2022 Cadillac XT6 vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured clean lines and balanced proportions, offering a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. While some might have found its styling understated, the design was likely to age well. The Tiguan was notably large for its class, nearly matching the interior space of a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento. This upsizing resulted in a roomy interior, accommodating up to seven passengers with an optional third-row seat, though the third row was best suited for children. The interior combined modern geometric forms with a no-nonsense control layout, though it had more hard plastic than one might find in 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.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6, particularly in the Premium Luxury trim, exuded a sense of sophistication with polished 20-inch alloy wheels, Stellar Black paint, and a Jet Black semi-aniline leather interior. The XT6's design was attractive but somewhat bland, with towering front running lights and simple vertical taillights. Cadillac offered the XT6 in Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trims, with prices starting just under $50,000. Our test vehicle, loaded with options including Super Cruise and Night Vision technologies, had an MSRP of $73,565. Despite the rich materials and sophisticated driving assistance technology, the XT6's interior didn't feel as special as its price tag suggested, and it felt unexpectedly narrow due to its relationship to the GMC Acadia.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, sent power to the front wheels by default, with 4Motion AWD available as an option. While the powertrain was adequate, it suffered from turbocharger lag, making the Tiguan feel breathless during passing maneuvers. The Tiguan's nearly 4,000-pound curb weight contributed to this perception. The EPA rated the Tiguan at 25 mpg combined for FWD and 24 mpg for AWD, but our AWD test model averaged 22.6 mpg. Despite its powertrain shortcomings, the Tiguan offered a pleasurable driving experience with light, responsive steering, a compliant ride, and nimble handling, though it struggled over sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 came with two engine options: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.6-liter V6 with 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Our test vehicle featured the V6 engine, which provided sufficient power and a pleasant sound, though it lacked the turbocharged zing of some competitors. The XT6 offered AWD, with the ability to switch between FWD and AWD modes, and included Tour and Sport driving modes. The V6 engine, paired with an adaptive-damping performance suspension, made the XT6 athletic on twisty roads and comfortable over speed bumps. However, the XT6 leaned more toward serenity than excitement, with smooth steering and responsive brakes. The EPA rated the XT6 V6 with AWD at 21 mpg combined, but our test vehicle returned 19.5 mpg.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan prioritized comfort with large doors, tall seating hip points, and a wide range of front seat adjustments. The back seat offered excellent support, generous legroom, and air conditioning vents, making it comfortable for tall passengers and accommodating for reverse-facing child safety seats. The Tiguan featured a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat and a usefully shaped cargo space, with cargo volume ranging from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 73.5 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6, despite its three-row configuration, felt narrower inside than expected. The front seats were comfortable and wrapped in semi-aniline leather, but lacked the range of adjustment and massage functions found in some rivals. The second-row captain’s chairs offered good legroom when slid back, but the third-row seat was cramped and difficult to access. Storage space was decent but unremarkable, with a small dashboard cubby and center armrest bin. The XT6 provided 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 43.1 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 78.7 cubic feet.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the MIB3 infotainment system starting with the SE trim, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi, SiriusXM 360L, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and a range of Car-Net connected services. While the MIB3 system was an improvement, it had some quirks, and the standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation, offering an understated approach to technology.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 offered impressive features like a digital rearview mirror, Night Vision system, and Super Cruise hands-free driving-assistance system. However, it fell short with its analog gauges and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The infotainment software was excellent, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connected services, and natural voice recognition, but usability issues persisted with touch-sensing buttons and counterintuitive indicators. The available Bose Performance Series premium audio system sounded great, but the head-up display was less impressive than those in other GM vehicles.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard 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 available starting with SE trim, and the SEL added 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 earned a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the IIHS in SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims, but the NHTSA had not published complete crash-test results.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6, equipped with the Platinum Package, featured a comprehensive suite of driving-assistance and collision-avoidance systems, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The standout feature was Super Cruise, a hands-free highway driving-assist system. While impressive, Super Cruise had limitations, particularly in heavy traffic and challenging road conditions. The XT6 earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA in all crash-test evaluations.