2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2021 Lexus NX

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among its competitors with a conservative yet timeless design. 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 18-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the Tiguan offered a rich cabin with leather upholstery, new technology, and ambient lighting, though the hard plastic in the lower half of the cabin hinted at its mass-market status.

In contrast, the 2021 Lexus NX retained a sharp, sculpted exterior design that echoed the brand’s familial styling. The NX F Sport variant added sporty elements like a honeycomb grille, triple-beam LED headlights, and 18-inch wheels. Inside, the NX featured quilted NuLuxe sport seats exclusive to the F Sport model, with options for leather and wood trim. The interior was well-finished, with a familiar gauge cluster and a 4.2-inch multi-information display, though the center stack design appeared dated compared to newer competitors.

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 Offroad settings for AWD models. Despite its enjoyable drive, the Tiguan experienced some turbo lag, and its fuel economy was average at 24 mpg combined.

The 2021 Lexus NX 300 and 300 F Sport were powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission was standard, with FWD and AWD options. The NX accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in around seven seconds, with Active Sound Control enhancing the engine note in F Sport models. The NX offered three drive modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport, influencing throttle response and power-steering assist. Fuel economy was decent, with the FWD model achieving 25 mpg combined and the AWD model 24 mpg combined.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in interior space, with a spacious cabin that rivaled smaller midsize SUVs. FWD models featured a standard third-row seat, while AWD models did not. The SEL R-Line trim offered comfortable leather seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The second row was roomy, with rear air conditioning vents and a USB charging port. Cargo space was generous, with up to 73.4 cubic feet available in AWD models.

The 2021 Lexus NX provided a comfortable and upscale interior, with ample room for adults in both the front and second-row seats. Heated and ventilated seats were available, and the rear seats offered a 60/40 split-folding design. However, the NX lagged in cargo space, with just 17.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 54.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down. A power liftgate with kick sensor technology and power-folding rear seats were available options.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line trim offering a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system. The MIB3 infotainment system, available in all but the base model, included an 8-inch touchscreen, Car-Net connected services, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The SEL R-Line added a redesigned navigation system and a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system. However, the natural voice recognition feature required an additional subscription, and the touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard were challenging to use.

The 2021 Lexus NX came with an 8-inch touchscreen, with a 10.3-inch display available in the Navigation package. The infotainment system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot. The Navigation package added features like predictive traffic information and Lexus Enform Destination Assist. The standard Lexus Premium Audio system had eight speakers, with an optional Mark Levinson 14-speaker system available. The Lexus Enform Remote mobile app allowed users to control various functions remotely, and a 10-year subscription to Lexus Enform Services Connect was included.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came with standard Front Assist and Side Assist, with significant improvements to its IQ Drive system, including Travel Assist and Emergency Assist. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance, while Emergency Assist 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 new features could potentially improve this score.

The 2021 Lexus NX included Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 as standard, featuring a rearview camera, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high beams, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard, with optional park assist, a surround-view camera system, and adaptive headlights. The NX received top safety ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA, with no recalls reported.