2021 Audi Q3 vs 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Audi Q3 featured a massive corporate grille that paired well with its stout, chunky styling, presenting an idea of utility and dynamic handling. Inside, the cabin echoed a mechanical, modern aesthetic with a dash design that framed the center touchscreen. When the interior debuted in 2019, it was a standout design, but by 2021, Volkswagen's interiors had caught up, making the Q3 feel modern and refined, though not as special.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan, refreshed for the year, maintained a conservative yet timeless design. The new front styling aligned it with larger VW models, featuring a restyled grille, standard LED headlights, and redesigned aluminum wheels. The interior of the SEL R-Line trim was rich-looking with leather upholstery, new technology, and ambient lighting. However, the hard plastic in the lower half of the cabin revealed its mass-market status.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive. The S-Line trim offered a more potent version of the same engine, delivering 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Q3's handling was nimble and engaging, with a comfortable ride quality. The Drive Select system offered Auto, Comfort, Dynamic, and Off-Road modes, though the latter was best for light dirt trails.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan retained its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, making 184 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 221 pound-feet of torque at 1,900 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission sent power to the front wheels, with an optional 4Motion AWD system. The Tiguan offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes, with additional Offroad settings for AWD models. Despite its 7.6 inches of ground clearance, the Tiguan was best kept on well-traveled paths. The ride and handling were nimble and responsive in normal driving situations, though it lacked the fun factor when pushed hard.

The 2021 Audi Q3 provided 48 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 23.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. While the space behind the seats was decent for a subcompact luxury SUV, the overall cargo space was subpar for the class. However, the Q3 made up for it with comfortable front seats and impressive rear seat headroom and legroom, making it suitable for four passengers on a road trip.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan, a giant among compact crossover SUVs, offered a spacious interior comparable to smaller midsize SUVs. FWD models came with a standard third-row seat, though 4Motion models did not. The SEL R-Line trim featured leather-wrapped, eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. The second row was roomy and comfortable for adults, with rear air conditioning vents and a USB charging port. Cargo space was generous, with 37.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down in 4Motion models.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Audi's MMI system, featuring Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. An upgraded 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation was available, along with wireless device charging, satellite radio, and a Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker premium audio system. The Audi Virtual Cockpit replaced the conventional instrument cluster with a customizable digital display.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line trim offering a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system. The MIB3 infotainment system, available in all but the base Tiguan S, included an 8-inch touchscreen, Car-Net connected services, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The SEL R-Line trim added a redesigned navigation system and a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system. However, the natural voice recognition feature required a Plus Speech upgrade and an active Car-Net Hotspot subscription.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with Audi Pre Sense and Pre Sense Front, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. Lane-departure warning was also standard. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, a 360-degree camera system, front-and-rear parking sensors, and self-parking assist.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard Front Assist and Side Assist on the Tiguan S. New for 2022 were Travel Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, and Emergency Assist, which could safely bring the SUV to a stop if the driver became unresponsive. The 2021 Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS, and the 2022 model's new features could potentially improve that score.