2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2021 Lexus GX

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 SUV came in various trims, with prices ranging from $25,995 to $36,995, and offered both FWD and AWD options. The SEL R-Line trim, in particular, boasted a sportier look with blacked-out features and a rich Atlantic Blue Metallic paint.

Inside, the Tiguan SEL R-Line impressed with its upscale cabin, featuring perforated leather upholstery, new technology, and ambient lighting. However, the lower half of the cabin's hard plastic materials revealed its mass-market status. Standard features included keyless entry, push-button start, and heated front seats, with additional options like remote engine start and a panoramic sunroof available on higher trims.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 retained its decade-old body shell with minor updates over the years, including the spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights. The 2021 model added standard silver 18-inch wheels on the Premium trim. Despite its age, the GX's styling remained coherent and distinctive, appealing to those who favored a tough, aggressive look.

Inside, the GX's interior showed its age with an upright dashboard and high center console that limited legroom. The steering wheel's odd angle and the tall seating position felt bus-like. While the dashboard shape provided excellent outward visibility, the center-console storage and cupholders were small. The GX came standard with three rows of seating, but the third row was best suited for children. Cargo space was limited, especially with the third row in use, making it more practical as a two-row SUV.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan continued with its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission sent power to the front wheels, with an optional 4Motion AWD system available. The Tiguan offered various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual, with additional off-road settings for AWD models. Despite its enjoyable drive, the Tiguan's engine exhibited some turbo lag, and its fuel economy was modest at 24 mpg combined.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 featured a 4.6-liter V8 engine, delivering 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX's V8 provided ample power for acceleration, but its 5,130-pound weight affected high-speed performance and braking. The body-on-frame construction resulted in a less refined ride compared to modern unibody SUVs. However, the GX excelled off-road with its Torsen center differential, low-range 4WD, and various off-road driver aids. It also had a respectable towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.

The 2022 VW Tiguan offered a spacious interior, comparable to smaller midsize SUVs. It featured a standard third-row seat in FWD models, while AWD models had more cargo space. The SEL R-Line trim provided comfortable leather seats with power adjustments, excellent visibility, and a panoramic sunroof. The second row was roomy, with rear air conditioning vents and USB ports. Cargo space was generous, with up to 73.4 cubic feet available in AWD models.

The 2021 Lexus GX's interior ergonomics reflected its age, with limited legroom and an awkward steering wheel angle. The dashboard shape provided good visibility, but storage options were limited. The GX came standard with three rows of seating, but the third row was cramped and difficult to access. Cargo space was limited, especially with the third row in use, making it more practical as a two-row SUV.

The 2022 Tiguan featured standard digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line offering a 10.25-inch display. The MIB3 infotainment system, available on most trims, included an 8-inch touchscreen, smartphone mirroring, and SiriusXM 360L. However, the natural voice recognition feature required an additional subscription. The Tiguan also offered a Park Assist system on the SEL R-Line trim.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features, lacking Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functions. However, the GX included analog controls for most functions, making it easy to use. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system was available.

The 2022 Tiguan came standard with Front Assist and Side Assist. It also featured Travel Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, and Emergency Assist, which could bring the SUV to a stop if the driver became unresponsive. The 2021 Tiguan earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS.

The 2021 Lexus GX included the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. However, it lacked some advanced safety features found in other Lexus models.