2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2021 Volkswagen ID.4

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan stood out among its competitors with a design that leaned towards conservatism, featuring a creased, folded, and symmetrical look. This approach, while not eliciting strong emotional responses, aged well and appealed to fans of simplicity and minimalism. The refreshed front styling aligned the Tiguan with Volkswagen’s larger Atlas models, showcasing a restyled grille with the new VW logo and an available illuminated grille bar. Standard LED headlights, new nameplate lettering on the rear liftgate, and redesigned aluminum wheels added to its updated appearance.

Volkswagen simplified the Tiguan lineup for 2022, offering it in S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line trims with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). Prices ranged from $25,995 to $36,995, with a destination charge of $1,195. The SEL R-Line test vehicle, priced at $37,970 MSRP, featured a sportier look, especially in the SE R-Line Black trim with its trendy blacked-out appearance. The interior of the SEL R-Line boasted perforated and piped leather upholstery, new technology, touch-sensing controls, and ambient lighting with 15 color options, giving it an upscale feel despite some hard plastic elements.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, designed from the ground up as an electric vehicle (EV), showcased a distinctive look that set it apart from its gasoline counterparts. It replaced the straight lines and sharp angles of models like the Tiguan and Atlas with a streamlined profile and wheels pushed out to the corners. The ID.4 was part of VW’s EV-specific MEB platform, following the European-market ID.3 hatchback. Volkswagen chose to bring the ID.4 to the U.S. market, recognizing the higher demand for crossovers over hatchbacks.

The ID.4’s interior combined Volkswagen’s minimalism with a smartphone aesthetic, featuring piano black and matte plastic elements. The base ID.4 Pro came with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and cloth seats, while the Pro S and 1St Edition models offered leatherette upholstery. Despite its streamlined design, the ID.4 didn’t quite look like an SUV, similar to other EV crossovers like the Chevy Bolt EUV and Hyundai Kona Electric. The interior felt spacious, with good forward visibility, although rearward visibility was hindered by thick rear pillars and a small back window. The ID.4 also lacked a “frunk,” opting instead to maximize cabin space.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan retained its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 221 pound-feet of torque at 1,900 rpm. An eight-speed automatic transmission transferred power to the front wheels, with an optional 4Motion AWD system that could send up to half the power to the rear wheels when needed. The Tiguan offered Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes, with additional Offroad settings for AWD models. Despite its 7.6 inches of ground clearance, the Tiguan was best suited for well-traveled paths.

The Tiguan’s MacPherson struts in front and multi-link independent rear suspension, along with variable assist steering, provided a nimble and responsive driving experience. However, the engine’s torque arrived later than some turbocharged engines, resulting in momentary turbo lag when accelerating from a stop. The EPA rated the R-Line with 4Motion at 24 mpg in combined driving, and our test drive in Malibu, California, averaged 24.7 mpg. While the Tiguan felt nimble in normal driving situations, it lacked the outright fun factor when pushed to its limits.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 launched with a single rear-mounted electric motor, producing 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, powered by an 82-kilowatt-hour battery pack. It was the first rear-wheel drive (RWD) Volkswagen passenger car sold in the U.S. since the Beetle. An all-wheel-drive (AWD) version, with a second electric motor powering the front wheels, arrived later in 2021, increasing power output to 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque.

RWD provided balanced handling, with the front wheels steering and the rear wheels driving. The electric motor’s instantaneous torque made acceleration from stoplights enjoyable. The AWD version offered additional power and traction, making it quick around town and capable of reaching highway speeds with ease. However, the ID.4 was tuned for comfort rather than sporty handling, with noticeable body roll in corners but a smooth ride over bumps. Unlike many EVs, the ID.4 did not offer aggressive regenerative braking for one-pedal driving, relying instead on friction brakes for a more familiar driving experience.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was spacious enough to be compared to smaller midsize SUVs, with a standard third-row seat in FWD models. The SEL R-Line test vehicle featured comfortable leather-wrapped front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The second row was roomy and comfortable for adults, with rear air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and ample storage. However, the switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard proved challenging to use.

Cargo space in the Tiguan was among the best in its class. FWD models with the third-row seat offered 12 cubic feet behind the third row, 33 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 65.5 cubic feet with the second row folded. The 4Motion model provided 37.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded, comparable to midsize SUVs.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 offered more front and rear headroom than competitor EVs, although legroom was average for the segment. It provided 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 64.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, more than several EV competitors but less than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The ID.4 lacked a “frunk,” opting to maximize cabin space instead. The interior felt spacious from the driver’s seat, with good forward visibility but substandard rearward visibility due to thick rear pillars and a small back window.

The ID.4 featured a unique twist-grip gear selector on the dashboard, freeing up space on the center console. However, the console itself was narrow and close to the floor, providing limited storage space for larger items. Heated steering wheel and front seats were standard, proving effective during cold weather testing, although the driver’s seat lacked thigh support.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came with standard digital instrumentation, with an 8-inch display in most versions and a 10.25-inch display in the SEL R-Line. The MIB3 infotainment system, introduced last year, carried over in all but the base Tiguan S, which used MIB2 with a 6.5-inch touchscreen. The MIB3 system featured an 8-inch touchscreen, standard Car-Net connected services, App-Connect smartphone mirroring, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The SEL R-Line included a redesigned navigation system and a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system.

Natural voice recognition was a touted feature of MIB3, but it required a Plus Speech upgrade and an active Car-Net Hotspot subscription to function properly. Car-Net’s Remote Access plan was complimentary for five years, allowing remote engine start, door lock operation, and vehicle location tracking. The Safe & Secure plan offered automatic crash notification and emergency assistance, while the Hotspot plan provided a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Tiguan also offered an available Park Assist system for autonomous parking.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 featured a standard 10-inch touchscreen (with an optional 12-inch screen) with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 5.3-inch display screen served as the instrument cluster, and haptic touchpads replaced nearly all switchgear. While the setup looked modern, it was difficult to use due to the lack of tactile feedback. The natural-language voice-control system, activated by saying “Hello ID,” allowed for easier control of certain functions, although it was slow to respond.

The ID.4 also introduced ID.Light, a light strip at the base of the windshield that communicated information to the driver. It changed color for different drive modes, blinked when the car was locked or unlocked, and flashed lights to indicate turn directions. While interesting, it was easy to forget about ID.Light after the initial novelty wore off. The touchscreen was well-positioned with smart-looking graphics and easy-to-navigate menus, offering a choice between smartphone-like icons or a split-screen setup.

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 of advanced driving assistance systems included Travel Assist, which combined 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 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and the 2022 model’s new features could improve that score.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 received the highest-level Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the RWD model. Standard driver aids included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, park distance control, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. Travel Assist added automated lane centering to the adaptive cruise control, and Emergency Assist brought the car to a stop if the driver was incapacitated. Travel Assist performed well, smoothly following curves and responding to acceleration and deceleration.