2022 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured clean lines and balanced proportions, which some might have found boring, but others appreciated for its conservative, upscale, and timeless aesthetic. This design was expected 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 second-generation model corrected the size issues of its predecessor by offering a long-wheelbase version, making it more appealing to those who preferred larger vehicles.

Inside, the Tiguan provided a roomy and accommodating interior with enough space for four people comfortably, and the option to carry five. An optional third-row seat expanded the capacity to seven, though it was best suited for children. The interior combined modern geometric forms with a no-nonsense control layout, though the placement of the engine start button on the center console was unusual. The cabin featured shiny detailing, digital instrumentation, and a flush touchscreen infotainment system, but it had too much hard plastic to be mistaken for an Audi. The steering wheel stalks also felt a bit flimsy.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna, continuing from its 2021 redesign, embraced its minivan identity while incorporating SUV styling cues. It featured a macho front end and re-engineered door hinges and slides to hide the slider channel below the rear side window frame. The rear doors had integrated styling details, and the overall profile was assertive with a nice stance. The base models came with 17-inch wheels, while upper trims offered 18-inch and 20-inch options.

Inside, the Sienna avoided the minivan/school bus feel with an uncluttered front cabin design and clever storage solutions throughout. The second and third rows offered comfortable, roomy seating, with available second-row captain’s chairs and a spacious third-row bench. The third row was standard and could be easily stored away into the floor. The second-row seats slid up to 25 inches, making access to the third row easy. The Sienna was designed to be a family workhorse, capable of carrying a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed.

The 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. An eight-speed automatic transmission sent power to the front wheels by default, with the 4Motion AWD system available for an additional $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 maneuvers or when extra power was needed.

The Tiguan's fuel economy was rated by the EPA at 25 mpg combined for FWD models and 24 mpg for AWD models. During testing, the AWD model averaged 22.6 mpg. Despite the laggardly response, the Tiguan offered a pleasurable 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, and the tires gave up grip early in corners, encouraging a slower driving pace. On the highway, the Tiguan was quiet and composed, making long road trips enjoyable.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna came exclusively with a hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce 243 horsepower. FWD was standard, with AWD available on all trim levels. The AWD system added a separate electric motor for the rear wheels, providing 54 hp and 89 pound-feet of torque. The Sienna used an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), offering smooth and efficient power delivery with selectable drive modes (Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport).

The Sienna's handling was better than expected for a minivan, thanks to the Toyota Next Generation Architecture (TNGA) platform's front suspension and steering and independent rear trailing arm suspension. Body roll was minimal, and the Sienna Hybrid provided a comfortable and easy highway driving experience. The EPA rated the FWD Sienna Hybrid at 36 mpg city/highway/combined, while AWD models achieved 35 mpg city/highway/combined. The Sienna's 288-volt nickel metal-hydride battery pack was tucked under the front seats and came with a 10-year/150,000-mile warranty.

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 for proper support and excellent visibility. The V-Tex leatherette upholstery mimicked real leather well, 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 panoramic sunroof was enjoyable, though storage space was limited.

The Tiguan featured a 40/20/40-split folding rear seat, allowing for long items and four passengers simultaneously. Cargo space ranged from 33 to 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row, depending on whether the third-row seat was present. Maximum capacity ranged from 65.7 to 73.5 cubic feet.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna was designed to be a family workhorse, capable of carrying a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed. The sliding second row added flexibility for loading luggage and freight. Cargo measurements were 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101 cubic feet behind the first row. The Sienna also had a 3,500-pound maximum towing capacity.

The standard 60/40-split third-row bench stored away easily, and each row had storage cubbies and cupholders. Both side sliding doors and the rear tailgate were power-operated with foot-motion triggers, providing convenience for loading and unloading.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the next-generation Modular Infotainment Toolkit (MIB3) platform starting with the SE trim. MIB3 included an 8-inch touchscreen, faster processing, and expanded features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, WiFi for up to four devices, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and Car-Net connected services. However, the voice recognition technology and standard six-speaker sound system were lacking. The SEL Premium R-Line offered a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system and Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna came with a 9-inch touchscreen standard on all grades, with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and multiple USB ports. However, it lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sienna included a one-year trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect telematics services, a 10-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month trial of AT&T WiFi Connect. Higher trims offered a 12-speaker JBL audio system and a rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch display. The Platinum trim featured a 10-inch color head-up display and a digital rearview mirror.

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. Adaptive cruise control was standard on SE trim and above, while lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist was added on the SEL. The SEL Premium R-Line featured automatic high-beam headlights and front and rear parking sensors. The Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS in SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite included adaptive cruise control, Lane Tracing Assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and traffic sign recognition. The Sienna also had 10 airbags, multiple LATCH child-seat connectors, a rear-seat reminder system, tire-pressure monitoring, and an inflator kit. A spare tire was available, mounted in the cargo space wall for safety and convenience.