2022 Nissan Armada 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, thanks to a long-wheelbase version. This upsizing resulted in a roomy interior with plenty of space for four people, and the optional third-row seat expanded 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 had 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 destination charge.

The 2022 Nissan Armada was a large SUV, measuring 208.9 inches long, 75.8 inches tall, and 79.9 inches wide, with a minimum ground clearance of 9.1-9.2 inches and a step-in height of nearly two feet. Its exterior had sculptural details, standard LED lighting, and a tasteful amount of chrome, including sharp-looking vents on the front fenders. The tailgate featured a large expanse of convex glass and big taillamps. Available in seven colors, the Armada had deep, rich paint and lustrous chrome. Eighteen-inch wheels were standard on the S and SV models, 20-inch on the SL trim, and 22-inch diamond-cut aluminum-alloy wheels on the Platinum, which filled the wheel arches and added sparkle.

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 merging. The Tiguan returned 25 mpg in combined driving with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD, though testing showed an average of 22.6 mpg for the AWD model. The Tiguan provided a pleasurable driving experience with light but responsive steering, a soft ride, refined braking, and nimble handling, though it struggled with sharper speed bumps and railroad tracks. It was quiet and composed on the highway, making long road trips enjoyable.

The 2022 Nissan Armada came with a naturally aspirated 5.6-liter V8 engine producing 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with four-wheel drive available, both using a seven-speed automatic transmission. RWD models earned an EPA rating of 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway/16 mpg combined, while 4WD versions earned 13 mpg city/18 mpg highway/15 mpg combined. The Armada weighed between 5,650 and 6,034 pounds and could carry up to eight passengers and tow up to 8,500 pounds. The Armada's brakes, including 13.8-inch vented disc brakes with hydraulic brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, and a four-wheel/four-channel/four-sensor anti-lock system, performed well. The four-wheel independent suspension provided a supple, controlled ride, even on rutted roads. The Armada was a pleasant cruiser, handling potholes, bumps, and ridges with ease.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan offered comfort with large doors and tall seating hip points, making it easy to get in and out. The front seats had a wide range of adjustments, and the V-Tex leatherette upholstery mimicked real leather. The back seat provided excellent support, generous legroom, and foot space, with air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The Tiguan had a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat, allowing for long items and four passengers. Cargo volume ranged from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row, with a maximum capacity of 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet, depending on the third-row seat.

The 2022 Nissan Armada was designed to transport seven to eight people in comfort. The first row had two bucket seats with 10-way power adjustment for the driver and six-way power adjustment for the front passenger, both with power lumbar adjustment. The second row offered a fold-flat 60/40-split bench seat or available captain's chairs, with a removable center console for SL and Platinum trims. The third-row 60/40 split bench seat was roomy enough for three and could be equipped with power folding and reclining functions. The Armada had nine cupholders, four bottle holders, and storage cubbies throughout the cabin. It could carry up to 16.5 cubic feet of luggage behind the third row, 49.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 95.4 cubic feet with the second row down. A power liftgate was standard on SL and Platinum models.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the MIB3 infotainment system starting with the SE trim, with 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 had some quirks, and the voice recognition technology was lacking. The six-speaker sound system in all trims except the SEL Premium R-Line struggled with bass, while the SEL Premium R-Line had a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation.

The 2022 Nissan Armada came with standard NissanConnect technology, using a 12.3-inch color touchscreen with a customizable split-screen option. Standard tech features included a Wi-Fi hot spot, wireless device charging pad (except on S models), NissanConnect telematics services, navigation, hands-free text messaging, a rear-view monitor, satellite radio capability, and a proximity key with push-button start. The base S trim had a four-speaker audio system, while the SV added two speakers. The SL and Platinum models had a Bose-branded audio system with 13 speakers, a subwoofer, and a digital amplifier. All models had USB-A and USB-C ports, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, and redundant steering wheel audio controls. Platinum models included a "Family Entertainment System" with dual 8-inch headrest monitors, wireless headphones, and HDMI input.

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 blind-spot warning indicator was easy to see. The Tiguan's parking sensors were sensitive, and the reversing camera provided a clear view. The SEL Premium R-Line had a top-down surround-view vantage point. 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 Nissan Armada included a comprehensive list of standard passive and active safety and driver-assistance features. The Nissan Safety Shield 360 included high beam assist, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear automatic braking, and rear cross-traffic alert. Other active safety systems included adaptive cruise control, intelligent forward collision warning, intelligent lane intervention, and rear-door alert. An available intelligent rear-view mirror provided a high-resolution camera view. The Armada had dual-stage front supplemental airbags, front-seat-mounted side impact airbags, and roof-mounted curtain airbags. A trailer brake controller was standard on SV, SL, and Platinum models, while trailer sway control was standard on the SL and Platinum. The IIHS and NHTSA had not released safety ratings for the 2022 Armada.