2022 Volvo XC60 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. It was large for its class, nearly as big inside as a Hyundai Santa Fe or Kia Sorento, offering a roomy and accommodating interior with plenty of space for four people, and an optional third-row seat expanding 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 it had more hard plastic than an Audi and somewhat flimsy steering wheel stalks. 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 destination charges.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received subtle styling changes, including a new front fascia with “air blades,” a new rear bumper hiding the tailpipes, and new wheel designs. The front grille was reworked to move sensors behind the heated Volvo logo. The interior remained largely unchanged, retaining its clean design with a portrait-oriented touchscreen and minimal clutter. The B6 R-Design test car featured aluminum mesh speaker grilles and textured seats, adding flair to an otherwise subdued interior. The Inscription trim level offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine generating 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission sent power to the front wheels by default, with 4Motion AWD as a $1,400 option on most models. The powertrain was adequate but suffered from turbocharger lag, making it feel breathless during passing maneuvers. The Tiguan returned 25 mpg in combined driving with FWD and 24 mpg with AWD, though testing showed an average of 22.6 mpg with AWD. The Tiguan provided a pleasurable driving experience with light but responsive steering, a compliant ride, and refined braking action, 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 Volvo XC60 introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains, replacing the previous T5 and T6 powertrains. The B5 produced 258 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, while the B6 generated 295 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Both used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B5 offering FWD or AWD and the B6 only available with AWD. The B5 accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, while the B6 did it in 5.9 seconds. The XC60 provided a calm, relaxed driving experience with a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, enhanced by an optional air suspension. The XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid offered 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, with a 0 to 60 mph time of 5 seconds. The Polestar Engineered version increased output to 415 hp and 494 lb-ft, with a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.9 seconds.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan prioritized comfort with large doors, tall seating hip points, and a wide range of front seat adjustments. The back seat offered 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, providing a usefully shaped cargo space with deep wells on each side. 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 whether the SUV had the optional third-row seat.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 remained competitive in passenger space, with above-average front-seat headroom but below-average rear-seat headroom. Legroom was about average for the segment. Mild-hybrid models offered 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 49.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo capacity. The XC60 provided a commanding driving position with good forward and rear visibility, aided by large exterior mirrors.

The 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the next-generation Modular Infotainment Toolkit (MIB3) 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 SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims featured Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrumentation. The MIB3 system had some quirks, and the standard six-speaker sound system struggled with bass-heavy music. The SEL Premium R-Line had a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received a tech overhaul with a 9-inch touchscreen running the Android Automotive operating system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The system included Google Assistant for voice control, Google Maps for navigation, and access to third-party apps through the Google Play Store. The system supported over-the-air software updates and promised full iPhone compatibility. The digital instrument cluster could display a map or a “Calm” setting to minimize distraction.

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 Tiguan earned a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the IIHS in SEL and SEL Premium R-Line trims.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA for the 2022 model year, but the 2021 model received a “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, automatic post-collision braking, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. New features for 2022 included Ready to Drive Notification and Emergency Stop Assist. The optional Pilot Assist system combined adaptive cruise control and automated lane centering.