2023 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2022 Lexus GX

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 Black Line Special Edition, evaluated in Black Onyx, was a striking vehicle that eradicated almost all chrome from its exterior, transforming it into a rolling black hole. Despite its modern touches like the signature Lexus spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights, the GX's design remained reminiscent of its first-generation model from 2002. The interior, while crafted with the smooth, silky refinement Lexus is known for, still carried an old-school vibe with physical controls and a quality cabin that was quiet except for the faint roar of the V8 engine.

In contrast, the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line, tested in Atlantic Blue with Storm Gray leather, offered a more contemporary and sporty appearance. The Tiguan's design was aging gracefully, with adaptive front lighting and a fancy light bar across the grille. Inside, the Tiguan boasted quality materials, including leather upholstery, artificial wood trim, and soft-touch surfaces. The digital instrumentation and panoramic sunroof added to the upscale feel, though some materials reminded you of its more affordable base price.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460, with its 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, had a base curb weight of 5,126 pounds. This powertrain, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and a full-time 4WD system, allowed the GX to tow up to 6,500 pounds. However, its 0.35 drag coefficient and heavy weight resulted in an EPA fuel economy estimate of 16 mpg in combined driving. The GX's Kinetic Dynamics Suspension System (KDSS) helped improve stability and handling, but the slow, heavy steering and touchy brake pedal were less appealing.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The SEL R-Line trim came standard with AWD and offered various driving modes, including Onroad, Snow, Offroad, and Custom Offroad. The Tiguan's EPA fuel economy estimate was 24 mpg in combined driving, though our test returned 22.6 mpg. While the powertrain had some quirks, such as turbo lag and delayed downshifts, the Tiguan's dynamic qualities, including light and lively steering and excellent tire grip, made it enjoyable to drive.

The 2022 Lexus GX provided an elevated driving position with a 10-way power-adjustable seat and clear outward visibility. Its tall, narrow, and short design made it easy to maneuver, though the slow steering required extra effort. The interior featured comfortable seats and physical controls, but the placement of some knobs was confusing. The Black Line Special Edition offered NuLuxe upholstery, black ash wood trim, and triple-zone automatic climate control. However, the third-row seat was cramped and difficult to access, and the side-swinging tailgate made loading cargo challenging. Cargo space was limited, with 11.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 64.7 cubic feet with the second row down.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in passenger and cargo space. The SEL R-Line's front seats were exceptionally comfortable, with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The dashboard, however, had questionable ergonomics with touch-sensing controls that were difficult to use. The rear seat offered generous legroom, headroom, and foot room, along with air conditioning vents, cupholders, and a USB charging port. The hands-free power liftgate revealed a cavernous cargo area with an adjustable load floor and handy levers for folding the seats. With AWD, the Tiguan provided 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 73.4 cubic feet behind the front seats.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 featured a new 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and navigation. The system was easy to see and use, though the old Remote Touch Interface touchpad remained. The GX also offered a CD player, a smartwatch-compatible Lexus app, and Lexus Enform connected services, including a WiFi hotspot. However, the placement of stereo controls was confusing, and the 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system was not included in the test vehicle.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan came with digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line featuring a 10.25-inch display. The infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, Car-Net connected services, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a nine-speaker Fender premium sound system. However, the system's user interface was complex, with multi-layer processes for simple tasks and touch-sensing controls that were difficult to use. The voice-recognition system also underperformed due to inactive Car-Net Hotspot and Plus Speech add-ons.

The 2022 Lexus GX, structurally a teenager, lacked crash-test ratings. It came with Lexus Safety System+, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. However, the GX lacked more advanced safety technologies found in competitors.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in safety features, offering Front Assist, Side Assist, and an Automatic Post Collision Braking System as standard. The IQ.Drive package added adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and Emergency Assist. The Tiguan also offered Light Assist, Park Assist, parking sensors, and an Area View surround-view camera system. While the NHTSA's crash-test ratings were incomplete, the IIHS awarded the 2023 Tiguan a Top Safety Pick+ rating for the 2022 calendar year.