2022 Ford Bronco 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 that was likely to age well. It 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. The interior combined modern geometric forms with a no-nonsense control layout, though it had some oddities like the engine start button's location. The cabin was dressed up with shiny detailing, digital instrumentation, and a flush touchscreen infotainment system, but it had too much hard plastic to be confused with an Audi.

In contrast, the 2022 Ford Bronco had attractive retro styling, a go-anywhere attitude, and a deep lineup to choose from, making it one of the most sought-after vehicles. It returned with two new range-topping models: the Everglades and the Bronco Raptor. The Everglades model was built for swamp trekking and deep water, featuring an intake snorkel, a Warn winch, and 35-inch Goodyear mud-terrain tires. The Bronco's design was dictated by its off-road mission, with short overhangs, low-profile bumpers, tall ride height, large recovery hooks, removable fender flares, a full-size spare mounted to the tailgate, and modular construction for easy customization. Inside, it continued the utilitarian theme with features like sealed switches, marine-grade vinyl upholstery, and drain plugs in the floor, but also included modern technology like G.O.A.T. modes, a digital instrument panel, and a large infotainment touchscreen.

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 a low 1,600 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission sent power to the front wheels by default, with the 4Motion AWD system available as a $1,400 option on most models and standard with SEL Premium R-Line. The powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbocharger lag, making the engine feel breathless when extra power was needed. The Tiguan returned 25 mpg in combined driving with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD, but during testing, the AWD model averaged 22.6 mpg. The Tiguan provided a pleasurable driving experience with light but responsive steering, a soft and compliant ride, refined braking action, and tossable handling, though it struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks. It was quiet and composed on the highway, making long road trips more enjoyable.

The 2022 Ford Bronco's base engine was a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder producing 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, with an optional turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine delivering 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. A seven-speed manual transmission was available for the four-cylinder engine, while a 10-speed automatic was mandatory for the V6 and offered with the four-cylinder. All Broncos came with four-wheel drive and an electronic two-speed transfer case. The Bronco excelled in off-road settings, with varying degrees of capability across its trims. The Everglades model, tested on difficult terrain, showcased its ability to ford water as deep as 36.4 inches and navigate deep-rutted muddy trails, deep water crossings, and steep rock climbs. On pavement, the Bronco behaved well, with better steering and ride quality than typical off-road vehicles, making it a better road trip companion. Wind noise on the highway was a minor complaint, but the absence of tire howl contributed to its overall excellence.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan prioritized comfort with large doors and tall seating hip points for easy entry and exit. The front seats offered a wide range of adjustments for proper support and excellent visibility, with perforated V-Tex leatherette upholstery and dual-zone climate control. The back seat provided generous legroom and foot space, air conditioning vents, USB charging ports, and soft front seatback material. The Tiguan had a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat, 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, depending on the presence of the third-row seat.

The 2022 Ford Bronco's squared-off styling contributed to its abundance of interior space, with ample headroom, legroom, and lateral space. Accessing the rear seats in the two-door model required an awkward squeeze, but the four-door model was more accommodating. Cargo capacity varied by model and roof type, with the two-door hard top offering up to 22.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 52.3 cubic feet with the seats folded, while the four-door hard top increased capacity to 35.6 cubic feet behind and 77.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Bronco featured clever storage solutions and accessories, including large armrest bins, netted door pockets, rubberized phone trays, and options for accessory rails and stowable doors. External hard mounting points and hidden anchors further enhanced its utility.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the next-generation Modular Infotainment Toolkit (MIB) platform called MIB3, available starting with the SE trim. MIB3 equipped the Tiguan with an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing and response times, and an expanded offering of features and services, including 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 SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation. However, the voice recognition technology and standard six-speaker sound system had some quirks and limitations.

The 2022 Ford Bronco smartly used technology to enhance its off-road capabilities while keeping the driver engaged. The G.O.A.T. modes added off-road confidence for novice drivers, while seasoned off-roaders could manually select their preferred setups. The forward-looking trail camera and Trail Turn Assist feature were particularly useful for navigating difficult terrain. The Bronco's Sync 4 infotainment system had quick responses, sharp graphics, and helpful off-road apps, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone integration standard for all models, paired with an available wireless charging pad.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came 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. Starting with SE trim, adaptive cruise control was included, with lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist added in the SEL trim. 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 Ford Bronco included standard safety features like hill-start assist, hill descent control, and trailer sway control. Optional safety features included frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assist, rear parking sensors, and automatic high beams. The High package added front parking sensors and a surround-view camera system, while the Luxe package included adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist. The NHTSA awarded the four-door Bronco four out of five stars for frontal crash protection and three out of five stars for rollover protection. The IIHS gave the Bronco its best score of "Good" in frontal, side, and roof strength tests and "Acceptable" for head restraints and seats.