) — this is the single best predictor of whether you get a good or bad EA888.
Narrowed it down? Get the full report
This comparison is model-level.
Milo's report goes car-level — the one you're actually looking at:
- A line-by-line negotiation script
- The pre-purchase inspection checklist
- VIN-specific open recalls
- What it's really worth right now
- Your next 15,000 miles, forecast
- Hidden features & money-savers
Run my free report →
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Scores and findings blend documented NHTSA recalls and complaints with
patterns synthesized from owner communities. Always inspect the specific vehicle and
verify open recalls by VIN before buying.