2022 Buick Enclave 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 likely 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 featured shiny detailing, digital instrumentation, and a flush touchscreen infotainment system, but it had too much hard plastic to be mistaken for an Audi. The Tiguan was available in S, SE, and SEL trims, with sporty R-Line variants, and pricing ranged from $25,245 to $39,095, excluding the $1,195 destination charge. Our test vehicle, an SEL trim with 4Motion AWD, was priced at $35,040.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, on the other hand, had a more conservative approach to styling, with softer character lines and simple, functional interiors. Over the years, Buick transitioned from a sedan-heavy lineup to an all-SUV portfolio, reflecting market trends. The Enclave, introduced in 2008, replaced older models and helped make Buick relevant again. A 2018 redesign moved the Enclave upmarket, and the 2022 model received a mid-cycle refresh with new exterior styling and upgraded interior materials.

The Enclave's interior featured a restyled center console with new push-button gears and upgraded materials. The Avenir trim level included climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and unique trim and seat stitching. The Enclave was available in Essence, Premium, and Avenir trims, with our test vehicle being an Avenir with the optional Technology package. The Enclave's materials were a cut above, and the Avenir-exclusive seat sew pattern and piping added visual appeal and character.

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 an additional $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 maneuvers. The Tiguan's nearly 4,000-pound curb weight contributed to this perception of lethargy.

The EPA rated the Tiguan at 25 mpg in combined driving with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD. During testing, our AWD model averaged 22.6 mpg. The Tiguan provided a pleasurable driving experience with light but 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. On the highway, the Tiguan was quiet and composed, making long road trips enjoyable.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with direct injection, producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Enclave came standard with FWD, with AWD available on all trims. The SUV's maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Enclave provided a smooth, drama-free ride, thanks to the optional Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping.

The Enclave's powertrain was surprisingly responsive, with good off-the-line acceleration despite its 4,300-pound curb weight. The nine-speed automatic transmission performed flawlessly, and the engine produced pleasant sounds at wide-open throttle. The Enclave's AWD and 7.5 inches of ground clearance made it capable of handling light off-road trails and wintry conditions.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan offered excellent comfort with large doors, tall seating hip points, and a wide range of front seat adjustments. The V-Tex leatherette upholstery and dual-zone climate control system provided a comfortable environment. The back seat offered generous legroom, foot space, and air conditioning vents, making it suitable for tall passengers and reverse-facing child safety seats. The Tiguan had a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat and a usefully shaped cargo space with deep wells. Cargo volume ranged from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row, with a maximum capacity of 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet.

The 2022 Buick Enclave provided easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility and comfortable seating. All Enclaves came standard with an eight-way power driver seat and six-way power front passenger seat, both heated and with power lumbar control. Premium and Avenir trims added four-way power lumbar with massage and heated second-row seats. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated passengers in all three rows, with ample headroom, legroom, hip room, and shoulder room. The second-row captain's chairs made accessing the third row easy, and the seats flipped and folded for added versatility.

The Enclave's restyled center console featured push-button transmission gears and a covered compartment with two cupholders. The Enclave offered ample storage behind the third row, with cargo room measuring 23.6 cubic feet with all seats up, 57.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. Our test vehicle had power-folding third-row seats, making it easy to access the cargo space.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the next-generation Modular Infotainment Toolkit (MIB) platform called MIB3, available starting with the SE trim. MIB3 included an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing times, and features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi for up to four devices, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and Car-Net connected services. The MIB3 system was an improvement, but the voice recognition technology and standard six-speaker sound system had some quirks. The SEL Premium R-Line featured a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system and Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came standard with a 4.2-inch driver information center, with Premium and Avenir trims getting a larger, 8-inch reconfigurable version. The Essence trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The Enclave's infotainment system could pair up to 10 devices, with two smartphones active simultaneously, and a built-in WiFi hotspot for up to four devices. The Premium and Avenir trims featured a 10-speaker Bose audio system, which was superior to the standard six-speaker system.

Each Enclave came with a three-month trial subscription to SiriusXM 360L and six USB ports, with two in each row. The Enclave also included a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology. Notable available features included adaptive cruise control, head-up display, rain-sensing wipers, hitch guidance with hitch view, a digital rear camera mirror, and HD surround vision.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came equipped 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 and above added adaptive cruise control, while the SEL included lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist. The SEL Premium R-Line featured automatic high-beam headlights and front and rear parking sensors. The Tiguan's adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist were effective but had some inconsistencies. The Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS in SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims.

The 2022 Buick Enclave made the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package standard on all trims, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-change alert with blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping assistance with lane-departure warning, rear park assist, following-distance indicator, and automatic high-beam headlights. Premium trim added enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, head-up display, and rear pedestrian alert. The Enclave received a four-star rating for rollover resistance from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.