2022 Buick Encore GX vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan showcased 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, offering a roomy and accommodating interior with plenty of space for four people, and the optional third-row seat expanded passenger capacity to seven, though three of those would need to be children. The interior combined modern geometric forms with a no-nonsense control layout, though it had some hard plastic and flimsy steering wheel stalks.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Encore GX had a handsome design, especially with the optional ST appearance package. It featured Buick's trapezoidal "waterfall" grille, a high beltline, and similar headlight styling to its sibling, the Encore. The Encore GX's slightly longer wheelbase and additional length helped it look less tall and stubby. Inside, the five-passenger cabin was attractive with soft-touch materials and leather seats on higher trims. The controls were straightforward and easy to use, making it a user-friendly vehicle.

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. It had an eight-speed automatic transmission, with 4Motion AWD as an option. The powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbocharger lag, making it feel breathless during passing maneuvers. The Tiguan returned 25 mpg in combined driving with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD, though real-world testing showed 22.6 mpg. The Tiguan offered a pleasurable driving experience with light steering, a compliant ride, and refined braking, though it struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks. It was quiet and composed on the highway, making long road trips enjoyable.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX offered two turbocharged three-cylinder engines: a 1.2-liter unit producing 137 horsepower and a 1.3-liter motor making 155 hp. FWD models used a CVT, while AWD models had a nine-speed automatic. The 1.3-liter turbo engine and CVT in the test vehicle were surprisingly capable, though a bit buzzy. The Encore GX's ride was not as settled as expected from a Buick, and it was noisier inside. Despite Buick's QuietTuning technology, noise, vibration, and harshness levels were more intrusive than expected. The Encore GX handled gravel driveways and dirt patches well but was not suited for off-roading.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan prioritized comfort with large doors and tall seating hip points for easy ingress and egress. The front seats offered a wide range of adjustments, and the back seat provided excellent support and generous legroom. 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, depending on the presence of the third-row seat, and maximum capacity ranged from 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX, though small, never felt cramped. Ingress and egress were easy, and controls were clearly marked. Front-seat headroom and legroom were adequate, but rear-seat knee room was tight. Cargo space measured 23.5 cubic feet behind the rear bench seat and 50.2 cubic feet with the seat folded. The Encore GX could accommodate items up to eight feet in length with the front passenger seat and rear seats folded flat. The optional hands-free power liftgate added convenience, and a rotary dial adjusted the liftgate's maximum height.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the MIB3 infotainment system starting with the SE trim, which included an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi, SiriusXM 360L, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and Car-Net connected services. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims had Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation. However, the voice recognition technology and standard six-speaker sound system were subpar, with the latter producing flatulent bass at moderate volumes.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX came with an eight-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth audio streaming, Buick Connected Services, front and rear USB ports, OnStar telematics, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Advanced Technology package added HD surround vision, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, and an upgraded infotainment system with navigation and advanced voice recognition. The Convenience package included automatic parking assist, wireless phone charging, a rear camera mirror, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with an intuitive design and efficient voice recognition.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came with IQ Drive, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control was standard on SE trim and above, while lane-keep assist and automatic high-beam headlights were standard on SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims, respectively. The Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS in SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims.

The 2022 Buick Encore GX had standard driver assistance features, including blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Advanced Technology package added HD surround vision, a head-up display, and adaptive cruise control. The Encore GX performed well in NHTSA crash tests, earning five stars for overall crash protection. The IIHS gave it "Good" ratings in all crash tests, with "Superior" ratings for front crash prevention. However, headlight ratings varied, with the top Essence trim receiving an "Acceptable" rating and lower trims receiving a "Marginal" rating.