2023 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2022 Lexus RX

The 2022 Lexus RX was available in several trims, including the base 350, F Sport, and L for its gas powertrain, with a hybrid model known as the RX 450h. The RX 350 and F Sport seated five, while the L trim offered a three-row, 7-passenger configuration. The 2022 model retained the modern and sporty design introduced in its 2020 facelift, featuring a revised grille and other exterior enhancements. Competing with the likes of the Audi Q5, BMW X5, Genesis GV80, and Mercedes-Benz GLE, the RX stood out with its aggressive styling, characterized by sharp character lines and angular features that balanced eye-catching design with careful restraint.

The F Sport trim, as the performance-oriented option, boasted a more athletic appearance with 20-inch wheels, black-housing outside mirrors, dark window trimming, F Sport badging, and a unique front fascia. The base and L trims featured 18-inch wheels, bi-LED headlights, integrated LED turn signals, a rear spoiler, and LED daytime running lights and brake lights. Inside, the RX offered a luxurious cabin with nearly a dozen color combinations, while the F Sport added sporty elements like model-specific badging, Scored Aluminum trim, and NuLuxe synthetic leather. Despite its high-quality materials, the center stack felt dated, and the NuLuxe seats in the F Sport trim were less comfortable than expected.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan, following updates in 2022, remained largely unchanged. The most significant update was the addition of a complementary five-year Car-Net Safe & Secure connected services plan. The Tiguan was offered in S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line trims, with prices ranging from $26,950 to $37,680, plus a $1,295 destination charge. Our test vehicle, an SEL R-Line, featured Atlantic Blue paint and Storm Gray leather interior. However, the trim level restricted color and wheel design choices, limiting customization options.

The SEL R-Line trim stood out with its sporty appearance and 20-inch machined-finish wheels, adaptive front lighting, and a light bar across the grille. Inside, the Tiguan's cabin was upscale, featuring quality leather upholstery, artificial wood trim, soft-touch materials, digital instrumentation, and a panoramic sunroof. Despite some materials reminding of its base price, the overall construction felt solid. The Tiguan's interior controls, however, were less user-friendly, with touch-sensing steering wheel and climate controls in reflective gloss black plastic that hampered usability.

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, while the hybrid RX 450h combined the V6 with two high-torque electric motors for a total of 308 hp. All RX models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard on the RX 350 and AWD available. The hybrid RX came exclusively with AWD. Despite its sporty appearance, the RX's real-world performance was underwhelming, with a lackluster engine note and unimpressive acceleration. The F Sport trim, even with its adaptive variable suspension and Sport+ drive mode, failed to deliver significant changes in driving dynamics.

The RX excelled in driving comfort and cabin quietness, absorbing rough patches and providing a serene ride. Fuel efficiency for the RX 350 was rated at 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 combined, with slight drops for AWD and three-row models. The RX 450h hybrid achieved 30 mpg combined, with 31 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. FWD was standard, with VW's 4Motion AWD system available. The SEL R-Line trim included AWD as standard, with additional driving modes for various conditions. The Tiguan's turbo-four provided adequate power, but the automatic transmission's delayed downshifts and momentary turbo lag were noticeable. Sport mode improved performance slightly but at the cost of fuel efficiency.

The Tiguan's dynamic qualities were otherwise rewarding, with excellent tire grip, stable handling, and a compliant ride. The EPA estimated the SEL R-Line's fuel efficiency at 24 mpg combined, though our test vehicle achieved 22.6 mpg. The Tiguan's road noise and occasional resonance on certain highways were minor drawbacks, but its excellent outward visibility and nimble handling made it easy to drive and park.

The standard two-row 2022 Lexus RX offered 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume, comfortably seating four adults, with a snug fit for five. Front headroom measured 39.4 inches, with 39.1 inches in the rear. Legroom was ample at 44.1 inches in the front and 38.0 inches in the back. The three-row L models, sharing the same wheelbase, had limited space for anything beyond groceries. Cargo space in the two-row RX was 16.0 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 32.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. The three-row models offered 7.45 cubic feet with all seats upright, 23.03 cubic feet with the third row down, and 58.48 cubic feet with both back rows folded.

The RX featured thoughtful interior elements like a dedicated smartphone slot, adjustable-height cup holder, quick-access head-up display button, and a flat-bottomed cargo net. However, the rear seats did not fold completely flat, and the high load-in height made loading cargo challenging.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan provided a roomy and affordable SUV option, with FWD models offering a standard third-row seat. However, the third row reduced cargo space, making AWD models with larger cargo areas more practical. The SEL R-Line trim featured exceptionally comfortable front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, along with a heated steering wheel. Storage space was generous, though the center armrest bin was small.

The Tiguan's dashboard had questionable ergonomics, with touch-sensing controls that were difficult to use. The Climatronic Touch climate control panel was placed too low, making it hard to see while driving. The touch-sensing steering wheel controls were also problematic, with reflections obscuring markings and accidental activations. Despite these issues, the Tiguan excelled in passenger and cargo space, with large rear door openings, generous legroom, headroom, and foot room, and a cavernous cargo area with an adjustable load floor and handy features.

With AWD, the Tiguan offered 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 73.4 cubic feet behind the front seats, comparable to some midsize SUVs. FWD models had slightly less cargo space, with 33 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.3 cubic feet behind the front seats.

The 2022 Lexus RX came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen display, with a 12.3-inch version available as an option. Despite being moved closer to the driver in the 2020 refresh, the touchscreens were still ergonomically unfriendly, with a lip in front of the screen partially blocking icons. The touchpad controller was hypersensitive and unintuitive, making it frustrating to use. The drive mode selector was also confusingly placed next to the touchpad.

However, the RX offered a long list of quality tech features, including six USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, wireless charging, Amazon Alexa compatibility, a WiFi hotspot, dual- and tri-zone climate control, premium audio systems, navigation with cloud-based updates, and heated and ventilated seats.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan featured digital instrumentation, with an 8-inch display on most trims and a 10.25-inch display on the SEL R-Line. The larger display offered a sophisticated appearance and a wider array of data, including a full-panel navigation map. The Tiguan also provided a warning to turn on headlights when driving in the dark.

The infotainment system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen on the base S trim, with an 8-inch touchscreen on other trims. The SEL R-Line had 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 sub-menus and multi-step processes made it less user-friendly.

The Tiguan's voice-recognition system was also disappointing, frequently failing to connect due to inactive subscriptions. Despite these quirks, the Tiguan's technology offered a range of features and functions, though the user interfaces introduced unnecessary complexity and distraction.

The 2022 Lexus RX came standard with the Lexus Safety System 2.0+, which included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, lane-departure warning with steering assist, road-sign recognition, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, a pre-collision system with cyclist and pedestrian detection, and intelligent high beams. Additional standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, and Lexus Enform Safety Connect.

The RX was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS when equipped with optional triple-beam LED headlights but missed the top-tier "plus" designation due to its headlights rating. The NHTSA gave the RX a four-star overall rating, with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal crashes and rollover resistance.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in safety features, offering tech often found only on luxury models. Standard safety features included Front Assist with forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking, as well as Side Assist with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Automatic Post Collision Braking System helped avoid secondary impacts after a collision.

The IQ.Drive package, standard on most trims, added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, active blind-spot monitoring, Lane Assist, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist. Additional features included Light Assist, Park Assist, parking sensors with low-speed automatic braking, and an Area View surround-view camera system.

The Tiguan's safety technology worked well, with minimal false alerts and smooth performance. However, the NHTSA's crash-test ratings were incomplete, and the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating for the 2022 calendar year did not apply to the 2023 model.