2022 Volkswagen Tiguan vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

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 eliciting strong emotional responses, was appreciated for its simplicity and minimalism, ensuring the vehicle aged gracefully. The refreshed front styling aligned the Tiguan with Volkswagen’s larger models, featuring a new grille with the updated VW logo and available illuminated grille bar. Standard LED headlights, new nameplate lettering on the rear liftgate, and redesigned aluminum wheels added to its appeal. The SEL R-Line trim, in particular, boasted a sportier look with blacked-out elements and attractive paint options like Atlantic Blue Metallic.

Inside, the Tiguan SEL R-Line offered a richer cabin experience with perforated leather upholstery, new technology, touch-sensing controls, and ambient lighting in 15 colors. The interior's metallic accents provided an upscale feel, though the hard plastic in the lower half of the cabin reminded occupants of 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 managed to retain its great looks while adding a touch of pizzazz, ensuring it remained fresh until its next full redesign.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade made a bold first impression with its unapologetically massive size and distinct styling elements. The grille, LED daytime running lights, and taillights were scaled to match its bulk, with the taillights reminiscent of classic Cadillac tailfins. The front end, with its tall hood and vertical running lights, resembled a diesel locomotive, emphasizing the vehicle's bulk. The Escalade's 22-inch wheels appeared small against its vast sheet metal, but the overall design set it apart from other GM full-size SUVs.

The Escalade's interior was luxurious, featuring leather upholstery, wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof. However, it lacked a cohesive design theme, unlike the Lincoln Navigator's midcentury-modern-inspired look. While most materials were high-quality, some cheap-looking plastic bits detracted from the overall luxury feel. The Escalade's body-on-frame architecture, shared with other GM full-size SUVs and trucks, provided a solid foundation, but the ride was unsettled, with the body constantly pitching and jiggling. Despite its truck DNA, the Escalade didn't offer the off-road capability of its GM cousins, making it less suitable for rugged adventures.

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 available. 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. Drivers could choose between Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes, with additional Offroad settings for 4Motion models.

The Tiguan's engine delivered a smooth driving experience, though there was some turbo lag when accelerating from a stop. The SUV's MacPherson struts in front and multi-link independent rear suspension provided a comfortable ride, while the variable assist steering adjusted based on speed. The Tiguan's fuel economy was decent, with the R-Line 4Motion achieving 24 mpg in combined driving. Overall, the Tiguan was enjoyable to drive, though it lacked the power and performance some might expect from a turbocharged engine.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade offered two powertrain choices: a standard 6.2-liter gasoline V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and an optional Duramax 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six diesel engine with 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard rear-wheel drive, with optional four-wheel drive available. The diesel engine, despite its lower horsepower, provided smooth power delivery and a lower torque peak, making it an asset when pulling away from a stop.

The Escalade's towing capacity was impressive, with the gasoline engine capable of towing up to 8,200 pounds, though this fell short of the Lincoln Navigator's 8,700-pound capacity. The ride quality, however, was less than luxurious, with the body-on-frame construction and 22-inch wheels contributing to an unsettled ride. The Escalade's independent rear suspension and available air suspension and Magnetic Ride Control dampers couldn't fully compensate for the vehicle's size and weight, resulting in a less comfortable ride compared to unibody SUVs like the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was a giant among compact crossover SUVs, with an interior spacious enough to rival smaller midsize SUVs. The FWD models even offered a standard third-row seat, though this feature was not available in 4Motion models. The SEL R-Line trim provided exceptional comfort with leather-wrapped, eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. The second row was roomy and comfortable for adults, with rear air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and ample storage.

Cargo space was among the best in its class, with FWD models offering 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 models were even more accommodating, with 37.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and a maximum capacity of 73.4 cubic feet. The switch to touch controls on the steering wheel and dashboard for 2022 added a sophisticated look but proved harder to use, potentially distracting drivers.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade shared its body shell and chassis with other GM full-size SUVs, resulting in a cavernous cabin. The standard Escalade measured 211.9 inches long, while the extended ESV version was 227 inches long. The Escalade offered the most first-row and third-row legroom among full-size luxury SUVs, though the Lincoln Navigator provided more second-row headroom. Standard features included second-row captain's chairs and a 60/40 power split-folding third-row bench seat, with a power-folding second-row bench seat available as a no-cost option.

The Escalade excelled in cargo space, with 25.5 cubic feet with all seats in place, 63.0 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 109.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. However, the raised center console provided limited storage space, and the 12-way power-adjustable front seats, while comfortable, felt like they could have come from one of the Escalade's GM cousins. Cadillac did get some details right, such as dedicated buttons for seat heating and ventilation and large sun visors for the expansive side-window glass.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard digital instrumentation, with the SEL R-Line trim offering a more sophisticated Digital Cockpit Pro system with a 10.25-inch display. 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 included an 8-inch touchscreen, standard Car-Net connected services, App-Connect smartphone mirroring, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The SEL R-Line trim added a redesigned navigation system and a nine-speaker Fender premium audio system.

Natural voice recognition was a touted feature of the MIB3 system, but it required a Plus Speech upgrade and an active Car-Net Hotspot subscription plan to function properly. The 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 2022 Cadillac Escalade boasted a 38-inch curved OLED display, consisting of three screens: a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch trip-computer screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth connectivity, were standard. The display was well-integrated into the dashboard, with icons arranged to fit its shape and physical toggles for climate control and other functions.

The Escalade's infotainment system had some issues, such as the awkward carousel format for changing radio stations and the rotary controller that felt like an afterthought. However, the OLED screens provided unparalleled resolution for the 360-degree camera system, and the rearview camera mirror eliminated blind spots. The Escalade also offered advanced tech features like night vision, augmented-reality navigation, and a 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system, though the latter was difficult to tune properly.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan came standard with 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 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 that score.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade included standard driver-assist tech such as adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking (front and rear), front and rear park assist, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on higher trim levels, with trailer blind-spot monitoring available on Premium Luxury Platinum trims and above. Super Cruise, a sophisticated driver-assist system, was a $2,500 option on most trims, offering hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways. The IIHS and NHTSA did not publish safety ratings for the 2022 Escalade.