2022 Subaru Ascent vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was characterized by its clean lines and balanced proportions, offering a conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. While some might have found its styling understated, the design was likely to age well. The Tiguan was notably large for its class, nearly matching the interior space of a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento. This upsizing resulted in a roomy interior, accommodating up to seven passengers with an optional third-row seat, though it was best suited for children. The interior featured modern geometric forms and a no-nonsense control layout, with digital instrumentation and a touchscreen infotainment system. However, the presence of hard plastics and flimsy steering wheel stalks detracted from its premium feel.

In contrast, the 2022 Subaru Ascent embraced the trend of blacked-out exterior trim with its new Onyx Edition, giving it a sporty appearance. The Ascent offered a range of trims, from Base to Touring, with pricing starting at $32,295. The Onyx Edition featured blacked-out trim, 20-inch wheels, and water-repellant StarTex synthetic leather upholstery. While the gray interior was preferable to a black one, the StarTex material tended to trap sweat, making ventilated seats a desirable but unavailable option. The Ascent's interior was practical, with metallic trim and a two-tone color scheme, but the lack of ventilated seats was a drawback.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. It came with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive as standard and 4Motion AWD as an option. While the powertrain was adequate, it suffered from turbocharger lag, making acceleration feel sluggish at times. The Tiguan's nearly 4,000-pound curb weight contributed to this perception. Fuel economy was rated at 25 mpg combined for FWD and 24 mpg for AWD, but real-world testing showed an average of 22.6 mpg. Despite these drawbacks, the Tiguan offered a pleasurable driving experience with light steering, a compliant ride, and nimble handling, though it struggled with sharper speed bumps and corners.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. It came with a CVT and standard AWD, achieving an EPA rating of 22 mpg combined. During testing, it averaged 20.5 mpg. The Ascent's flat-four engine layout contributed to a lower center of gravity, enhancing handling. The CVT was well-tuned, offering brisk acceleration and commendable passing power. The Ascent's X-Mode off-road traction control, hill descent control, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance provided off-road capability. In urban and suburban settings, the Ascent felt nimble and maneuverable, though its braking response could be overly sensitive. On highways, the lane-keeping and lane-centering assistance technologies could feel unstable, but turning them off improved the driving experience.

Inside the 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan, comfort was prioritized with large doors and tall seating positions for easy access. The front seats offered a wide range of adjustments, and the V-Tex leatherette upholstery mimicked real leather. The back seat provided excellent support and generous legroom, with air conditioning vents and USB ports for passengers. The Tiguan's cargo space varied depending on the presence of a third-row seat, offering between 33 and 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 73.5 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent could accommodate up to eight passengers with a second-row bench seat, though the third row was best suited for children. The Ascent Onyx Edition was equipped for winter weather with water-resistant seat material, triple-zone climate control, and heated front seats. Loading the second row was easy, thanks to wide rear doors. The Ascent offered ample storage, including a dashboard shelf and deep cupholders. Cargo capacity was 17.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 47.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and up to 86.5 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the MIB3 infotainment system starting with the SE trim, offering an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a range of connected services. While the system was an improvement, it had quirks, and the standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music. The SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims included Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent came with a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system in base trim, featuring Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a CD player. The Premium trim added an 8-inch display with Starlink connected services. While the system was user-friendly, its voice recognition technology needed improvement. The Onyx Edition used standard stereo speakers, lacking in sound quality, and the Harman Kardon premium sound system was not available for this trim.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped with IQ Drive, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control was available from the SE trim, with lane-keep assist and automatic high-beam headlights on higher trims. The Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS in SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent received a "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and five-star crash-test ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rollover resistance rating. It came with EyeSight driver-assistance tech, including adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology. While effective, EyeSight struggled in direct sunlight and lacked refinement. Additional safety features included steering responsive LED headlights and reverse automatic braking.