10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Volkswagen Tiguan Compares Favorably to Mazda CX-30, Mazda3
In an automotive segment as popular and populated as compact SUVs, the field is ultracompetitive. That means consumers have a lot of choices and, as a result, don’t have to compromise as much on finding the vehicle they want. Our judges named the Nissan Rogue the Best Compact SUV for 2025 out of a field of seven — but an eighth entry would have provided yet another option for discerning shoppers that may well have skewed the results of the head-to-head comparison test. In Cars.com’s most popular article of the past week, we speculate on how the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan — unavailable for evaluation at the time of our test — might’ve fared against the pack.
Related: 10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: Nissan Sentra Squeaks Past Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Our test model’s turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine was adequately, if unremarkably, powered. However, the SUV is confident and maneuverable in varied driving conditions thanks to responsive handling and all-wheel drive; comfortable to sit in courtesy of high-quality seating front and rear; accommodating inside, punching above its weight class in materials and appointments; and has abundant storage space and stuff-stashing spots. Where the Tiguan trails is in infotainment, with confusing, hard-to-use controls and basic functions inconveniently (and distractingly) concealed in touchscreen menus. Bottom line: If comfort is your main priority, the Tiguan makes a compelling case for itself versus the best of the compact SUV bunch and is competitively priced at just over $41,000 as-tested.
For our full breakdown of how the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan measures up to its major rivals on the small-SUV scene, follow the link below to the No. 1 news story on this week’s countdown of most read articles.
In other top news, if you drive a 2024 or 2025 Mazda CX-30 subcompact SUV or Mazda3 compact car, you’re going to want to keep an eye out for a possible federal safety recall notice. More than 171,000 examples of the two models are being recalled due to a defect that could cause an airbag sensor error that deactivates the vehicles’ airbags, increasing the risk of injuries in a crash. The automaker will begin notifying owners of affected vehicles on July 28, advising them to take their cars to a Mazda dealer to have the SAS unit’s software reprogrammed or replaced for free.
For full details on the recall of model-year 2024-25 Mazda CX-30s and Mazda3s — including how to contact the automaker and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for more information — follow the link below to the No. 9 news story of the week.
Beyond all that, we’ve got headlines on the BMW M235 Gran Coupe, Subaru Ascent, Nissan Leaf and much more — so don’t stop reading till the digits double. Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past week:
1. How Does the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan Compare With Other Compact SUVs?
2. Here Are the 10 Cheapest New Cars You Can Buy Right Now
3. Which Electric Cars Are Still Eligible for the $7,500 Federal Tax Credit?
4. 2025 BMW M235 Gran Coupe Review: A Little Fish in a Big Pond
5. Dealerships Are Paying Extra for Trade-Ins Right Now, But Interest Rates Are Rising
6. Is the 2025 Subaru Ascent a Good 3-Row SUV? 5 Pros, 3 Cons
7. Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy
8. What Are the 10 Most Efficient Electric Cars?
9. Mazda Recalls Over 171,000 Mazda3s, CX-30s for Airbag Sensor
10. Nissan Starts Trickling Out Details on Redesigned 2026 Leaf EV
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