2023 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Buick Enclave represented a significant shift in Buick's design philosophy, moving away from its traditionally conservative styling to embrace a more modern and upscale appearance. This transformation was evident in the Enclave's exterior, which featured a refreshed grille, updated front and rear fascias, and new headlamp and taillamp designs. The Avenir trim, in particular, stood out with its unique grille and 20-inch wheels, offering a touch of luxury. Inside, the Enclave's cabin was spacious and comfortable, with upgraded materials and a restyled center console. The Avenir trim added further luxury with standard climate-controlled front seats and heated second-row captain's chairs, making it a comfortable choice for long journeys.

In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan maintained a more conservative design, yet it aged gracefully with its sporty R-Line trim. The SEL R-Line trim, in particular, offered a sophisticated appearance with its 20-inch machined-finish wheels and adaptive front lighting. Inside, the Tiguan's cabin was upscale, featuring quality leather upholstery, artificial wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof. However, some interior materials reminded occupants of the Tiguan's more affordable base price. Despite this, the Tiguan's robust construction and solid assembly contributed to a sense of quality and durability.

The 2022 Buick Enclave was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain provided a smooth and responsive driving experience, even with the Enclave's substantial weight. The Enclave's ride quality was enhanced by the Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and real-time chassis damping. This setup allowed the Enclave to handle various terrains with ease, offering a serene and quiet cabin experience thanks to Buick's QuietTuning technology.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan, on the other hand, featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. While the Tiguan's powertrain was not the most powerful in its class, it offered a balanced driving experience with selectable driving modes. The Tiguan's 4Motion AWD system provided additional traction and stability, making it suitable for various driving conditions. However, the Tiguan's transmission occasionally stumbled with delayed downshifts, and the turbo lag was noticeable during acceleration. Despite these quirks, the Tiguan's dynamic qualities, including its light and lively steering, made it enjoyable to drive.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with ample room for passengers in all three rows. The Enclave's large windshield and window openings provided excellent visibility, while the standard power-adjustable front seats ensured comfort for the driver and front passenger. The Enclave's cargo space was generous, with 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 97.4 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. The power-folding third-row seats added convenience when accessing the cargo area.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan also excelled in terms of interior space, particularly in the rear seats. The Tiguan's large rear door openings and generous legroom, headroom, and foot room made it a comfortable choice for passengers. The SEL R-Line trim featured comfortable front seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. However, the Tiguan's dashboard controls, including touch-sensing climate and steering wheel controls, were less user-friendly, often requiring multiple steps to execute simple tasks. The Tiguan's cargo area was spacious, with 37.6 cubic feet behind the second row and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, making it competitive with some midsize SUVs.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with wireless phone charging. The Premium and Avenir trims added navigation and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. The Enclave's infotainment system was user-friendly, though some graphics appeared dated. The Enclave also offered a range of driver-assist features, including adaptive cruise control and a head-up display, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan came equipped with digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line trim featuring a larger 10.25-inch display. The Tiguan's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a nine-speaker Fender premium sound system. However, the Tiguan's infotainment interface was less intuitive, with multi-layer processes for simple tasks. The Tiguan's voice-recognition system also fell short of expectations, often failing to connect. Despite these drawbacks, the Tiguan offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came standard with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package, which included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assistance. Additional safety features were available on higher trims, such as adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera. The Enclave received a four-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a robust suite of safety features, including Front Assist and Side Assist, which provided forward collision warning and blind-spot monitoring. The Tiguan's IQ.Drive package added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and emergency assist. The Tiguan's safety technology was effective and rarely issued false alerts. However, the NHTSA's crash-test ratings were incomplete, and the Tiguan's driver's door unlatched during a side-impact test, raising safety concerns. The IIHS awarded the 2023 Tiguan a Top Safety Pick+ rating for the 2022 calendar year, though this rating did not apply for 2023.