2021 Volvo XC60 vs 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2021 Volvo XC60, though no longer purely Swedish, benefited greatly from its acquisition by Geely Holding Group. This transition allowed Volvo to shed its Ford-era constraints and innovate with new platforms and engineering. The XC60, built on Volvo’s SPA platform, showcased a near-luxury design with a focus on safety and innovation. Its elegant, tailored crossover design featured short overhangs, an upright grille with Volvo’s iron mark logo, and distinctive Thor’s hammer-shaped LED headlights. The interior was equally impressive, with clean lines, authentic materials, and a serene atmosphere, highlighted by a 9-inch portrait-oriented infotainment touchscreen and meticulously designed HVAC vents.

In contrast, the 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan maintained a conservative yet timeless design. The refreshed model featured new front styling, aligning it with the larger Atlas models, and included standard LED headlights and redesigned aluminum wheels. The Tiguan’s interior was spacious, with a standard third-row seat in FWD models, and offered a richer look with perforated leather upholstery, new technology, and ambient lighting. However, the hard plastic in the lower half of the cabin revealed its mass-market status. The switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard added a sophisticated touch but proved harder to use.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 offered a range of powertrains, all centered around a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The T5 models, available in FWD or AWD, produced 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 models, with AWD, delivered 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, thanks to a turbocharger and supercharger. The T8 models, plug-in hybrids, combined a gasoline engine with an 87-hp electric motor, resulting in 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Polestar Engineered variant pushed these figures to 415 hp and 472 lb-ft. The XC60’s AWD system and torque vectoring provided a smooth, secure ride, making it an excellent road-trip car. Fuel economy ranged from 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway for the T5 FWD to 27 mpg combined for the T8 PHEV, with the T8 achieving 57 MPGe in electric-only mode.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan retained its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. Power was transferred via an eight-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels, with an optional 4Motion AWD system. The AWD system could decouple the rear axle to save fuel when not needed. The Tiguan offered various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, and programmable Individual, with additional Offroad settings for AWD models. Despite its 7.6 inches of ground clearance, the Tiguan was best suited for well-traveled paths. The Tiguan’s ride and handling were nimble and responsive in normal driving situations, but it lacked the power and performance expected from a turbocharged engine. Fuel economy for the R-Line with 4Motion was 24 mpg combined, with our test drive averaging 24.7 mpg.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 excelled in comfort and functionality, particularly in winter conditions. The front seats were highly adjustable and heated, providing quick warmth in sub-freezing temperatures. The heating system, rear glass heater, and windshield defroster effectively managed ice and snow buildup. The cabin featured smart storage solutions and intuitive controls, with 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 63.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The XC60 could tow up to 3,500 pounds.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan, a spacious compact crossover, offered a standard third-row seat in FWD models. The SEL R-Line featured comfortable leather seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The second row was roomy and suitable for adults and children, with rear air conditioning vents and a USB charging port. The switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard added sophistication but was harder to use. Cargo space was generous, with 37.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded in AWD models.

The 2021 Volvo XC60’s Sensus infotainment system featured a tablet-style touchpad interface with swipe, pinch, and pull gestures. The portrait-oriented screen was divided into function quadrants, making it intuitive for frequent iPad users. The system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot with a three-month trial. The Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system was exceptional. However, the system had a learning curve and could be distracting while driving.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came with standard digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line featuring a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system. The MIB3 infotainment system, available in all but the base model, included an 8-inch touchscreen, Car-Net connected services, App-Connect smartphone mirroring, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The SEL R-Line added a redesigned navigation system and a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system. However, the natural voice recognition feature required a Plus Speech upgrade and an active Car-Net Hotspot subscription. The Tiguan also offered an available Park Assist system for autonomous parking.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 was a testament to Volvo’s commitment to safety, earning a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA for certain models. Standard safety features included LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, collision avoidance, and various mitigation systems. Volvo’s semi-autonomous Pilot Assist system was available, integrating adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The XC60’s top speed was restricted to 112 mph for safety.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard Front Assist and Side Assist on the base model. The IQ Drive collection included Travel Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, and Emergency Assist, which could safely bring the vehicle to a stop if the driver became unresponsive. The 2021 Tiguan earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, and the 2022 model’s improved driver aids and LED headlights aimed to enhance this score.