2022 Subaru Forester vs 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2022 Subaru Forester came in various trims, including base, Premium, Sport, Wilderness, Limited, and Touring. Prices started at $25,195 for the base model, with the top-tier Touring reaching $35,295, plus a $1,125 destination charge. All-wheel drive was standard across all trims. The Forester Wilderness, tested in Bend, Oregon, featured white paint, a dark gray interior with water-repellant StarTex simulated leather, and a base price of $33,945, including destination. With additional options like a navigation system, Harman Kardon premium sound system, and a power rear liftgate, the total price reached $36,014. The Wilderness trim added rugged features like a suspension lift, higher ride height, and extensive protective cladding, giving it a raccoon-like appearance. Inside, the Forester emphasized function over form, with a mix of hard plastic and soft surfaces, copper-colored stitching, and an 8-inch Starlink infotainment system.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan, following updates in 2022, remained mostly unchanged. Volkswagen offered it 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. The test vehicle, an SEL R-Line, had an MSRP of $38,975, including destination. Despite seven exterior colors, four interior colors, and various wheel designs, choices were restricted based on trim levels. The test vehicle featured Atlantic Blue paint and Storm Gray leather. The SEL R-Line trim stood out for its sporty appearance, 20-inch machined-finish wheels, adaptive front lighting, and a light bar across the grille. Inside, the Tiguan's cabin was upscale, with quality leather upholstery, artificial wood trim, soft-touch materials, digital instrumentation, and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Subaru Forester featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 176 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. It had a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The Wilderness model's CVT provided a 25% increase in initial torque supply, doubling its towing capacity to 3,000 pounds. The EPA estimated the Forester Wilderness's fuel economy at 26 mpg in combined driving, but it averaged 25.9 mpg during testing. The Forester's engine was adequate at sea level but felt sluggish at higher altitudes. The CVT featured eight programmed ratios and SI-Drive for a more lively response. The dual-function X-Mode system offered various settings for different surfaces and improved hill descent management. The Wilderness trim had a re-tuned suspension, longer springs, and shocks, raising ground clearance to 9.2 inches. It excelled in various driving environments, including off-road conditions, but lacked engine power and had excessive wind noise above 65 mph.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan had a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, with 4Motion all-wheel drive (AWD) available. The SEL R-Line trim included AWD as standard, with Onroad, Snow, Offroad, and Custom Offroad settings. The EPA estimated the Tiguan SEL R-Line's fuel economy at 24 mpg in combined driving, but it averaged 22.6 mpg during testing. The Tiguan's turbo-four engine provided adequate power but struggled with passing and higher engine revs. The automatic transmission had delayed downshifts, and turbo lag was noticeable from a stop. The Tiguan's dynamic qualities were rewarding, with light and lively steering, excellent tire grip, and stable handling. The ride quality was compliant, with minimal unwanted body motions. Road noise was present, and an odd resonance was noted on certain freeways. The Tiguan's visibility and nimbleness made it easy to park, and the SEL R-Line's surround-view camera and parking sensors were helpful.

The 2022 Subaru Forester emphasized functionality, with easy entry and exit due to tall seating hip points. The Wilderness trim featured water-resistant StarTex upholstery, all-weather floor mats, a rubber cargo mat, and washable rear seatbacks. The upgraded roof rails accommodated a dynamic load of 220 pounds and a static load of 800 pounds, suitable for a three-person roof tent. The Forester offered high comfort levels in both front and back seats, with excellent visibility and rear air conditioning vents. Storage space was decent, with various bins and bottle holders. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet without the panoramic sunroof and 26.9 cubic feet with it. Folding the rear seat down increased cargo capacity to 74.2 cubic feet (69.1 with the sunroof).

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a roomy interior, with FWD versions featuring a standard third-row seat. The SEL R-Line trim had comfortable front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. Storage space was generous, though the bin under the center armrest was small. The dashboard had questionable ergonomics, with touch-sensing controls that were difficult to use. The Tiguan excelled in passenger and cargo space, with large rear door openings and a spacious back seat. The cargo area was cavernous, with an adjustable load floor height, deep storage wells, and handy levers for folding the seats. 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. FWD versions had slightly less cargo space, and the third-row seat reduced luggage capacity to 12 cubic feet.

The 2022 Subaru Forester included a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and Starlink connected services. Premium trim added a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting. Wilderness, Limited, and Touring trims featured an 8-inch screen with navigation and a Harman Kardon premium sound system. The Wilderness trim also had a 180-degree forward-view camera. The test vehicle's Harman Kardon audio system produced clear, rich sound, and the navigation system was helpful, though a breadcrumb function was desired. The PIN Code Access feature allowed keyless entry for outdoor activities.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan had 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 full-panel navigation map. The center touchscreen measured 6.5 inches on the base S trim, with an 8-inch touchscreen on other trims. The SEL R-Line had wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, Car-Net connected services, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a nine-speaker Fender premium sound system. The infotainment system had sub-menus that complicated simple tasks, and the touch-sensing controls were distracting. The voice-recognition system did not perform well, likely due to inactive Car-Net Hotspot and Plus Speech subscriptions.

The 2022 Subaru Forester debuted the EyeSight 4.0 safety system, with a wider field of vision and smoother operation. It included automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The new Automatic Emergency Steering system operated at speeds under 50 mph. The Forester also had a rear-seat reminder system, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear automatic braking. Touring trim featured DriverFocus, a facial recognition technology for monitoring drowsiness and distraction. The Forester earned a 5-star overall crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and was expected to retain its "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan had standard Front Assist and Side Assist, including forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Automatic Post Collision Braking System stopped the Tiguan after a collision. The IQ.Drive package added adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, 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. The safety technology worked well, with minimal false alerts. However, the NHTSA's crash-test ratings were incomplete, and the driver's door unlatched during the side-impact test. The IIHS gave the 2023 Tiguan a Top Safety Pick+ rating for the 2022 calendar year, but this did not apply for 2023.