2022 Acura RDX vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured clean lines and balanced proportions, which some might have found boring, but it had a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. This design was expected to age well. The Tiguan was large for its class, nearly as big inside as a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento, offering a roomy and accommodating interior with plenty of space for four people, and the option to carry five or even seven with a small third-row seat.

Inside, the Tiguan combined modern geometric forms with a no-nonsense control layout, though the engine start button's location on the center console was unusual. The cabin had somber tones and textures, shiny detailing, digital instrumentation, and a flush touchscreen infotainment system. However, it had too much hard plastic and flimsy steering wheel stalks to be mistaken for an Audi. The Tiguan was available in S, SE, and SEL trims, with sporty R-Line variants, priced between $25,245 and $39,095, excluding a $1,195 destination charge. The test vehicle was an SEL trim with 4Motion AWD, priced at $35,040.

The 2022 Acura RDX had subtle styling changes inspired by the larger MDX model, with updated grille surround, bumper styling, wheel designs, and paint colors. The limited-production RDX PMC Edition returned with exclusive Long Beach Blue Pearl paint and an Orchid white interior. The PMC Edition was built at the Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio, where the NSX sports car was made, and topped a lineup that included base, Technology, A-Spec, Advance, and A-Spec Advance packages, with prices ranging from $42,300 to $53,300, excluding a $1,045 destination charge.

The test vehicle was the new-for-2022 A-Spec Advance package, with extra-cost Apex Blue Pearl paint and an Orchid interior, totaling $53,645. The RDX A-Spec Advance justified its expense with high-quality interior materials, solid build quality, and a quieter interior. Despite some controversial styling elements, the RDX demonstrated more flair than many rivals. It offered a sporty driving position, a dramatic IDS driving mode knob, and a learning curve for its control layout, but was otherwise a pleasure to operate.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 184 horsepower at 4,360 rpm and 221 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission sent power to the front wheels by default, with 4Motion AWD available for $1,400 on most models and standard on the SEL Premium R-Line. The powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbocharger lag, making the engine feel breathless during passing or freeway merging. The test model's nearly 4,000-pound curb weight contributed to this perception.

The EPA rated the Tiguan at 25 mpg combined with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD, but testing showed an average of 22.6 mpg. Despite the powertrain's shortcomings, the Tiguan provided a pleasurable driving experience with light, responsive steering, a compliant ride, refined braking, and nimble handling. However, it struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks, and its tires gave up grip early in corners. The Tiguan was quiet and composed on the highway, making long road trips enjoyable.

The 2022 Acura RDX featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 280 pound-feet of torque between 1,600 and 4,500 rpm. The engine spooled up quickly, contributing to the RDX's enjoyable driving character, but heavy-footed drivers would not achieve the EPA-rated 23 mpg, as testing showed an average of 20.6 mpg. A 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters was standard, and the drivetrain behaved beautifully, though sound-deadening measures made the paddles less enjoyable.

FWD was standard on base, Technology, and A-Spec packages, while the Advance and A-Spec Advance packages included Acura's SH-AWD system, which could deliver up to 70 percent of power to a single rear wheel. The SH-AWD system was also optional on other packages. The RDX's IDS offered more distinct driving modes for 2022, and the adaptive-damping suspension provided a smoother ride in Comfort mode and greater responsiveness in Sport mode. The RDX was quieter than before, thanks to sound control enhancements and insulation measures, making it a more appealing alternative to other compact luxury SUVs.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan prioritized comfort with large doors, tall seating hip points, and wide front seat adjustments for proper support and visibility. The V-Tex leatherette upholstery mimicked real leather, and the dual-zone climate control was effective. The back seat offered excellent support, legroom, and foot space, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The panoramic sunroof was enjoyable, but storage space was limited. The Tiguan had a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat and a usefully shaped cargo space, with volume ranging from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet maximum.

The 2022 Acura RDX, though a compact SUV, offered ample room for four adults and their luggage, with a standard panoramic sunroof. The RDX emphasized a sporty driving position and dramatic IDS knob placement. The control layout required a learning curve, but the interior was otherwise a pleasure to operate. The standard 12-way power-adjustable and heated front seats were comfortable and supportive, with available ventilation. The back seat, however, was less comfortable, feeling flat and lacking support. The RDX had a standard power liftgate with available hands-free operation, revealing 29.5 cubic feet of cargo space and hidden storage compartments, expanding to 58.9 cubic feet with the back seat folded.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the MIB3 infotainment system starting with the SE trim, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing, and expanded features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi, SiriusXM 360L, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and Car-Net connected services. The MIB3 system was an improvement, but had quirks, and the standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music. The SEL Premium R-Line had a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system, and the SEL and SEL Premium R-Line featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation.

The 2022 Acura RDX's TTI infotainment system paired a 10.2-inch display with a touchpad controller, requiring a learning curve. The system was distracting, but drivers could acclimate over time. The RDX included Amazon Alexa Built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad. Standard features included satellite radio and AcuraLink connected services with a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Technology package added a navigation system, and premium sound systems ranged from a nine-speaker setup to a 16-speaker ELS Studio 3D surround-sound audio system. The Advance and A-Spec Advance packages included a 10.5-inch head-up display.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came with the IQ Drive collection of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. SE trim added adaptive cruise control, SEL added lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, and SEL Premium R-Line featured automatic high-beam headlights. The Tiguan's adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist were effective but had some inconsistencies. The SUV also had parking sensors, a reversing camera, and automatic post-collision braking. Car-Net connected services provided additional safety features. The IIHS awarded the Tiguan a "Top Safety Pick" rating for SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims, but the NHTSA had not published complete crash-test results.

The 2022 Acura RDX received structural upgrades for improved side-impact safety and new safety features like a rear seatbelt reminder system. The standard AcuraWatch collection added pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Technology package and higher trims included front and rear parking sensors with low-speed automatic braking. AcuraWatch's adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems were mostly accurate but had some issues in challenging conditions. The NHTSA gave the 2022 RDX a five-star overall crash-test rating, with four-star frontal-impact and rollover resistance ratings and five-star side-impact ratings.