2021 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was lauded for its clean lines and balanced proportions, even if some consumers found the styling bland. Volkswagen's conservative and upscale design approach rendered a timeless aesthetic that would age gracefully. The Tiguan also stood out for its size, addressing past criticisms of the first-generation model being too compact. The second-generation Tiguan grew significantly, becoming nearly as spacious as a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento.

The interior of the Tiguan was roomy, accommodating up to seven passengers with an optional third-row seat, although this space was more suited for children. The interior boasted modern geometric forms with a no-nonsense control layout, typical of German automakers. Noteworthy features included shiny detailing, available digital instrumentation, and a seamlessly integrated touchscreen infotainment system. However, the inclusion of hard plastics and somewhat flimsy steering wheel stalks betrayed its aspirations of rivaling luxury brands like Audi.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received subtle but significant styling updates, featuring a new grille, LED headlights, and LED daytime running lights. These enhancements resulted in a sleeker look, although the Equinox’s design still maintained a car-based crossover vibe rather than emulating rugged SUVs like the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4. The tall roofline and prominent front fascia gave it a less car-like appearance compared to the Ford Escape, providing a middle ground for buyers.

Inside, the Equinox's dashboard design was creative and cohesive, with a central touchscreen flanked by large air vents. The fit and finish were decent for its price segment. Standard cloth seats could be upgraded to perforated leather upholstery in higher trims. The new RS model introduced sportier elements such as black exterior trim, darkened wheels, and model-specific interior enhancements, although some found the interior too subdued.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower at 4,360 rpm and 221 lb-ft of torque at 1,600 rpm. Power was routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels by default, with an optional 4Motion AWD system available for an additional $1,400. The engine provided adequate performance but suffered from turbo lag, making it occasionally sluggish. The Tiguan’s nearly 4,000-pound curb weight further contributed to its perceived lethargy, particularly during highway overtaking maneuvers.

Fuel efficiency for the Tiguan was rated at 25 mpg combined for FWD models and 24 mpg for AWD versions according to EPA estimates. However, real-world testing of the AWD model yielded an average of 22.6 mpg. Despite some shortcomings, the Tiguan offered an enjoyable driving experience with responsive steering, a comfortable ride, and nimble handling, making it well-suited for urban environments. It was notably quiet and composed on highways, although the suspension struggled with sharper bumps.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, on the other hand, simplified its powertrain offerings to a single 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 170 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. This engine was mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, with standard FWD and optional AWD. While the Equinox boasted more torque than many of its rivals, it fell short in horsepower when compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue. The engine excelled in city driving, providing ample torque for quick starts in stop-and-go traffic. However, at higher speeds, it felt coarse and unresponsive, struggling with highway overtaking. The automatic transmission’s shifts were also somewhat rough.

The Equinox’s driving dynamics were comfortable but unremarkable, lacking the sporty handling of rivals like the Mazda CX-5 or the solidity and refinement of the Honda CR-V.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower at 4,360 rpm and 221 lb-ft of torque at 1,600 rpm. Power was routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels by default, with an optional 4Motion AWD system available for an additional $1,400. The engine provided adequate performance but suffered from turbo lag, making it occasionally sluggish. The Tiguan’s nearly 4,000-pound curb weight further contributed to its perceived lethargy, particularly during highway overtaking maneuvers.

Fuel efficiency for the Tiguan was rated at 25 mpg combined for FWD models and 24 mpg for AWD versions according to EPA estimates. However, real-world testing of the AWD model yielded an average of 22.6 mpg. Despite some shortcomings, the Tiguan offered an enjoyable driving experience with responsive steering, a comfortable ride, and nimble handling, making it well-suited for urban environments. It was notably quiet and composed on highways, although the suspension struggled with sharper bumps.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, on the other hand, simplified its powertrain offerings to a single 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 170 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque. This engine was mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, with standard FWD and optional AWD. While the Equinox boasted more torque than many of its rivals, it fell short in horsepower when compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue. The engine excelled in city driving, providing ample torque for quick starts in stop-and-go traffic. However, at higher speeds, it felt coarse and unresponsive, struggling with highway overtaking. The automatic transmission’s shifts were also somewhat rough.

The Equinox’s driving dynamics were comfortable but unremarkable, lacking the sporty handling of rivals like the Mazda CX-5 or the solidity and refinement of the Honda CR-V.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in comfort and practicality. Large doors and elevated seating made entry and exit easy, with front seats offering extensive adjustability for optimal support and visibility. Its V-Tex leatherette upholstery mimicked genuine leather effectively, and the dual-zone climate control system was highly efficient.

The Tiguan’s back seat offered excellent support, generous legroom, and ample space for riders. It proved family-friendly, especially for new parents needing clearance for rear-facing child safety seats. While storage options were somewhat limited, the Tiguan featured a versatile 40/20/40-split folding rear seat. This configuration, along with cargo wells, provided up to 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row for the two-row model, and up to 73.5 cubic feet with the seats folded flat.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox accommodated five passengers across two rows. It offered decent headroom in both rows and good second-row legroom, although front seat legroom could be better in comparison to competitors. The driving position was elevated, which many buyers preferred, although the lack of a telescoping steering wheel hindered comfort.

The climate controls in the Equinox were prominently placed, below the touchscreen, avoiding the need to navigate touchscreen menus for adjustments. The knobs also displayed current temperature settings, which was a thoughtful touch. However, the Equinox’s cargo space fell short of rivals, with 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 63.9 cubic feet with them folded. It also lacked features like a sliding second-row seat or additional storage bins found in competitors like the Ford Escape and Nissan Rogue.

For 2021, the Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the MIB3 infotainment system, starting with the SE trim. This next-generation platform included an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Wi-Fi for up to four devices, SiriusXM 360L, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and a suite of Car-Net connected services. While MIB3 was an improvement, it had some user interface quirks, and the standard six-speaker sound system lacked bass performance. The SEL Premium R-Line trim featured a nine-speaker Fender audio system, which previous experiences indicated should have been optional for more trims. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line benefited from Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation, presenting information in an understated but effective manner.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Higher trims upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch instrument-cluster display. Optional features included navigation and a Bose seven-speaker audio system. The Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system was user-friendly, with large, smartphone-like menu icons and responsive performance. The inclusion of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a standout feature. However, the center-console slot for phones was too small, which was a drawback considering the tech-savvy target audience.

Volkswagen equipped the 2021 Tiguan with its IQ Drive suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Starting with the SE trim, adaptive cruise control was added, while the SEL trim featured lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist. The SEL Premium R-Line also included automatic high-beam headlights and front and rear parking sensors.

During testing, the adaptive cruise control demonstrated smooth braking but was slow to react when traffic cleared. Lane-keep assist was effective but inconsistent. The blind-spot warning indicator was easily visible, and parking sensors performed well, although the SUV’s automatic braking was overly sensitive in some scenarios. The Tiguan also included a top-down surround-view camera for the SEL Premium R-Line trim and automatic post-collision braking.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received top “Good” scores in most IIHS crash tests but rated “Marginal” in the updated side crash test. It achieved “Superior” ratings for front-crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle situations and “Advanced” ratings in vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios. It also received an “Acceptable” score for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. NHTSA awarded the Equinox a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crashes, and four stars in rollover tests.