2022 Cadillac XT6 vs 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan

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 emotions, 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 standard LED headlights. The SUV was available in various trims, with prices ranging from $25,995 to $36,995, and our SEL R-Line test vehicle, equipped with 4Motion AWD, was priced at $37,970. The R-Line models, particularly the SE R-Line Black, offered a sportier look, and the Atlantic Blue Metallic paint on our test vehicle was complemented by 18-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the Tiguan SEL R-Line boasted a cabin with perforated and piped leather upholstery, new technology, and ambient lighting with 15 color options. The interior featured metallic accents, giving it an upscale appearance, though the hard plastic on the lower half of the cabin revealed 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 retained its appealing looks while adding new features to keep it fresh until a full redesign.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 Premium Luxury test vehicle arrived with polished 20-inch alloy wheels, Stellar Black paint, and a Jet Black semi-aniline premium leather interior. The vehicle exuded a sense of sophistication, making it feel appropriate for high-end transportation. The XT6’s design was attractive but somewhat bland, with front running lights that made it appear tall and narrow. The rear taillights were similar to those on GMC models, but the overall proportions and details conveyed a conservatively tailored image.

Cadillac offered the XT6 in Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Sport trims, with prices starting just under $50,000. Our test vehicle, equipped with numerous options including Super Cruise and Night Vision technologies, had an MSRP of $73,565. While the interior materials were of high quality, the design and layout were reminiscent of other GM crossovers, lacking the distinctiveness expected in a luxury SUV. The XT6 featured analog gauges and an 8-inch touchscreen display, which, while functional, did not match the sophistication of its competitors. Despite its rich materials and advanced technology, the XT6’s interior felt narrow and less spacious compared to other vehicles in its class.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan continued to use a 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 of the power to the rear wheels when needed, and drivers could choose between Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual driving modes. The Tiguan also featured an Active Control system with Onroad, Snow, Offroad, and Custom Offroad settings.

The Tiguan’s suspension system included MacPherson struts in the front and a multi-link independent rear suspension, with vented front discs and solid rear discs. The variable assist steering adjusted based on speed, providing 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. Despite this, the Tiguan was enjoyable to drive, though it seemed like VW could extract more power from the engine. The EPA rated the R-Line with 4Motion at 24 mpg in combined driving, and our test drive in Malibu, California, yielded a 24.7 mpg average. The Tiguan handled well in normal driving situations but lacked the excitement for more spirited driving.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 employed the same engines as the GMC Acadia. The base model featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque through a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Premium Luxury and Sport trims used a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque. Both engines offered AWD as an option, and our test vehicle had this feature, allowing us to switch between FWD and AWD modes, as well as Tour and Sport driving modes.

The V6 engine provided sufficient power, and the XT6’s adaptive-damping performance suspension, paired with 20-inch wheels, offered a comfortable and athletic ride. The XT6 handled well on twisty roads and absorbed bumps with ease. However, the driving experience leaned towards serenity rather than excitement, with smooth steering and responsive brakes. The EPA rated the XT6 V6 with AWD at 21 mpg in combined driving, and our test route returned 19.5 mpg. The XT6 was quick and isolated from unwanted noise, but it wasn’t particularly enjoyable to drive.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan was spacious for a compact crossover, with an interior that rivaled smaller midsize SUVs. The FWD models featured a standard third-row seat, while the 4Motion models did not. Our SEL R-Line test vehicle offered comfortable front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The panoramic glass sunroof provided ample light, and outward visibility was excellent. The second row was roomy and comfortable for adults, with rear air conditioning vents and a USB charging port.

Cargo space in the Tiguan was among the best in its class. FWD models with the third-row seat had 12 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 33 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 65.5 cubic feet with the second row folded. Our 4Motion test vehicle had 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and a maximum capacity of 73.4 cubic feet, comparable to midsize SUVs.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6’s interior was less spacious than expected, with a tall and narrow design. The front seats were comfortable, with semi-aniline leather, heating, and ventilation, but lacked the range of adjustment and massage functions found in some rivals. The power-adjustable steering wheel was heated, and the triple-zone automatic climate control system provided ample cooling.

Our test vehicle had sliding second-row captain’s chairs, offering good legroom when in the rearmost position. However, the third-row seat was cramped for adults, and accessing it required some agility. The XT6’s interior storage space was decent but unremarkable, with small bins and trays. Cargo space behind the third row measured 12.6 cubic feet, with a sizable storage compartment under the load floor. With the third row folded, the XT6 offered 43.1 cubic feet of cargo space, and the maximum volume was 78.7 cubic feet.

The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan featured standard digital instrumentation, with most versions using an 8-inch display and the SEL R-Line offering a 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro system. The MIB3 infotainment system, introduced last year, was available in all but the base Tiguan S, which used MIB2 with a 6.5-inch touchscreen. The MIB3 system included an 8-inch touchscreen, Car-Net connected services, App-Connect smartphone mirroring, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The SEL R-Line 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. 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 featured an available Park Assist system, standard on the SEL R-Line.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6 offered a mix of advanced technology and some outdated features. It included a digital rearview mirror, Night Vision system, and Super Cruise hands-free highway driving-assistance system. However, the XT6 lacked digital gauges, instead featuring analog gauges with a driver information display. The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system was smaller than competitors’ displays but offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, connected services, and an available navigation system. The natural voice recognition technology was intuitive and accurate, though it couldn’t control the climate system or seat functions.

The XT6’s dashboard had touch-sensing buttons, reminiscent of Cadillac’s earlier CUE systems, and some usability issues, such as counterintuitive seat ventilation indicators and hard-to-read steering wheel buttons. The center console housed physical controls for the infotainment system, taking up valuable storage space. The available Bose Performance Series premium audio system provided excellent sound quality, and the digital rear camera improved rear visibility. However, the head-up display was small and less impressive than those in other GM vehicles.

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 vehicle and brought it 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 LED headlights and driver aids could improve that score.

The 2022 Cadillac XT6, equipped with the optional Platinum Package, featured a comprehensive list of driving-assistance and collision-avoidance systems. These included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The XT6 also offered adaptive cruise control, semi-autonomous park assist, Teen Driver, and Night Vision. The standout feature was the Super Cruise system, which allowed hands-free driving on approved highways, though it had limitations and required driver attention.

The XT6 earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings in all crash-test evaluations from the NHTSA, with a four-star rollover resistance rating. Super Cruise impressed with its capability but had some issues with lane markings, traffic, and braking smoothness. The system required the driver to be ready to take control at any time, and it struggled with certain road conditions and visibility challenges.