2022 Chevrolet Blazer 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, 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 Chevrolet Blazer had a Camaro-inspired design that was appealing, especially with 20-inch wheels. However, the black trim on the rear bumper gave it an unfinished appearance. Inside, the Blazer featured an 8-inch touchscreen display with simple physical controls and innovative temperature adjustment rings on the air vents. The interior had plenty of hard plastic, and the upper door panel trim felt egregiously hard. The RS trim's red interior accents matched the exterior paint, adding a layer of sophistication.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission sent power to the front wheels by default, with the 4Motion AWD system available as an option. The powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbocharger lag, making the engine 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 provided a pleasurable driving experience with light but responsive steering, a compliant ride, and nimble handling, though it struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer offered a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Blazer RS included a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, with a more sophisticated dual-clutch AWD system. The V6 engine provided satisfying acceleration but was often loud and unrefined. The Blazer RS felt firm and sporty in city and suburban driving, but less pleasing on curvy roads due to its suspension and slow downshifting. The Blazer RS AWD returned 21 mpg in combined driving, with real-world testing showing 20.5 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 occupant support, generous legroom, and foot space, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The Tiguan had 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 a maximum capacity of 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer's interior featured black leather upholstery with red perforations, power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The back seat was wide and flat, with plenty of room for legs, knees, and feet, and it could slide forward and back on tracks. The Blazer offered impressive storage space, with a large glove compartment, center armrest bin, and door panel shelves. The cargo area measured 30.5 cubic feet, expanding to 64.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the MIB3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The system had some quirks, and the voice recognition technology was lacking. The SEL Premium R-Line trim featured a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system and Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer's infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen display with high-resolution graphics, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an upgraded version with satellite radio and connected navigation. The system was easy to use, with separate stereo volume and tuning functions and effective voice recognition. The Blazer also offered wireless smartphone charging, an 8-speaker Bose audio system, rear parking sensors, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror.

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

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer featured Chevy Safety Assist, with forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional safety features included a rear-seat reminder system, Teen Driver technology, Safety Alert Seat, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Blazer's advanced driving assistance systems worked exceptionally well, though it did not earn a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS.