2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among its competitors with a design that was both conservative and timeless. Its refreshed front styling aligned it with Volkswagen’s larger models, featuring a new grille, standard LED headlights, and redesigned aluminum wheels. The SEL R-Line trim, in particular, boasted a sportier look with blacked-out elements and a striking Atlantic Blue Metallic paint. Inside, the Tiguan offered a sophisticated cabin with leather upholstery, touch-sensing controls, and ambient lighting, although the lower half of the cabin revealed its mass-market status with hard plastics.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a two-row version of the Pilot, sharing many design elements both inside and out. The interior featured high-quality materials and a spacious layout, though the button shifter design was less intuitive. The Passport came in four trims: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, each adding progressively more features like leather upholstery, a power moonroof, and advanced audio systems. The Elite trim topped the range with heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and wireless device charging.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan retained its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. This power was managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the option of VW’s 4Motion AWD system. The Tiguan offered various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual, as well as Offroad settings for AWD models. Despite its enjoyable drive, the Tiguan experienced some turbo lag and had a combined fuel economy of 24 mpg. Its ride and handling were nimble and responsive, but it lacked the outright fun factor some drivers might seek.

The 2021 Honda Passport, on the other hand, came standard with a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque through a nine-speed automatic transmission. Available in both FWD and AWD, the Passport offered strong acceleration and a comfortable ride. The AWD model featured Intelligent Traction Management with Snow, Sand, and Mud modes, and could tow up to 5,000 pounds. The Passport’s ride was optimized for both commuting and weekend adventures, with 8.1 inches of ground clearance for light off-roading.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was notable for its spacious interior, comparable to smaller midsize SUVs. It offered a standard third-row seat in FWD models, though this compromised cargo space. The SEL R-Line trim provided exceptional comfort with leather seats, power adjustments, and a panoramic sunroof. Cargo space varied, with FWD models offering up to 65.5 cubic feet and AWD models up to 73.4 cubic feet. However, the new touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard were harder to use and could be distracting.

The 2021 Honda Passport excelled in cargo space, offering up to 100.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded and 50.5 cubic feet with the second row in use. An additional 2.5 cubic feet of under-floor storage added to its practicality. The EX-L trim and above featured a power liftgate, with hands-free operation on the Touring and Elite trims. The upright seating position provided excellent visibility, and both front and rear seats were spacious and comfortable, with deep in-door pockets for storage.

For 2022, the Volkswagen Tiguan came with standard digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line featuring a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro. The MIB3 infotainment system, available on all but the base trim, included an 8-inch touchscreen, Car-Net connected services, and smartphone mirroring. However, the natural voice recognition feature required additional subscriptions and was not functional during testing. The Tiguan also offered a Park Assist system on the SEL R-Line trim.

The 2021 Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard across all trims, integrated with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Despite these additions, the system’s dated graphics and confusing menu layout were drawbacks. The volume dial felt like an afterthought, and the lack of a tuning dial was noticeable.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came with standard Front Assist and Side Assist, with significant upgrades to its IQ Drive system, including Travel Assist and Emergency Assist. These features combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance and could safely bring the vehicle to a stop if the driver became unresponsive. The 2021 Tiguan earned a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the IIHS, and the 2022 model’s improvements aimed to enhance this score.

The 2021 Honda Passport was well-equipped with safety features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Passport received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top scores from the IIHS, though it had "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use.