2022 Lincoln Nautilus 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 its long-wheelbase version. This 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 engine start button's location 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. The Tiguan was available in S, SE, and SEL trims, with sporty R-Line variants, and pricing ranged from $25,245 to $39,095, excluding the $1,195 destination charge. The test vehicle was an SEL trim with 4Motion AWD, priced at $35,040.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus, especially in the Black Label trim with 21-inch machined-finish wheels, was an attractive SUV with balanced styling and plenty of character. At night, the Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence greeted you, and the Black Label model offered Chalet or Flight design themes. The Chalet design featured light gray premium leather upholstery, while Flight had a classy Luggage Tan color. The Black Label trim included nearly every available feature, along with a simulated suede headliner and luxury floor mats, resulting in a decadent interior. However, the center console design and some chrome-plated plastic pieces looked a bit cheap. The Nautilus had an MSRP of $44,225, including the $1,195 destination charge, with the Black Label starting at $66,825. The test vehicle, with Ultra Comfort 22-way power-adjustable front seats and Active Motion massage, was priced at $68,325. These seats were perfect for a 14-hour round-trip drive from Los Angeles to Scottsdale, Arizona, and back.

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 1,600 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission sent power to the front wheels by default, with the 4Motion AWD system available for $1,400 on most models and standard on the SEL Premium R-Line. The powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbocharger lag, making the engine feel breathless during passing or freeway merging. The Tiguan's nearly 4,000-pound curb weight contributed to this perception of lethargy. The EPA rated the Tiguan at 25 mpg combined with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD, but testing showed an average of 22.6 mpg with AWD. Despite the powertrain's shortcomings, the Tiguan offered a pleasurable driving experience with light but responsive steering, a compliant ride, refined braking, and nimble handling. However, it struggled over sharp speed bumps and railroad tracks, and the tires lost grip early in corners. On the highway, the Tiguan was quiet and composed, making long road trips enjoyable.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus offered a choice between a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, and a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine with 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. The four-cylinder engine came with FWD and an eight-speed automatic transmission, with AWD as an option. The V6 engine, standard on the Black Label and optional on the Reserve, required AWD. The Nautilus featured Comfort, Normal, and Sport driving modes, which adjusted powertrain behavior, steering effort, and adaptive suspension. Comfort mode made the SUV feel woozy, Sport mode made the steering too heavy, and Normal mode was just right. The Nautilus had an 18-gallon fuel tank, with the V6 rated at 21 mpg combined (25 mpg highway). Over 871.1 miles, it averaged 25 mpg, and on a short mixed-driving loop, it returned 19.9 mpg. The Nautilus excelled as a road-tripper, with a quiet, comfortable ride and a 19-speaker Revel audio system. On curvy roads, the V6 and eight-speed automatic transmission performed well, and the suspension firmed up in Sport mode. However, the steering lacked engagement. The Nautilus shared its engineering with the Ford Edge, and some of that spirit was evident in its performance.

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, ensuring proper support and excellent visibility. The perforated V-Tex leatherette upholstery mimicked real leather, and the dual-zone climate control system was effective. The back seat provided excellent support, generous legroom, and foot space, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports for passengers. The Tiguan's 40/20/40-split folding rear seat allowed for carrying long items and four passengers simultaneously. Cargo space ranged from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row, depending on the presence of the third-row seat, with a maximum capacity of 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus Black Label featured smooth leather, ambient lighting, and a quiet drive thanks to Active Noise Control and acoustic glass. The front seats were heated and ventilated, with a heated power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The optional 22-way power front seats with massage programs, adjustable thigh extensions, and head restraints provided exceptional comfort. The outboard rear seats were heated, and rear passengers had air conditioning vents. However, the rear accommodations were cramped for a midsize SUV, with tight legroom. Practical storage space was adequate but not easily accessible. The hands-free power liftgate revealed a nicely finished luggage compartment with 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and a maximum of 68.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan introduced the MIB3 infotainment system starting with the SE trim, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing, and expanded features. Highlights included 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 MIB3 system was an improvement, but the user interface had quirks, and the voice recognition technology was lacking. The standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music, while the SEL Premium R-Line's nine-speaker Fender premium audio system performed better. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Sync 4 software. Sync 4 offered over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Lincoln Connect services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The Black Label test vehicle included connected navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a 19-speaker Revel premium audio system. The system had an intuitive user interface, natural voice recognition, and excellent sound quality. The Nautilus also offered Phone as a Key, turning your smartphone into a digital key.

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. SE trim added adaptive cruise control, while the SEL included lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist. The SEL Premium R-Line featured automatic high-beam headlights and front and rear parking sensors. The adaptive cruise control demonstrated smooth braking but was slow to accelerate when traffic cleared. Lane-keep assist was effective but inconsistent. The Tiguan's parking sensors were sensitive, and the reversing camera provided a clear view. The SEL Premium R-Line offered a top-down surround-view camera. Car-Net connected services included automatic collision notification, emergency calling, and Family Guardian alerts. The IIHS awarded the Tiguan a "Top Safety Pick" rating for SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims, while the NHTSA had not published complete crash-test results.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus featured Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Black Label added Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0 Plus, with adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, evasive steering assist, a surround-view camera system, and parking sensors. The Black Label also had a semi-autonomous parking assist system. The driving assistance systems were effective without causing irritation. The NHTSA awarded the Nautilus a five-star overall rating, with a four-star rating for rollover resistance. The IIHS had not assessed the Nautilus for safety.