2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan exhibited clean lines and balanced proportions, characteristics that gave it a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. Despite some critics labeling its understated styling as boring, this SUV's design stood out for its elegance and longevity.

Volkswagen corrected the size issue from the first-generation Tiguan by offering a long-wheelbase version, making the SUV nearly as spacious as the Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento inside. This upscaling resulted in a roomy interior capable of comfortably seating four people, with options to accommodate five or even seven passengers when equipped with an optional third-row seat (though three of those passengers would need to be children for optimal comfort).

Inside, Volkswagen combined modern geometric forms with a purposeful, no-nonsense control layout. The engine start button was peculiarly placed on the center console, an atypical location. The cabin's somber tones were elevated with shiny detailing, digital instrumentation, and a deftly integrated touchscreen infotainment system. However, excessive hard plastic and flimsy steering wheel stalks detracted from an otherwise refined ambiance.

The Tiguan was available in S, SE, and SEL trim levels, with SE R-Line Black and SEL Premium R-Line variants adding sporty design elements. Pricing in 2021 ranged from $25,245 to $39,095, excluding a $1,195 destination charge.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander stood out for its bold front styling, featuring the "Dynamic Shield" grille and lighting concept. Although it appeared outlandish to some, the design was tasteful and balanced from the front wheels to the rear bumper.

Available in ES, SE, SE Launch Edition, SEL, and SEL Launch Edition trims, the Outlander offered standard or optional 20-inch wheels. Pricing ranged from $25,795 to $35,345, with AWD adding an extra $1,800 and a $1,195 destination charge from its Japanese assembly plant.

The test model featured SEL trim with AWD, White Diamond paint, and the Touring package, pushing the price to $39,475. Inside, the Touring Package added luxurious touches like premium semi-aniline leather, a heated steering wheel, a HUD, a premium sound system, and rear-window sunshades. The interior adhered to minimalist design principles, and although some plastics reminded buyers of its compact crossover status, Mitsubishi avoided using overtly cheap materials.

Every 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower at 4,360 rpm and 221 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm. Power was transmitted via an eight-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels by default, with the 4Motion AWD available for an additional $1,400 on most trims and standard on the SEL Premium R-Line.

The powertrain was adequate, despite suffering from turbo lag. In specific driving scenarios, pressing the accelerator resulted in a delayed response as the turbocharger spooled up. However, once engaged, the engine performed well. The Tiguan's nearly 4,000-pound curb weight contributed to its occasional lethargic acceleration, especially during passing or highway merging.

The EPA rated the Tiguan at 25 mpg combined with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD. During testing, the Tiguan AWD averaged 22.6 mpg.

The Tiguan provided a generally enjoyable driving experience, with light but responsive steering, a compliant ride, refined braking, and nimble handling. However, it struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks, where its suspension showed a lack of isolation. On curvy roads, it lacked the grip and suspension control of sportier models like the GTI.

Despite these shortcomings, the Tiguan excelled on highways, offering a remarkably quiet and composed ride.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 181 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,600 rpm. A CVT powered the front wheels, with the option of Mitsubishi’s Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) AWD system.

Drivers could choose from Eco, Normal, Tarmac, Gravel, Snow, and Mud driving modes. Eco mode made the Outlander feel sluggish, while Tarmac mode held engine revs higher without offering more driving enjoyment.

The engine's peak torque and the CVT’s effectiveness made the Outlander responsive in urban and suburban settings. However, sharper bumps transferred into the cabin through the taut suspension. The engine lacked the strength for confident highway merges and passing maneuvers.

The Outlander's steering felt vague and imprecise, even without steering assistance or lane-departure systems active. The suspension was too firm for minor pavement imperfections, behaving brittly on all but the smoothest surfaces. Despite these traits, the Outlander excelled over speed humps and rural roads.

Fuel economy testing returned 24.9 mpg, falling short of the EPA's 26 mpg rating for AWD models.

Comfort defined the interior of the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan. Large doors and tall seating hip points eased entry and exit, and the front seats offered a wide range of adjustments, ensuring support and excellent visibility. Volkswagen's V-Tex leatherette upholstery mimicked genuine leather well, complimented by an effective dual-zone climate control system.

Rear-seat space was impressive, with generous legroom, foot space, air conditioning vents, and USB charging ports. The seats also offered substantial support, and the soft seatback material ensured comfort for taller passengers. The Tiguan was particularly accommodating for parents needing to use reverse-facing child safety seats.

A large panoramic sunroof, equipped with a wind deflector, significantly enhanced the interior ambiance. However, storage options were lacking, with a limited number of spaces like the slot forward of the shifter serving as a wireless smartphone charger, which was tricky to use.

The Tiguan's 40/20/40-split rear seat provided versatility, allowing owners to carry long items alongside four passengers. Cargo space varied based on the third-row seat option, offering 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander excelled in form and function. The front seats were spacious and comfortable, with deeply padded armrests adding to the comfort. The SEL trim’s driver’s seat offered an eight-way power adjustment, and both front seats and the steering wheel were heated.

Controls were intuitive, and the digital instrumentation and HUD impressed with their clarity. The interior design embraced minimalism, but Mitsubishi missed the opportunity to optimize the center console's storage.

Rear seat space was generous, providing good thigh support and proper seating positions. The rear seat could slide to make room for more cargo or passenger space and featured seat heaters. However, the third-row seat was cramped, suitable only for children, and awkwardly positioned close to the tailgate.

Cargo capacity with the third-row seat in use was limited to 11.7 cubic feet. With the third row folded, the Outlander offered 33.5 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 79.7 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof. Just 78.3 cubic feet of cargo room was available with the sunroof.

Volkswagen upgraded the 2021 Tiguan's technology with its next-generation Modular Infotainment Toolkit (MIB3), available from the SE trim upwards. The MIB3 included an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing times, and a host of features like wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, WiFi for up to four devices, SiriusXM 360L, and Amazon Alexa compatibility.

The MIB3 also came with a suite of Car-Net connected services, including remote engine start, automatic crash notification, and Family Guardian safe teen driving settings.

Although the MIB3 was an improvement, some user interface quirks and inferior voice recognition technology detracted from the experience. The standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music, while the SEL Premium R-Line's nine-speaker Fender premium audio system offered superior quality.

The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation, which maintained the Tiguan’s understated approach to technology and information display.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL with the Touring Package showcased three standout technological features.

Firstly, the 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display was impressive, especially for a non-luxury model. The HUD was another highlight, maintaining visibility even with polarized sunglasses and displaying ample information.

The available 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system included stereo volume and tuning knobs, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and a two-year subscription to Mitsubishi Connect Safeguard and Remote service plans. Wireless smartphone charging and a 10-speaker Bose premium audio system were also standard with this setup.

However, the voice-recognition technology had room for improvement. Road noise and tire slap may have contributed to its inconsistent performance when driving.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan came equipped with IQ Drive, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems. Standard features included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Adaptive cruise control was standard from SE trim, with the SEL adding lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist. The SEL Premium R-Line featured automatic high-beam headlights, while parking sensors (front and rear) were standard on all but the S and SE trims.

During testing, the adaptive cruise control demonstrated smooth braking but was slow to react when traffic changed lanes, and the lane-keep assist was effective though sporadic in warnings. The blind-spot warning indicator was easy to see, and parking sensors effectively warned of nearby objects—though the automatic braking response when pulling out of a driveway was overly sensitive.

The standard reversing camera provided clear rear visibility, with the top-down surround-view available on the SEL Premium R-Line. Additionally, automatic post-collision braking was standard, designed to stop the SUV as soon as possible after a collision to prevent secondary impacts.

Car-Net connected services offered numerous safety features, including automatic collision notification, emergency calling, and Family Guardian alerts.

The IIHS awarded the 2021 Tiguan a “Top Safety Pick” rating for the SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims. However, the NHTSA had not published complete crash-test results.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander’s Mi-Pilot Assist driver support system was commendable, similar to Nissan’s ProPilot Assist. It operated with smoothness and precision, functioning as a hands-on Level 2 system that required the driver’s hands to remain on the steering wheel.

Mi-Pilot Assist mitigated the Outlander’s intrusive steering assistance and lane-departure prevention systems, making them less aggravating. However, deactivating these features required navigating the touchscreen's driving assistance menu.

Alongside Mi-Pilot Assist, the 2022 Outlander included common driver-assist technologies, such as forward collision avoidance, safe reversing, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot warning. Despite some steering issues, these systems performed adequately.

Crash-test results for the 2022 Outlander were unavailable at review time.