2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2021 BMW X5

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among its competitors with a design that was both creased and symmetrical, leaning towards a conservative aesthetic. This approach, while not overly emotional, was appreciated by fans of simplicity and minimalism, and it aged well. The refreshed front styling aligned the Tiguan with Volkswagen’s larger models, featuring a new grille with the updated VW logo and standard LED headlights. The SUV came in various trims, with prices ranging from $25,995 to $36,995, and our SEL R-Line test vehicle, equipped with 4Motion AWD, was priced at $37,970. The R-Line models, especially the SE R-Line Black, had a sportier look, and the Atlantic Blue Metallic paint on our test vehicle was particularly striking.

Inside, the Tiguan SEL R-Line boasted a richer-looking cabin with leather upholstery, new technology, and ambient lighting in 15 colors. The interior featured metallic accents, giving it an upscale appearance, though the hard plastic in the lower half of the cabin revealed its mass-market status. Standard features included keyless entry, push-button start, and heated front seats, with remote engine starting available from the SE trim. The updated Tiguan retained its great looks while adding extra flair, ensuring it remained fresh until a full redesign.

The 2021 BMW X5 was a testament to BMW's high-quality craftsmanship, unmistakably a BMW with its kidney grille and body shape. The X5 featured full adaptive LED headlights and a choice of matte aluminum or high-gloss black finishes, depending on the trim. The M Sport models had a sportier look with body-color trim and matte aluminum grille bars. The interior, while sharing many elements with other BMW models, was not shoddy, featuring plenty of leather and soft-touch materials despite an abundance of black plastic.

The X5 offered various powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base model had a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 335 horsepower, while the M50i featured a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with 523 hp. The X5 M boasted 600 hp, increasing to 617 hp with the Competition Package. The xDrive45e plug-in hybrid model achieved 389 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, with up to 30 miles of all-electric range. The X5's steering and handling were not as engaging as other BMW models, but the cabin was quiet and comfortable, with a suspension that absorbed bumps well.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan retained its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. The power was transferred via an eight-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels, with an optional 4Motion AWD system. The AWD system could send up to half the power to the rear wheels but decoupled the rear axle when not needed to save fuel. The Tiguan offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes, with additional Offroad settings for the AWD models. The SUV's ground clearance was 7.6 inches, limiting its off-road capabilities. The Tiguan's ride and handling were nimble and responsive in normal driving situations, but the engine's torque arrived later than some competitors, causing momentary turbo lag. The EPA rated the R-Line with 4Motion at 24 mpg combined, and our test drive averaged 24.7 mpg.

The 2021 BMW X5 offered multiple powertrain options, all with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base model had a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 335 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque, available in RWD (sDrive) or AWD (xDrive). The M50i featured a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, while the X5 M had 600 hp, increasing to 617 hp with the Competition Package. The xDrive45e plug-in hybrid achieved 389 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, with up to 30 miles of all-electric range. The X5's steering and handling were less engaging than other BMW models, with issues at low and high speeds. The cabin was quiet, and the suspension absorbed bumps well. The X5 M was the least fuel-efficient, with an EPA rating of 15 mpg combined, while the xDrive45e achieved 50 MPGe when using both electricity and gas.

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

The 2021 BMW X5 made good use of space, with cupholders at the front of the center console and a wireless phone charging pad. The front seats were comfortable for short trips but felt hard after a few hours. The rear seats were spacious, and an optional third row was available. The climate controls were easy to manage, and the split liftgate with power functionality made loading cargo easy. The X5's cargo area was spacious, with slightly less space in the xDrive45e model.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line offering a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system. The MIB3 infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen, was standard in all but the base model, which used MIB2 with a 6.5-inch screen. The MIB3 system included Car-Net connected services, App-Connect smartphone mirroring, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The SEL R-Line had a redesigned navigation system and a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system. Natural voice recognition required a Plus Speech upgrade, and Car-Net offered various subscription plans for additional features.

The 2021 BMW X5 came with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10-speaker sound system, voice recognition, Bluetooth, five USB ports, navigation, HD Radio, satellite radio, automatic climate control, proximity key, and a panoramic moonroof. Optional features included remote start, a head-up display, quad-zone automatic climate control, a wireless smartphone charger, massaging seats, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, a 20-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system, rear sunshades, and a dual-panel panoramic roof. The iDrive system required some getting used to but was easy to navigate once familiar.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came with standard Front Assist (forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection) and Side Assist (blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert). The IQ Drive collection included Travel Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, and Emergency Assist, which slowed the SUV and brought it to a stop if the driver became unresponsive. The 2021 Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS.

The 2021 BMW X5 included blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, fatigue and focus alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Driving Assistance Professional Package included adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality, but it had issues with lane-keeping and stopping in traffic. The X5 received nearly all Good ratings from the IIHS and a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.