2022 INFINITI QX60 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, nearly as big inside as a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento, thanks to a long-wheelbase version. This upsizing resulted in 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 the location of the engine start button was unusual. The cabin featured shiny detailing, digital instrumentation, and a flush touchscreen display, but it had too much hard plastic to be mistaken for an Audi.

Infiniti gave the QX60 a complete makeover for the 2022 model year, including a new exterior design, interior, powertrains, and technologies. The new front was dramatic with a prominent grille, slim LED headlights, and oversized air intakes. The long hood and steeply-raked windshield conveyed elegance, and the roof appeared to float above the cabin. The rear elevation was tasteful, with "INFINITI" spelled out in chrome letters across the liftgate. Inside, the QX60 felt wide and open, with quilted leather upholstery on the Autograph trim level. The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display was well-placed, and the TFT instrument panel delivered crisp graphics. The hard buttons and controls in the center console were simple and intuitive. The QX60 models for the U.S. were built in Tennessee, displaying high craftsmanship and build quality.

Every 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan had 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. An eight-speed automatic transmission sent power to the front wheels by default, with the 4Motion AWD system as a $1,400 option on most models. This powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbocharger lag, making the engine feel breathless during passing or freeway entry. The Tiguan returned 25 mpg in combined driving with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD, though testing showed an average of 22.6 mpg with AWD. The Tiguan provided a pleasurable driving experience with light but responsive steering, a soft ride, refined braking, and tossable handling. However, it struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks, and the tires gave up grip early in corners. The Tiguan was quiet and composed on the highway, making long road trips enjoyable.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 featured a nine-speed automatic transmission, replacing the previous CVT, which improved driving feel. The familiar 3.5-liter V6 engine produced 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque, with fuel economy estimates of 21 mpg city/26 mpg highway/23 mpg combined for FWD models and 20 mpg city/25 mpg highway/22 mpg combined for AWD. The QX60’s suspension used MacPherson struts up front and an independent multilink setup in the rear, with four-wheel ventilated disc brakes. The electric power steering assist delivered good feel. The QX60 provided a smooth, serene ride, with generous leg and headroom in the second and third rows. It was not designed for off-road use but excelled on highways and suburban streets.

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, and the V-Tex leatherette upholstery mimicked real leather. The back seat provided excellent support, legroom, and foot space, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The panoramic sunroof was enjoyable, and the cargo space was usefully shaped with deep wells. Cargo volume ranged from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row, depending on the third-row seat, with a maximum capacity of 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 catered to passengers with storage throughout the cabin, charging ports, and comfort. The center console had a cubby for smartphones, cupholders, and covered storage. The second-row seats slid fore and aft, with a 60/40 split bench or twin captain’s chairs in the Autograph trim. The third row was accessible and comfortable for adults. The QX60 offered 14.5 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, 41.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 75.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. It had a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, expandable to 6,000 pounds with the towing package.

Volkswagen made few changes to the 2021 Tiguan, with the most significant being the MIB3 infotainment system starting with the SE trim. MIB3 included an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi for up to four devices, SiriusXM 360L, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and Car-Net connected services. The MIB3 system was an improvement, but the voice recognition technology and standard six-speaker sound system had issues. The SEL Premium R-Line featured a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line had Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 came with impressive standard and available technology. Full LED headlights, running lights, taillamps, and a power liftgate were standard. The 12.3-inch InTouch Interactive display included wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, with an AT&T WiFi hotspot for up to seven devices. Six USB charge points were standard, with seven in higher trims. A wireless charging pad was standard on Sensory and Autograph models. The navigation system was standard in all but the base Pure trim. The Autograph trim featured a 10.8-inch head-up display and a smart rearview mirror. The QX60 had a nine-speaker audio system in Pure and Luxe models, with a 17-speaker Bose Performance series sound system in higher trims.

Volkswagen equipped every 2021 Tiguan with IQ Drive, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. SE trim added adaptive cruise control, SEL added lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, and SEL Premium R-Line featured automatic high-beam headlights. The Tiguan’s adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist were effective but had some inconsistencies. The parking sensors and reversing camera were helpful, with a top-down surround-view available on the SEL Premium R-Line. Car-Net connected services included automatic collision notification, emergency calling, and Family Guardian alerts. The 2021 Tiguan earned a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the IIHS in SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the previous generation received high ratings. The QX60 came with standard safety features, including front- and side-impact airbags, curtain side-impact airbags, knee airbags, second-row side-impact airbags, and front central seat-mounted airbags. It also had LATCH connectors and advanced driver assistance systems like forward emergency braking, predictive forward-collision warning, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, rearview camera, rear sonar, and blind-spot warning. ProPilot Assist was standard on all trims except Pure, with additional optional features like blind-spot intervention, lane-departure warning, lane-departure prevention, around-view monitor, front sonar, and driver attention alert.